Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie // I realize this book isn’t perfect – it’s far too focused on cisgender women. But it’s a great start for anyone wanting to learn more about feminism and why it’s still so necessary and important.
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee // I chose this book because it’s a non-fiction book that’s really easy to read. It follows the author’s life as a little boy in North-Korea both in the capital and the countryside after being sent away from the capital. It also talks about his escape from North-Korea. I think it’s important to read about nations we don’t know much about, especially when all we know comes from prejudice and assumptions.
Am I Normal Yet? (Spinster Club #) by Holly Bourne // It’s important to start a discussion on mental health and mental illness, especially with teenagers. In most countries, mental illness is still a taboo topic and so many people don’t know how to ask for the help they need. This book has such a positive message on therapy and medication! And it’s funny and relatable too.
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman // I think this book has some important things to offer students as well, in particular the discussions on sexuality and higher education. Not everyone has to go to university. And that’s fine! University isn’t the only way to achieve the things you want to, and Radio Silence opens that discussion.
Children of Blood and Bone (Legend of Orïsha) by Tomi Adeyemi // It’s important to have a variety of genres, so people can discover what type of books they like to read. So you have to add a fantasy book to the mix. Children of Blood and Bone would be the perfect pick because it’s not only a fantastic fantasy novel but it addresses racism, oppression, privilege and power as well.
Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson // This is a fun graphic novel series for teens. It focuses on the friendship between these girls at camp, which to me is very important. Friendships are important, people! It’s cute, easy to read and fun. What more do we need?
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling // Obviously.
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli // I adore Leah on the Offbeat and I know that it’s technically a sequel/companion novel but I wanted to include it anyway. It focuses on a fat main character whose journey is NOT about losing weight to find happiness. Yes, please and thank you. Also: bisexual rep!
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan // Another obvious pick. But it’s on this list for a reason. This series got so many people into reading, or even reading fantasy. So why not? It certainly played a large role in my love for reading.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee // This is a fun historical fiction following an upper class guy, his sister and his best friend. It’s got some history, a lot of humor, feminism, fantasy, and the cutest best friends to lovers trope. YAY!
Those are 10 books I think should be in every middle/high school library.
Do you agree with me? Which books do you think every school needs?
‘Not everyone has to go to university. And that’s fine!’ – So. Much. Truth!
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This is the second time I have seen Leah on the Offbeat on a list and I am just sitting here kicking myself because its sitting on my shelf and I still have not read it. I annoy myself sometimes.
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I do the same, all the time! I see books on people’s lists that have been on my shelf for ages, and I still haven’t read…
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I’m on the waiting list for Children of Blood and Bone at the library. These are great picks!
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Thanks! I hope you’ll like it 😀
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I loved that you explained why you felt every one of these books deserved a spot. I always like finding out why a book had impact on a reader so thanks for sharing! Nice spin on this topic!
You can check out my list (and vote) here: http://bit.ly/2MzRJnz
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Thank you so much!
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This is such a fantastic list! I’m glad to see a number of familiar titles here, and I really enjoyed reading your reasons as to why you think these books should be more accessible.
Yay for book accessibility!
* TTT: 10 spreadsheet hacks to step up your blogging game
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Thank you! I think the reasons behind the picks are the most important thing to share, no? Otherwise how would anyone know why these books are so important 😀
By the way, I love your TTT on spreadsheets. You’ve inspired me to step up my organizational game even more!
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I’ve seen TONS of things (all good I think) about ‘Blood and Bone,’ but haven’t read the book myself. Glad to know a hyped book is generally well thought of though; sometimes those end up being the most disappointing!
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Exactly! Sometimes the hype can ruin a book, but that’s definitely not the case with this one!
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Great list! I loved Every Falling Star! Gentleman’s Guide and Leah on the Offbeat are on my TBR list. I hope I get to read them soon. Here’s my TTT.
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Thank you so much! I hope you’ll end up loving both of them 😀
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I’ve only read Harry Potter on your list but a ton of these are on my TBR. Great list this week!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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Hope you’ll enjoy them!
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Amazing picks! I have only read Every Falling Star, PJO and HP, but the rest looks awesome.
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Thank you!
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I wish there had been a lot more LGBT books in my library at school. I remember reading Brokeback Mountain in sixth form, and a kid laughing and asking why I would read that. It was the first time a teacher had ever acknowledged homosexuality in my memory at school and I was 17
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Me too. It’s so ridiculous, like enforcing silence around LGBT+ people, or mental health and illness, will help anyone…
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Some super awesome books here! I loved Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and more recently Children of Blood and Bone and even though I didn’t love Radio Silence, I think it’s a super important one for teens because I could have really used that book when I was 17/18! I really want to read Gentleman’s Guide as well.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/top-ten-tuesday-174/
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Thank you so much! I wish I read some of these as a teenager too, instead of a 20-something! (aside from HP and PJO of course).
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Yeah for most YA books I feel like it doesn’t matter, but Radio Silence was so specific to that time in my life that I felt like it would have meant more to me if I’d read it whilst I was going through the same things as Frances.
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I think Rick Riordan’s books are great to get brushed up on the basics of mythology in an easy way. I like the rest of your picks too!
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They truly are! Much easier to remember than the endless lists you got in Latin and Greek class.
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Great list! We Should All Be Feminists made my list this week, too – it’s a brilliant introduction to feminism. I’d love to see more books like The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in school libraries, and Children of Blood and Bone is one I need to get to soon – I haven’t heard a single bad thing about it yet!
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It truly is! That’s why I think it’s more important for young readers. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
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I love your topic idea! And yes to The Lightning Thief- and probably Harry Potter on that line- because encouraging kids to read is so important and so often lost at school when they only offer up classics!
My ttt: https://bookslifeotheroddities.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/top-ten-female-book-characters-in-stem/
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Thank you! It really is! I can’t tell you how many boring books I had to read in school. Luckily, I had already discovered the books I loved before that. Some of my classmates “hated reading” after school 😦
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Right?! They should get kids into reading by offering lots of different genres at school not just educate them on classics 🙄 I didn’t get into books through school but I was a big reader at school if that makes any sense?
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I completely agree with your list! What an amazing list you have there!
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Thank you so much!
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YES to so many of the books that you’ve said should be in every school library. I totally agree! Am I Normal Yet? is such an important one.
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It truly is!
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I love this list! I definitely agree with it, especially Leah, We Should All Be Feminists, Harry Potter and The Gentleman’s Guide. They’re all great reading in different ways.
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Thank you!
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Definitely agree with you on Leah and The Gentleman’s Guide! Every Falling Star looks interesting, I’ll have to check it out. Happy Tuesday 🙂
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I hope you’ll like it!
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