“Let’s be reasonable and add an eighth day to the week that is devoted exclusively to reading.”
Lena dunham
I wish the above could happen! Reading as a habit is one of the most useful habits you can develop in your children. It’s even easier if you start when they’re young.
Read: How to Develop the Habit of Reading in My Child
Here are some books that I’ve taken from different genres. These are not the best books of all times but these are powerful stories or literary works that will, in their own little way, make you think along different lines – the lines along which you must think as you grow older, from entertaining books, to books which show empathy, to stories which depict racialism or sexism, to practical ones which make you think about finances.
There are many more that I’d like to add to this list but I’ve limited myself to these.
So here goes:
1. The Book Thief By Markus Zusak
This novel follows a young girl in Nazi Germany who, after the death of her brother, is sent to live with foster parents. By her brother’s graveside, she picks up The Gravedigger’s Handbook, which is her first act of book thievery. Soon she’s stealing books from book burnings, mayor’s wife’s library, and anywhere she can find them. It is narrated by Death and is different from other WWII books in that it’s a story of a German girl and not of a Jew, as is usually the case. It is a very emotional story, eye-opening and a must read.
India: https://amzn.to/44IqP0b
US: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375842209
2. A Wrinkle In Time By Madeleine L’engle
This is the wildly popular story of grouchy misfit Meg, her genius little brother and their missing scientist father and their fight against Evil. It is a science fiction and assumes children will understand the concepts or at least understand the story, even as the author has tried to explain how time travel might work.
India: https://amzn.to/45GoJ1V
US: https://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Time-Quintet/dp/0312367546
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This is a timeless classic explores themes of racial injustice, morality, and compassion in the American South. A perfect book to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature and the importance of empathy, through the eyes of a child.
India: https://amzn.to/3rbksV8
US: https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Mockingbird-Harper-Lee/dp/0060935464
4. Harry Potter
Well, obviously the entire series must be read. If possible, everyone must read these before watching the movies.
India: https://amzn.to/45Z0mMD
US: https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076
Also Read: Books for 4-6 year old children
5. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time By Mark Haddon
It is a poignant novel about 15-year-old Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog. As Haddon wrote on his blog, “it’s a novel about difference, about being an outsider, about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way.”
India: https://amzn.to/45Z0s6X
US: https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-Time/dp/1400032717
6. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs
This is a dark fantasy is about a young boy, Jacob who time travels to a home for strangely gifted children with “peculiarities,” like invisibility, superhuman strength and prophetic dreams. It’s a little slow paced but the use of pictures makes it feel like a movie.
India: https://www.amazon.in/Miss-Peregrines-Peculiar-Children-Boxed/dp/159474890X
US: https://www.amazon.com/Miss-Peregrines-Home-Peculiar-Children-ebook/dp/B004FGMDOQ
7. 1984 by George Orwell
This is a tale of a dystopian world where the government is always watching. It demonstrates how crucial free-thinking is to protect, especially to readers whose minds are most malleable. In today’s world, Orwell’s classic is more necessary than ever.
India: https://www.amazon.in/1984-George-Orwell/dp/8129116111
US: https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934
8. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
This is a heart-warming book, sweet and simple. It is not a regular fantasy story but has much deeper undertones of love and friendship. It tackles tough questions of prejudice and biases in our world and how the smallest of steps can make a difference.
India: https://amzn.to/4873p7g
US: https://www.amazon.com/House-Cerulean-Sea-TJ-Klune/dp/1250217318
9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
It’s a gripping dystopian trilogy. Highly engaging for teens with its themes of rebellion, social injustice, and the consequences of unchecked power. It follows the protagonist Katniss Everdeen and how she fights for justice by deciding not be a pawn in the games that people with power played.
India: https://amzn.to/3sLVV9S
US: https://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Catching-Mockingjay/dp/0545670314
10. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Little Prince is a novella written in 1943. It’s a poetic tale, with watercolour illustrations by the author, in which a pilot stranded in the desert meets a young prince visiting Earth from a tiny asteroid. The story is philosophical and includes social criticism of the adult world. It’s a cute, though sad book about childhood, love and friendship. “What makes the desert beautiful, is that somewhere it hides a well” and that is exactly what makes this book so beautiful. You’ll find the well and it will change you for the better.
India: https://amzn.to/3Pt0XAM
US: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-Antoine-Saint-Exup%C3%A9ry/dp/0156012197
Happy Reading!
“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.”
Descartes
The Intelligent Parent 