Really this post should have been titled “10 MG Books That Will Remind You What’s Important in Life,” but I thought that was a little long.
Honest to goodness, though, these ten stories are better than most adult books. If you are looking for a way to re-set your perspective going into 2021, I highly HIGHLY recommend any of these.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
A beautiful story about love and identity and how the words spoken over you have power.
The Fantastical Adventures of the Invisible Boy by Lloyd Alexander
A reminder of what it feels like to be young, to dream big dreams, and to see the entire world and all of history as a giant playground, even in the middle of family hardship, loss, and significant world events.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
An insightful study into the part of all of us that wants to escape responsibility and the mundane anonymity of the modern world for a more raw struggle of good against evil and a world where our choices have great importance.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A beautiful story about the importance of facing pain instead of numbing it, and the value of learning from the darkest moments of humanity.
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Sometimes the very things we don’t like about ourselves are our greatest gifts. And those gifts are needed by the people around us.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A celebration of books, stories, and the written word! Raises some thoughtful questions about what motivates writers and whether they know the consequences of the darkness and light they create.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A story that tackles racism, justice, the value of human life, and the dangers of judging people by their appearance, all from the perspective of an eight-year-old.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A beautiful story about hope, rejuvenation, and new life. Mary and Colin, cousins born continents apart, both neglected and bitter children, find new joy in life in caring for the secret garden of Colin’s deceased mother.
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Basically, just an excuse to pretend you live in the Alps and drink goat’s milk for dinner and hike up to the high meadow every day with Peter.
Also about pure, unselfish love can heal decades of bitterness and loneliness.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
A reminder that there has long been a struggle for planet earth and we each have a role to play in it, no matter how old we are. Love is a more powerful force than hate and there are more wondrous things in our universe than we can see with the naked eye.
