Bookish Gifts For the 2012 High School Graduate

If you know an upcoming graduate then you’re in luck! It might seem to early to get them college themed gifts, but me and my friends got tons of things like this for Christmas that year. Gifts are easier to find if they intend to go to university or college, but some of these gifts are good for anyone living on their own for the first time.

1. The College Humour Guide to College A friend of mine found this book in her dorm room while packing up after our first year. It was very funny- probably would have been helpful to have at the beginning of the year though, not the end. From Goodreads: "From beer pong to final exams, from instant messaging to hooking up with people whose last names are a complete mystery, The CollegeHumor Guide to College is the bible to getting through college with minimum work and maximum fun. The authors, six recent graduates from colleges around the country, fill readers in on how to do their own laundry, how to pick the best (easiest) professors, and how to tell if someone has an STD just by looking at them. From the creators of the smash-hit website, The CollegeHumor Guide to College is perfect for anybody who can make it past twelfth grade, and an incredibly mean gift for those who can't."

2. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College by Harlan Cohen This was given to me for my eighteenth birthday and it’s the best guide to college I’ve ever come across. It's helpful and hilarious. This book touches on practically any and every problem you might encounter while at school. From what to expect, dealing with homesickness, roommates, making friends, joining clubs, handling your classes, studying, college relationships, financial  problems and the things they don't tell you in the brochure, this book covers it all.

 

3. The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht and Jennifer Worick From Goodreads: "The college years are a time of noble pursuit of knowledge, self-betterment—and unending peril! Students are at risk from the moment they receive their acceptance letters. Fortunately, the authors of the phenomenally best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbookseries have come to the rescue, offering all-new, hands-on, step-by-step instructions for surviving the worst that higher education has to offer, on campus and off. Learn how to identify a party school, engineer a hookup, survive "the spins," and escape a stadium riot. Discover the best way to sleep in class, pass a test you haven't studied for, avoid the "freshman fifteen," and pull an all-nighter. With practical advice for avoiding laundry and identifying unsafe institutional food, along with an appendix of excuses for missed deadlines and a back-up diploma, this is truly required reading for all college students—and a perfect high school graduation present."

4. College Cooking: Feed Yourself and Yours Friends by Megan and Jill Carle From Goodreads: "You have a midterm tomorrow and a fierce growl in your stomach. Your roommate just nabbed your last cup o' ramen. Do you: (A) Ignore your stomach and brew another pot of coffee? (B) Break out the PB&J? (C) Order pizza—again? (D) Make a quick trip to the grocery store? The answer's D, and College Cooking is the only study guide you'll need.Sisters Megan and Jill Carle know all about leaving a well-stocked kitchen to face an empty apartment fridge with little time to cook and very little money. They practically grew up in their parents' kitchen, but even that didn't prepare them for braving the supermarket aisles on their own. That's why they wrote COLLEGE COOKING—to share the tips and tricks they've learned while feeding themselves between late-night studying, papers, parties, and other distractions."

5. The Ultimate Student Cookbook: From Chicken to Chilli by Tiffany Goodall From Goodreads: "More than 100 easy recipes for terrific food on a student's budget. Written by a chef who lived away from home on a limited budget while she was a culinary arts student, The Ultimate Student Cookbook enables college and university students to enjoy fresh and healthy food every day.Recognizing the pressures and realities of student life, these more than 100 delicious recipes."

6. U Chic: College Girls Guide to Everything by Christie Garton  From Chapters.ca: "From the day you set food on campus until the day you wear a cap and gown, get advice from a source you can trust: the expert team of all-star college students and recent grads behind U Chic. This indispensible college resource has everything you need to know.