These are the "Top Ten Books" that I would say are my all time favorite books! On my list, I will begin with my "least favorite" of my favorite books that I've read at number ten, and working my way down to my "most favorite" of my favorite books I've read at number one (if that made any sense!) Includes Multiple Spoilers!
Book List:
10. Divergent By: Veronica Roth
Divergent is one of my all time favorite books for so many reasons! First of all, I love the theme that is portrayed and the message that is given throughout the story; to take risks and follow your own path despite what others may expect or what is typically expected of you. The main character, Tris, is also extremely inspiring, and shows great bravery and strength, even in times of danger and difficulty. I personally love that it takes place in a dystopian society in future Chicago. I think it's pretty amazing that it takes place in future Chicago, where we practically live (we live in the Chicagoland Area.) Dystopian societies also interest me greatly, because I enjoy seeing what life would be like if something were to go wrong, and life were to change. It really makes me think about how lucky I am to live in a World where we are not only limited to certain choices, but are free to make more decisions than those living in a world where the government basically controls all of their choices.
9. The Giver By: Lois Lowry
The Giver is one of my all time favorite books again for multiple reasons. Like I said previously, I love books with dystopian societies, and The Giver sure has a pretty strict, and unfair one. Though, I think it's so interesting how the children only get certain objects/toys when they turn a certain age, and how the people aren't able to see colors. I would never be able to live like that, but I love putting myself in the characters shoes, and imagining what it would be like to be them. I read this book when I was in 5th grade, because it was recommended to me by a teacher. I really enjoyed the book, and that was the book that really got me interested in reading about dystopian and utopian societies. I just love to see how they live! It's also good because at some points it can be sad, like when people get to a certain age and they have to give those people a shot to kill them, or when they have to kill premature infants, though it's not so overly sad that it's unapproachable. It contains parts that make you feel, and I love books that really make me feel some emotion. I also admire the different pieces of hidden symbolism that are embedded into the story. Those symbols give the novel so much more meaning, and make the story that much more interesting!
8. The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games, is honestly one of the best books I've read! Again, the characters live in a dystopian society (can you see a pattern?) and I just admire how all of the people, even though they're living an extremely rough, and somewhat scary life, manage to stay strong, and keep moving on. I also like how the underdogs succeed in The Hunger Games. I know that in most books and movies, you tend to see the under dog thrive, but it feels different here. Sometimes, it's too predictable, and you know that the main character is going to most likely win or do well with whatever they do, but I feel like in this novel, we're not so sure that Katniss or Peeta will win the Hunger Games. I mean, only one person was supposed to survive in the first place, so it was a miracle that they both won. The characters, Katniss and Peeta, are also both exuberantly likable, and they have a point to prove. That they can win the games for not only themselves and their families, but they can also show the World that it's really possible to do well with something that you're expected to fail. They prove that they can do well, even when the odds aren't in their favor.
7. Esperanza Rising By: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising is one of my favorite books, simply because I love the story! The novel is about a young girl named Esperanza who loses her house, her father, and all of her possessions in one night. Her evil uncle killed her father, and was threatening the family. So, Esperanza, her mother, and their previous servants must move to America from Mexico, leaving Esperanza's grandmother behind, so they could go to work at a camp in California. Esperanza had to leave her previous way of living behind (getting whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it) and learn to rough it a little. When her mother becomes ill she takes over multiple responsibilities, and when her mother is finally better, they manage to bring over her grandmother to America. It's an unbelievably touching story, and shows that even people in life who have/had it all, can thrive without all of the luxuries in life, and it teaches us that even when times are tough, you can work and preserver through! Esperanza surely showed us it was possible, and she made a big leap, from having it all, to basically being homeless. This novel shows that when you lose it all, even when life seems impossible, you can get through. Though, it also shows that some people have it really hard in life, so before you complain about how hard your life is, you should look at what other people have to go through, and then decide how "rough" you think you have it.
6. Mama's Bank Account By: Kathryn Forbes
Mama's Bank Account is one of my favorite books, and it may not look very interesting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! My 4th Grade Accelerated reading teacher, Mrs. Cowell read it to us, and I was always excited to hear another chapter! It's about a family of Norwegian immigrants, who move to San Francisco California, and despite their troubles, their "Mama" always gets them through. In each chapter the family encounters a problem, and it's so interesting how the family reacts and adjusts because they were not exactly accustomed to the American way of living right away, like any immigrants would be! I loved following the families journey in America, and it was overall very heart warming how they all loved each other and supported and helped each other through all of the struggles America brought them. I believe that another main reason why I am in awe of this story, is because it's much different from the types of stories I normally read, yet it felt familiar and new all at the same times.
