I feel like I have been a reader my entire life. Literally, some of my earliest memories involve books, and the role they have played in my life has been IMMEASURABLE! Not only do I think my passion for reading has served me well in my academic/professional life (excluding the obvious – the fact that I became an English teacher – it has also given me valuable vocabulary, writing, and communication skills), but it has also expanded my world view, allowed me to experience things and “meet” people I would NEVER otherwise, and been an escape for me through some of my hardest, busiest, and most stressful times. When I think about Sam’s future, I firmly believe that one of the greatest gifts I can give him is a love for reading.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a little list of the 10 novels that made me fall in love with reading…
In the order in which (I think) I first encountered them:
1. The Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin
My dad read almost every single one of these books to me. Although I know I read a lot of picture books as a young child, The Babysitters Club comes to mind immediately when I think of my earliest reading experiences. I love that these were something I shared with my dad – my poor dad who only had two girls – and to this day, we sometimes joke about Kristy, Stacy, Mary Anne, and Claudia. Our family dog growing up was even named Mallory.
2. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
These were the first “Chapter Books” I read by myself. I vividly recall being in first grade and skipping recess with another girl to sit inside and read these books. I’m pretty sure that’s part of the definition of being a nerd, but I think I turned out ok. 😉
3. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I read this book in third grade and connected with Anne right away. I LOVED her. I think this was also the book I did my first book report on, and I still remember the poster I drew of a big yellow house with a girl wearing two read braids walking on the roof. I’ve probably re-read this book more than any others on the list, and I love it every time.
Sixth grade. BLEW.ME.AWAY. My first exposure to “dystopian societies” and way better than any of the thousands that have come sense. This was also the first book that really introduced me to the concept of symbolism and something being deeper than it appears on the surface – I saw a lot of Jesus in it and was totally fascinated by that. Still one of my very favorite books of all time… I CAN’T WAIT for the movie this summer!
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Eighth Grade. One of the first books that really challenged the way I thought about people and the world. This made me want to be a better person.
6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Eleventh grade. I had the biggest crush on Nick Carraway and developed a strange obsession with the Roaring Twenties and the “lost generation” of writers.
7. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Twelfth grade AP English with Mrs. Dinkins. We read this book and kept journals of significant quotes to talk about in class. It was the first book that was taught in a more discussion-based format, and I really learned how to “analyze” and “dissect” literature for the first time. I think this class made me want to be an English teacher.
8. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Freshman year at Clemson. Contemporary Literature with Professor Swords. This was a young teacher that wore superhero t-shirts and converse sneakers, and sat on his desk to lead discussions. In Cold Blood was the first “nonfiction narrative” work I’d ever read, and I was completely enamored by the style (still one of my very favorite genres). I stayed up all night in my dorm room reading this and was scared out of my mind. This book allowed me to acknowledge/admit that really prefer contemporary literature to classics – and that’s OK.
9. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
I read this on a road trip with my girlfriends in the fall of our senior year of college. Devoured it. I’ve read probably twenty books by Jodi Picoult since this one, and – mainstream/”pop” or not – she is my “go to” author for a powerful, but easy read. I love her voice as a writer and the way she researches her topics. I always know what I’m going to get with Picoult, like an old friend. (I did NOT love this movie at all.)
10. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I did my final project on this for my master’s degree at Radford and still credit it for my passion for teenagers. Anderson really got into the minds of adolescent girls for this one, and it struck me in SO many ways. This book made me really value YA fiction as literature and has introduced me to many other fantastic writers in that field. More than any other book, this one has influenced me as a teacher and given me a desire to “connect with” my students and impact their lives through books.
This was, honestly, a TOUGH exercise. I feel like there are so many other books that I love that didn’t make the list, but it is a pretty accurate reflection of my reading life. Will I make Sam read all of these? Absolutely not. Will I encourage him to read many of them? Sure! BUT, if this list does anything, it proves that you don’t have to be an English scholar, you don’t have to read Faulkner and Twain and Dickens, you don’t have to read anything in particular to become a reader, you just have to READ. You have to find what makes you love reading, and read that. That is what I will teach Sam.
So, what would be on a list of “My Life in Books”? What made you fall in love with reading? Please share! I can’t wait to see what you pick! (And, I’m sure, probably remember fifteen other titles I forgot all about!)
E
P.S. If you haven’t already, check out this post I wrote about The Most Important Book I Teach.
What a great list!! The Babysitters Club and Great Gatsby would definitely be on my list too. I definitely want to read The Giver before the movie comes out this year. I’m totally going to steal this idea and make my own list! 🙂
Yes, you MUST read The Giver! When you write your list, please come back and link to it here! I’d love to see it!!
