Let me just clarify that I have read a LOT of books in my lifetime. I’ve read Stephen King, Dostoevsky, Hemingway, you name it. However, I just keep coming back to the books I read as a kid and I tend to enjoy them more. They are more light-hearted and fun and substantially less sexist than their adult counterparts. I believe reading should be done for entertainment, and not done so people can be all pretentious about what they read. I’m sure many of you actually read stuff like Nietzsche and actually enjoy it (nerds), but for a lot of us, we use reading to escape our day to day lives. I’m not saying we give up on adult books, we should just try and find more things that we enjoy, and not because they are popular. There are plenty of adult books out there that are fun, not sexist, and great reads. Anyways, here are some childhood books you should consider re-reading:
Fablehaven
I recently re-read this series last summer and was very surprised as to how well it still holds up. This series deals with themes such as loss, sexism, racism, and more. It is also very fun and adventure packed. The series centers around two siblings, Seth and Kendra , and their surprise lives after living with their grandparents. There’s magic, dragons, romance, and swords! It truly has something for every person. I especially loved how Kendra was not given traditional female gender roles and when people mentioned her, they mentioned her smarts instead of her appearance. I highly recommend reading these books if you are in the mood for fantasy!
Leven Thumps
Want another fantasy based series that feature strong female characters, funny animal sidekicks, and egg people? Then this is the series for you. I read these books a few months ago, and although long, it was very worthwhile. The series deals with topics such as parental abuse, corruption, grief, growing up, and more. It is an incredibly creative book and deals with magical lands, wars, weird wizard guys, and an evil toothpick. If you do not do well with abuse, I wouldn’t suggest reading this book. The characters in this story age, so it is not just for kids and allows for many different readers to relate to the characters!
Percy Jackson
If you know anything about me, you know that I LOVE the Percy Jackson series. Rick Riordan is an incredible author who incorporates many heavier themes in this light-hearted (for the most part) series. This series is Greek Mythology made even more interesting. There’s Poseidon, Aphrodite, Zeus and all of your favorite Gods from classical Greek Mythology. It does not shy away from the bad things about the gods, either, like their tendency to be jealous, or their lack of care for their children. This series and many of Rick Riordan’s other series, feature characters with disabilities, POC, strong women characters, and more. It is so very fun and very accurate with its information. I would highly recommend this to everyone in the world (However don’t even get me started on the horrible excuse of the movies which in my opinion, do NOT exist).
Maze Runner
Man, I can’t believe they even classify this as a kids book. I don’t think children should be subjected to the heartbreak which is this series. Maze Runner is a post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction series that centers on the main character Thomas. It is based on our society in which was affected by solar flares and it is reminiscent of the Hunger Games world. Do not come into this thinking it will be light-hearted and fun. There is loss, there is corruption, and an unhappy ending. It is, however, very good.
Eragon
Another example of a great book that resulted in a horrible movie. Eragon is a great (albeit very long) book about dragons and adventure. It is a very thought-out series that leaves no loose ends. There are evil kings and good guys and a chase and all of that good stuff. The author himself wrote this book when he was still a teen, which makes it all the more impressive. I would highly recommend this book, but be prepared to spend a long time reading it, especially if you choose to read the rest of the series.
Harry Potter
Last but certainly not least is the much-loved Harry Potter series. I just had to include this even though we are all pretty much on the same page that these books still bang. Although my recent disappointment in J.K. Rowling with her defense of Johnny Depp, this series is a timeless classic that will NEVER get old no matter how old you get. For those of you who don’t know, Harry Potter centers around a young boy named ….wait for it…..Harry Potter, and his journey to becoming a wizard. Both the movies and the books are amazing, and I will love them always.
There are many more good books out there that I do not have the time or the room to write about but these are a few of my favorites. I hope this helps book lovers like me gain inspiration on what to read. Happy reading!