5. Love, Aubrey By: Suzanne LaFluer
4. When You Reach Me By: Rebecca Stead
When You Reach Me is probably the closest thing to a mystery book that I've read, and it's unbelievable, and very confusing! Basically, there's a main character named Miranda, who gets 3 anonymous notes about things that will happen in the future, all of which come true, and in the end, she meets the person who was writing the notes who is actually a time traveler! Miranda eventually meets Marcus (the time traveler) and he explains his whole time traveling experience! I love how all of the puzzle pieces slowly come together, and all make sense in the end! I feel like a magnet just attracted all of the pieces and connected them together. I also love the idea of making the story about time travel. It's also kind of creepy, and I'm not totally into anything scary, but this book can send a chill down my spine, but is not so scary that it would give me nightmares. The whole mood of the book is a bit eerie, and you would never think it was about time travel, but I guess that kind of teaches you not to judge a book by it's cover.
3. The Fault in our Stars By: John Green
2. Out of my Mind By: Sharon M. Draper
This novel is absolutely incredible, and I could read over, and over, and over again, and I would still cry, and I would still laugh, and I would still be obsessed with the book. In Out of my Mind the main character Melody has Cerebral Palsy, a disease that affects her body, but not her mind. So, she can't walk, or really talk at all. So, she has a computer that she talks through. Though, don't let this handicap fool you, she is incredibly intelligent! She is often underestimated though, because her body doesn't work like everyone else's. She ends up making a team to compete in a math competition in another state, but her teammates leave her behind because they look at her as not being smart enough because she is handicapped. It's so heartbreaking because, like most people, you want the under dog to succeed, though, in a way she does. I love this novel so much because even though, the character doesn't end up getting to show that she really is smart at the competition, she is able to show the rest of her classmates that she's actually quite intelligent (even smarter than the children in her class who don't have a disability that could hold them back.) The story proves that even if you are underestimated, you can still prove a point. Though, the main moral of the story is really to not judge a book by it's cover. Though Melody had Cerebral Palsy, she was incredibly smart, and because she couldn't communicate verbally, or move, people didn't expect or believe that she was intelligent. That just shows you that it doesn't matter what someone looks like, or if they can talk, or if they can walk, or if they look different then others, they can still exceed expectations, and thrive in whatever they're doing, whether that be sports, or art, or school! You can be amazing no matter what disabilities you may have. Some people just don't realize that.
7. Esperanza Rising By: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising is one of my favorite books, simply because I love the story! The novel is about a young girl named Esperanza who loses her house, her father, and all of her possessions in one night. Her evil uncle killed her father, and was threatening the family. So, Esperanza, her mother, and their previous servants must move to America from Mexico, leaving Esperanza's grandmother behind, so they could go to work at a camp in California. Esperanza had to leave her previous way of living behind (getting whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it) and learn to rough it a little. When her mother becomes ill she takes over multiple responsibilities, and when her mother is finally better, they manage to bring over her grandmother to America. It's an unbelievably touching story, and shows that even people in life who have/had it all, can thrive without all of the luxuries in life, and it teaches us that even when times are tough, you can work and preserver through! Esperanza surely showed us it was possible, and she made a big leap, from having it all, to basically being homeless. This novel shows that when you lose it all, even when life seems impossible, you can get through. Though, it also shows that some people have it really hard in life, so before you complain about how hard your life is, you should look at what other people have to go through, and then decide how "rough" you think you have it.
Mama's Bank Account is one of my favorite books, and it may not look very interesting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! My 4th Grade Accelerated reading teacher, Mrs. Cowell read it to us, and I was always excited to hear another chapter! It's about a family of Norwegian immigrants, who move to San Francisco California, and despite their troubles, their "Mama" always gets them through. In each chapter the family encounters a problem, and it's so interesting how the family reacts and adjusts because they were not exactly accustomed to the American way of living right away, like any immigrants would be! I loved following the families journey in America, and it was overall very heart warming how they all loved each other and supported and helped each other through all of the struggles America brought them. I believe that another main reason why I am in awe of this story, is because it's much different from the types of stories I normally read, yet it felt familiar and new all at the same times.5. Love, Aubrey By: Suzanne LaFluer
Love, Aubrey will always be one of my favorite books, and it's incredibly sad and inspiring all at the same time. When Aubrey's Dad and sister die in a car accident, she's left with only her mother. Only days after the passing of her family members, her mother abandons her, and is forced to live with her Grandmother. Hoping everyday that her mother will come back, she makes new friends, goes to school, and continuously wonders why her mother just up and left her, I mean, who wouldn't be curious? When her mother really does come for Aubrey, she is different, and in need of serious help. Though, when her mother is better, she goes back home, and Aubrey stays with Grandmother until she's ready to go home with her mom. I enjoyed this story because I was able to put my feet in Aubrey's shoes, and it really made me feel something. It was the first book that ever made me cry. It really teaches you to be grateful for what you have because one day it could all be gone. It also teaches you to be grateful for what you have, because others have it much harder. Aubrey is so inspirational because she continues to live life even when it seems to be falling apart, and she will forever be one of the most inspirational characters I will have ever read about.
