Everyone has their favorite book, but there are some novels that span across genres and generations to become classics. A classic isn't a classic simply because it was published a long time ago. Good, classic books transcend time because they make us evoke emotions in all of us, and there are some books that everyone should get to experience at least once.
1. The Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling
Yes, all of them. No, they are not children's books. Harry Potter is an immersive, ever-expanding world, and the movies (while they have their merits) don't do J.K. Rowling's work the justice it deserves; and there's so much you miss out in if you only watch the movies. Did you know Hermione started a club to campaign for the rights of house-elves? Did you know Gilderoy Lockhart makes an appearance after the second book ends? Did you Ginny Weasley is so much cooler than the movies make her out to be? The wizarding world is so rich and complex, you'll want to live there forever.
2. "Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe," Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Two boys, Ari and Dante, spend a summer together and become best friends. Ari spends most of his time isolated, especially since his brother was arrested, and part of him is scared of getting close to Dante. But there are worse things in the world than a boy who loves another boy, and Ari learns to come out of his shell and not be so afraid.
3. "To Kill A Mockingbird," Harper Lee
Everyone knows this one. Scout's father Atticus, a lawyer, is the center of her world, and her moral compass. He teaches her about right from wrong in ways a child can understand. Atticus was a symbol of goodness and righteousness for her (and for all of us who read it). In light of Harper Lee's death last week, it's time for a reread.
4. "Go Set A Watchman," Harper Lee
Though Harper Lee presented it to her publishers first, this book actually takes place after the events of "To Kill A Mockingbird." It follows an adult Scout returning home and reflecting on her past, and how different her Southern hometown is from New York, where she'd been attending college. It's essential if you fell in love with Scout and her family in the first novel.
5."It's Kind of A Funny Story," Ned Vizzini
After experiencing extreme pressure from his new high school, fifteen year old Craig checks himself into a mental hospital. While the people in his life are surprised at his decision, they resolve to help him in any way he can. The book deals with a lot of heavy subject matter in an uplifting, almost funny way. No matter how bad things get, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.
6. "The Outsiders," S. E. Hinton
Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest of three brother, lives in a world of violence and fear. His brothers and friends live on the poor side of town and are part of the "greaser" gang, and their rivals, the Socs (Socials), live on the other side of town. In the two weeks during which the novel takes place, Ponyboy sees the people he loves lost to this senseless violence and has to find a way to handle his own trauma.
7. "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley
You know how in high school English class, your teacher talks about all the symbolism in the book, and you can't help but wonder if the author actually meant that or if teachers just make that up? You can't make up the symbolism in "Frankenstein." Mary Shelley has a lot to say about birth, motherhood, parenting, familial ties, death, and loneliness in the original monster story. She lost her own children, through illnesses as infants or through miscarriages, and her own mother died giving birth to her; it is essential to keep these facts in mind when reading the novel.
Also, without this book, we wouldn't have the sci-fi classics we know and love today. A 19 year old girl invented science fiction. Let that sink in.
8. "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald
You probably read this one in high school, and you probably remember wanting desperately wanting to beat some sense into most, if not all, of the characters; however, dismissing them before digging a little deeper is doing this novel a great (pun intended) disservice. The symbolism is incredible (you probably had at least one quiz question on the meaning of the green light or the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg), and underneath the love story, it encompasses the story of America during this time.
9. "The Help," Kathryn Stockett
Alternating between the points of view of Aibileen and Minnie, two African-American maids, and Skeeter, an aspiring writer. Skeeter decides to interview Abileen about what it's like being a maid, and eventually, all of the maids in their small Mississippi town get involved. One of the many reasons "The Help" is so incredible is because it completely shatters the fourth wall: Skeeter actually publishes a novel called "The Help" and it becomes a sensation. Each woman tells her own story, and each one is as powerful as the next.
10. Shakespeare's Plays
This isn't a specific book, but everyone should read at least some Shakespeare at some point in their lives. His words are lyrical and timeless, and although his works have seen many different interpretations, they're best understood in their original form. Taking on Shakespeare can sound daunting, but understanding his words are worth the time and effort put in.
