365 Q&A #61: Books That Changed Me

Today's writing prompt asked me to browse a website called jobstr.com, a website where you can ask real people questions about their work, for inspiration. On this website I found a literary scout who was answering some questions. I stumbled upon the following question:

If you were designing a high school curriculum and could hand-pick the the books students would read, name 5 that would make your list. The scout chose the following books:

1. 1984

2. Rebecca

3. Go Tell it on a Mountain

4. Death of a Moth

5. My Name is Asher Lev

You can read their reasons behind the above choices here. Firstly, I have only read one of these books on the list (1984) and have made it my duty to read the remaining. Secondly, this post prompted me to think about my own list. What books would I recommend high-schoolers to read and why? My list would include:

1. 1984

This novel changed my life and only furthered my love for science fiction. Orwell's novel is still so relevant today. 1984 takes place in a world where a fascist government reigns supreme and details the danger of living in that society.

*sidebar if you love this novel you will love the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut. It also takes place in a dystopian society.

2. Every Man Dies Alone

This novel by Hans Fallada is based on the true story of a working class husband and wife who, acting alone, became part of the German Resistance. This story shows how just one person can make a difference; how one person they can produce change with enough grit and determination.

3. Fahrenheit 451

Another classic that focuses on the idea of censorship and how harmful it is. This is also extremely relevant in the world we are living in today.

4. You Are a Badass

As teenagers who will quickly be expected to make adult decisions relatively soon, this self help book helps you identify and change bad behaviors that are keeping you from living the life you want. As young teens are thinking about their life and what they want it to be this book could be helpful in identifying the path they need in order to get where they want to go in life.

*creatives see the novel Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - I HIGHLY recommend it. Writers read Stephen King's On Writing, you won't regret it.

5. The Time Keeper

This novel by Mitch Albom is a delight. It's a story about the first man on earth to count the hours; Father Time. It follows him as he sets out to teach two people the true meaning of time before it's too late. This book really makes you think about time and how we treat our time here on Earth. It's important for young folks to understand the meaning of time in order to break it's confinements. We have more time than we think but that doesn't mean we should waste it on things that don't make us happy.

Bonus novels everyone should read: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Giver trilogy (The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger) by Lois Lowry, and Maus I & II, a graphic novel by Art Spiegelman depicting the life of Spiegelman's Father, a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor (shout out to my 9th & 10th grade English teacher Mr. St. John for introducing me to this one).