When You Reach Me is probably the closest thing to a mystery book that I've read, and it's unbelievable, and very confusing! Basically, there's a main character named Miranda, who gets 3 anonymous notes about things that will happen in the future, all of which come true, and in the end, she meets the person who was writing the notes who is actually a time traveler! Miranda eventually meets Marcus (the time traveler) and he explains his whole time traveling experience! I love how all of the puzzle pieces slowly come together, and all make sense in the end! I feel like a magnet just attracted all of the pieces and connected them together. I also love the idea of making the story about time travel. It's also kind of creepy, and I'm not totally into anything scary, but this book can send a chill down my spine, but is not so scary that it would give me nightmares. The whole mood of the book is a bit eerie, and you would never think it was about time travel, but I guess that kind of teaches you not to judge a book by it's cover.
3. The Fault in our Stars By: John Green
I think that The Fault in our Stars is probably one of everyone's favorite books, and lets just say, I basically love every aspect of it! It's about Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. Hazel has terminal lung cancer, and Augustus WAS in remission, but the cancer came back and basically took over his whole body. In the end, Augustus dies, and Hazel has to learn to live life without him. Augustus brought life, fun, and excitement to everything he did in the story, and was just one of those types of people that everyone likes. I think it's important in books to have likable characters, and I'm pretty sure that everyone likes Augustus and Hazel. Though, my absolute favorite thing about the book, are all of the inspirational and meaningful quotes included. They mainly are saying to live life to the fullest, and love and cherish every second of it. They are also saying that you have to preserver through tough challenges, because the World wasn't just made to please everyone. I love the whole message of the novel, and it really teaches you to live life to the fullest, because you never know when it will begin to slip right out through your fingertips.
2. Out of my Mind By: Sharon M. Draper
This novel is absolutely incredible, and I could read over, and over, and over again, and I would still cry, and I would still laugh, and I would still be obsessed with the book. In Out of my Mind the main character Melody has Cerebral Palsy, a disease that affects her body, but not her mind. So, she can't walk, or really talk at all. So, she has a computer that she talks through. Though, don't let this handicap fool you, she is incredibly intelligent! She is often underestimated though, because her body doesn't work like everyone else's. She ends up making a team to compete in a math competition in another state, but her teammates leave her behind because they look at her as not being smart enough because she is handicapped. It's so heartbreaking because, like most people, you want the under dog to succeed, though, in a way she does. I love this novel so much because even though, the character doesn't end up getting to show that she really is smart at the competition, she is able to show the rest of her classmates that she's actually quite intelligent (even smarter than the children in her class who don't have a disability that could hold them back.) The story proves that even if you are underestimated, you can still prove a point. Though, the main moral of the story is really to not judge a book by it's cover. Though Melody had Cerebral Palsy, she was incredibly smart, and because she couldn't communicate verbally, or move, people didn't expect or believe that she was intelligent. That just shows you that it doesn't matter what someone looks like, or if they can talk, or if they can walk, or if they look different then others, they can still exceed expectations, and thrive in whatever they're doing, whether that be sports, or art, or school! You can be amazing no matter what disabilities you may have. Some people just don't realize that.
1. Walk Two Moons By: Sharon Creech
Walk Two Moons is my absolute favorite book that I've ever read, and I could read it over and over again, and love it every time! We read this novel as a class in 5th Grade, and I enjoyed it so much that I can't even put it into words! The story is a collection of individual stories told from multiple perspectives. All of which come together to explain Salamanca and the story of why is she is out on a journey, to find her mothers resting place, which later find out, is her mother's grave. There's hidden symbolism all throughout the story that explains Salamanca (the main character) and why she acts the way she does. There are also Native American myths mixed into the novel, to explain some of her superstitions. I love how in the novel, Salamanca uses stories from the past into the present moment of her narrative, because we are learning about what happens, after it actually happened, as Salamanca tells the story. The whole way she narrates the story, to the characters, to the hidden meanings and symbolism that come from the small details in the story, really are what makes it my favorite novel. It's not very difficult to read, but you have to look deeper to find the symbolism in things, and to understand the story on a deeper level. It makes you think, but it's so humorous, and incredible, and enjoyable at the same time, and that's why it's my favorite book of all time.
I do agree with you the majority of the books on your list can change someone's life perspective. For example the Fault in Our Stars teaches a person about relationships and how to deal with a difficult situation. When I was in 5th grade we had to read Esperanza Rising and can agree that it changes the reader. It gives a complete perspective on immigrant life. Great Blog Post.
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