The BSC books were basically my life until..uhhh…I was way too old to admit to still reading such books. Glad to know you were just as passionate!! Also, I really hope you’ve thoroughly examined The Definitive Ranking Of All 131 BSC Cover Outfits (http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/the-definitive-ranking-of-baby-sitters-club-cover-outfits), which is the best Buzzfeed ever. EVER. But fair warning: you’ll probably laugh so hard you might cry. Anyway, I agree with all of your other picks except for the ones I haven’t read (In Cold Blood and Speak). My book club did The Giver a few months ago and it was just as faaaabulous as adults as it was as 5th graders! I remember Bridge to Terabithia being incredibly impactful as a kid…that was one of the first times I connected so deeply with characters (and obviously sobbed like a baby when she died).
Oh Bridge to Terabithia (have I mentioned how much it bothers me that I can’t italicize or underline in comments… it’s like I’m going against everything I stand for) – I LOVE that one and it was definitely an “honorable mention” on my list. So good. Is it true that the movie “My Girl” was based off of it? You should definitely read In Cold Blood (it’s a little graphic/gory, but you could handle it) and Speak (so good), AND, you MUST make your own list. Please?!
I would say at least half of these are on my top 10. I wrote a unit plan for “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in grad school, I used to teach “Speak” to my ninth graders, I’ve loves “The Giver” since 8th grade and read the sequels in college (I was super cool). BUT, I have to say, my #1 would have to be ” A Wrinkle on Time.” It’s been one of my favorite books since 6th grade.
Wrinkle in Time was also one of the ones I considered for this list – I can remember reading it upstairs at my grandparents’ house for some reason – but, I never fully got into the fantasy genre… I’m super curious how your students & school district did with Speak when you taught it. I would LOVE to teach it, but I worry a little about the content. Thoughts?
I wasn’t there when Speak was first introduced, but by the time I taught it, a lot of kids knew what happened from friends and siblings. We sent home the reading list at the beginning of the year, and I always prefaced the unit with a “maturity” chat. We usually spent a day talking about THAT scene, and relating it back to why Melinda was so depressed throughout. Unfortunately, there were a couple times where it hit too close to home for a couple students, but I never had any angry parent emails. I think if you give the heads up with enough notice that parents can pre-read, most tend to be ok with their kids’ reading it. (And having your administrators and dept chairs in your corner helps too!)
My students tended to react as strongly or even more strongly to the issues Melinda had with friends and parents. I think those were things most could draw direct connections to in their own lives.
Thanks for the response! I can totally see handling it that way with my ninth graders (for the most part, an uncharacteristically mature bunch). I might re-read it this summer and consider it for next year. I’d LOVE to start the year (and kick off my “we all have a story” unit) with it. I used to read the first pages on the first day of school at my old school…
Love ALL these books. I have actually read 8 out of 10 of them.
JP is also a go to for me and I have probably read 20 of her books.
I have a friend that teaches Nineteen Minutes to her juniors and I thought that book might be a good book to compliment with Columbine for your kiddos. The Pact was my first Picoult book and still one of my favs.
Nineteen Minutes is definitely one I recommend to students that are interested in Columbine, but I had never considered teaching it. I love all the ways teachers are teaching modern works today! (P.S. I read The Pact on my honeymoon – romantic huh? #myhusbandknewwhathewasgetting)
Love it! I’ve been eagerly anticipating this post. I like thinking about favorite books over a timeline of sorts. It shows how you’ve grown over the years and how your tastes have changed. I wouldn’t judge you if you still read the Babysitter’s Club, though.
I too have read a lot of these books. I totally read EVERY SINGLE BSC book! I remember setting up our own little baby sitters clubs!! 😉 Even though I am not big into fantasy literature, I will always have a special place in my heart for The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. My dad loved these books and passed that on to me! These are one of the few books that I have re-read. I have found that as I get older, the books that seem to really speak to me are those in which adversity is acknowledged and overcome but I definitely still like a purely fictional thriller book too! And FYI – I have In Cold Blood waiting for me on my kindle based solely on your recommendation! Cant wait!
bah! i can’t believe picoult is on this list! i’ve read three of her books (including sister’s keeper) and rolled my eyes the whole time.
i think steinbeck would take up at least five of my top ten.
Ha! I’ve been waiting for a comment like this… I just told my husband last night that I almost didn’t put JP on there because I know some avid readers think her style is too canned or “pop”ish and it might make me seem less credible. 🙂
While I’d agree that Picoult seems to have novel-writing down to a quick and easy 12 step plan, she still kind-of amazes me. Like her books or not, I do think there is something to be said for someone who chooses interesting and original story lines (ugg, I’m so over the affair and love story that is in EVERY SINGLE “beach read” out there), puts a good bit of research into the books she writes, AND has a style that is easy and attractive for MAINSTREAM/CASUAL readers. I appreciate “quality” literature – and I’m not sure I would call hers that – but I also appreciate people who can write for the masses (a simple, thought-provoking, and quick read). Her books have made many a non-reading friend (like my sister for example) get “into” the story and actually find reading enjoyable. As I said in my post, she is my “break” reading. Ok, off that soapbox…
As for Steinbeck, you are much smarter and more sophisticated than me. Of Mice and Men would be in my top 50 probably; otherwise, he’s too wordy for my taste.
Are we still friends? 😉
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