Books from Adolescence

Some things just stick with you. Certain events, certain feelings. Certain scenery, certain people, certain words.

As an avid reader, certain books and authors stick with me. Their use of language, storylines, and characters stick with me. My sister and I frequently talk about our love of books and our addiction to buying them. We compare our to-be-read list and overflowing bookshelves. We also talked about starting a podcast where we discuss books but we haven't delved into the specifics yet but are pretty excited to get that started. We occasionally discuss the topic of books we read when we were younger that still stick with us today. Books that we could still read and enjoy as adults. Shout out to authors because they are extremely talented and write beautifully, creating amazing stories, thrilling stories, ones that captivate and entertain. They write a sequence of words so riveting that you wish you could remember it word-for-word forever.

Thinking of my adolescence and the books I read that stuck with me, here are a few.

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper

"Tigers don’t cry—or do they?"

This young adult novel is part of the Hazelwood High Trilogy. If my memory serves me right, I bought or was gifted a book in the trilogy and wanted the read the other two. Of all the books, Tears of a Tiger was my favorite. It was the first YA books that discussed death, grief, and guilt among young adults.

The subject matter wasn't light or upbeat, but I liked the novel for the African American characters and the compelling storytelling.

I vividly remember reading the final chapters of the novel to my mother. She was in the kitchen doing one of a number of things, cleaning, cooking, rearranging, and I stood reading, keeping her company, noticing that she was as engrossed in the novel as me. When I finished the book, I looked up and my mother was crying silently. And I knew exactly why. Again, this isn't a happy novel and while I wasn't effected by the ending like my mother, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey Sharon Draper took us on. I felt for the characters, thinking of them even after I was done with the story.

When I read the novel as a young adult, I had only met death once, finding some similarities between my feelings and those of the characters. Unfortunately, the older I became the more death came to visit.

I would love to read this novel again but probably never will. I remember how the story went and continue to think of my mother and her silent tears, and know the person I am today, who's dealt with more and more death and grief, would not make it through the read dry-eyed.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Anybody who knows me knows how much I love a mystery/thriller/suspense and this YA novel is a mystery.

Sixteen strangers are invited to gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing’s will, which reveals that one of the heirs murdered Westing and the heir who solves the mystery will inherit Westing’s millions. A bizarre chain of events begins until the mystery is solved.

I enjoyed this book because I remember it being the first of its kind. I remember feeling like I was solving a puzzle and reading a book all in one. The clues that were given to the characters in the novel were clues for us as readers as well. We weren't given any additional hints as the reader and had to wait for each bomb to drop, literally and figuratively.

Unlike Tears of a Tiger, this book was full of fun twists and turns. There were clever and engaging clues that just left you wanting to read more.

Within the last few years, my sister gifted me a book titled Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn and she explained that it was similar to The Westing Game to a degree. Shout out to her because I enjoyed that novel as well and I recommend it. It's a quick read, around 200 pages.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This book may or may not need an introduction. It's been in circulation for years, originally published in 1960, and appears on many must-read lists, often with titles like Pride & Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, and Jane Eyre (none of which I've read interestingly enough).

The novel takes place in Alabama during the Great Depression. The protagonist is Jean Louise Finch (“Scout”), an intelligent an unconventional girl who ages from six to nine years old throughout the course of the novel. She is raised with her brother by their widowed father, Atticus Finch, a prominent lawyer. He notably tells his children that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, as birds are innocent and harmless.

When Tom Robinson, a Black man, is falsely accused of raping a white woman, Atticus agrees to defend him despite threats from the community. Although Atticus presents a great defense in court with plausible evidence, Tom gets convicted, and he is later killed while trying to escape custody. His death is compared to “the senseless slaughter of songbirds,” paralleling Atticus’s saying about the mockingbird.

After the trial, Scout and her brother as attacked by the man their father accused in court, and are saved by an unlikely neighbor, helping the siblings learn even more about humanity.

The first time I read this book, it was assigned to me in middle school. Originally I was intimidated by the subject matter but once I started reading, it didn't take long for the story to engross me. I read the novel before I knew it was a "classic" or "must-read," which I liked. I wasn't swayed by any reviews or acclaims. I enjoyed the book because there were a lot of well-written and interesting characters, a few surprises, and for me, something new to discuss with each read.

I'm not usually interested in works surrounding social/racial injustice, so I understand if this book isn't everyone's cup of tea but I do recommend reading it at least once. There's also a To Kill a Mockingbird movie that closely represents the book. I recommend watching that as well.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This is not a YA novel, but I read it as a young adult so it made the list. In short, this novel is about a thirteen-year-old who sues her parents for medical emancipation when she is told to donate a kidney to her older sister, who is dying from acute leukemia.

The plot of the novel felt original, and posed questions that challenged you ethically, morally, medically, and psychologically. I was engrossed in the thoughts/feelings of the thirteen year old sister, being about that age when I read the book, but having no relatable experience.

As I read about the sisters, I often thought of the relationship I had with mine and wondered if/how our relationship would change if one of us were terminally ill. Would one of us feel less loved, or feel that we were only around for the purpose of healing the sick child?

This novel was turned into a movie and I read the book before the movie was even thought of, which is nice because I prefer to read the book before watching the movie. Unfortunately, the movie was disappointing to me but I highly recommend reading the book.

The book is over 400 pages, but you won't notice the length once you start reading. The book was well-written and heartfelt, with characters that you grow invested in. I remember having mixed feelings about the main character's motives, as well as the novel's ending (which the movie changed, boo!)

This was the first novel I read by Jodi Picoult. The first of many. I recommend her books, which are written about a variety of topics.

Since adolescence I've read a number of books that I'll never forget. I'm a book lover, and I love that for me.

Again, these are all great books that I believe even adults will enjoy in addition to young readers.

Book suggestions? Please drop them in the comments.