11. "The Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings" series, J. R. R. Tolkien
These books are the height of fantasy novels. The world is so complex and the characters so memorable, you won't be able to stop turning the pages. These books hold lessons on leadership, morality, friendship, and self-discovery, and it all starts with a little hobbit, who's never left his home before, going on an adventure.
12. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," Judy Blume
12-year-old Margaret Simon just wants to fit in with her new group of friends after she moves from New York to New Jersey, but none of them believe she doesn't have a religion. Margaret's mother is Christina and her father is Jewish, and they chose to let their daughter practice religion in her own way instead of forcing it upon her. Margaret visits a synagogue and a church, but finds it easiest to speak with God in her own, informal way. Though the book is aimed at preteen girls, it packs a hard punch, and I think it's necessary reading for all ages and genders.
13. "Speak," Laurie Halse Anderson
Starting high school is hard enough, but when everyone knows you called the cops on a summer party doesn't make things any easier. Melinda can't tell anyone why she called the police or what happened at the party; ever since that night, she's been speaking less and less. Her parents, teachers, and peers don't understand her selective mutism, but it's essential to her survival. Anderson cuts right to the heart in this devastating novel about the power of words.
14. "The Picture of Dorian Gray," Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde is known for his plays (and generally being fabulous) but his only novel is a work of art, pun intended. The haunted portrait that hangs in Dorian Gray's attic ages for him; every sin he commits is recorded in wrinkles and silver hairs on his portrait, leaving him free to remain youthful and live his hedonistic lifestyle. Wilde's witty quips alone make this worth the read.
15. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," Stephen Chbosky
Charlie is a loner trying to find his way, and he is entrusting a certain person with his thoughts as he goes through high school. Told through a series of letters, Charlie documents his school year, with all of its ups, downs, and mental breakdowns. His friend group grows, he falls in love, and tries to figure out what that means for him.
16. "The Hunger Games," Suzanne Collins
When Katniss Everdeen volunteered to take her sister's place in a highly publicized battle to the death, she never intended to spark a political revolution. She becomes a symbol for the rebellion, a burden she never wanted to carry, but she shoulders it in the name of keeping the people she loves safe. You might be ready to write off this trilogy as just another YA sensation, but it is honest and it does not pull any punches.
17. "The Book Thief," Markus Zusak
As soon as Liesel learns to read, she falls in love with the beauty of words, but even before she could read, she had a penchant for stealing books. She steals from grave diggers, from the mayor's wife, and even saves one from a Nazi book burning. She shares her stories with Max, a young Jewish boy her family is hiding. As World War II rages on, Death keeps a special watch over the book thief as our narrator.
18. "The Giver," Lois Lowry
In a world where you are never taught to be different, how do you make your own choices? Jonas lives in a black and white world, where everyone lives by a strict set of rules that nobody questions. When Jonas is selected to receive all the memories of the time before this world was created, he begins to see the flaws in the sameness.
19. "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This short story is told entirely as a series of journal entires. We never even learn the narrator's name, only that her husband is a doctor and she is being treated for "hysteria." The remedy her husband, John, suggests is the "rest cure;" they move into an old house and the narrator stays inside her room all day. She is instructed not to write or exert herself in any way. The narrator becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in her room, going so far as to tear it off the walls. Even though it is a short story, there are clues throughout the entires that indicate that this house is not what it seems.
20. "The Lovely Bones," Alice Sebold
Susie Salmon was just 14 years old when she was murdered, and she shares the details of her life, her death and her family with us. Her father spirals out of control in an attempt to track down his beloved daughter's killer, her first love goes on to do great things but never forgets her, and her little brother barely remembers her as he grows older but feels her loss nonetheless. Susie watches as her killer gets away and her family fractures into pieces, but despite the horror, this book has a purity to it, and an ending that leaves you with a sense of peace.
21. "A Series of Unfortunate Events," Lemony Snicket
This is by no means a complete list. Everyone has a book that they know everyone should read in their lifetime. If you haven't read any of the books on this list, however, a trip to the library is definitely in order!
