Books Everyone Should Read Before Age____

Uncategorized | 12. Aug, 2008 by Vanessa Van Petten | 0 Comments

I got together with my teen interns and a few of my kid and teen clients to see what books they recommended people read by their age.  I love the results (some were repeats, so I put them in the column of the youngest person who mentioned them).

I love books and believe there are certain books everyone should read by certain ages.  Teens especially have books that they are very passionate about and that they think every teen should read.

Books Everyone Should Read Before Age 9, Gracie

-Harold and the Purple Crayon (50th Anniversary Edition) by Crockett Johnson

-Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

-Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Books Everyone Should Read Before Age 13, Alia:

-Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, Irene Dunlap

-Junie B Jones Series by Barbara Parks and Denise Brunkus

-Pinballs by Betsy Byars

Books Everyone Should Read By Age 15, Juliette

-Any Books by David Sedaris (Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day)

Books Everyone Should Read By Age 16, Nate

-Night by Ellie Wiesel In a time where there is less and less holocaust education and (according to MTV) over 50% of teenagers know very little/ nothing about the holocaust. I believe that it is important for teens to become educated about it. In my opinion, “Night” is one of the best holocaust books, because while it is not a work of fiction, it is written like one. The book uses literary devices generally reserved for fiction. What is so scary is that all events in the book are true, so when a character foreshadows in the book, that means that they did in real life too. The book also does a good job showing what human beings are capable of when they are taught to hate.

-Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Thomas Pynchon, Erich Fromm, and Daniel Lagin “Nineteen Eighty-Four” talks about what can happen when the government gets too much power. In this age of technology it is important for future voters to know what the world could turn into.

Books Everyone Should Read by Age 17, Samantha

-Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers

-Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

-Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

-The Perks of Being a Wildflower by Stephen Chbosky This is one of the most interesting, amazing, captivating reads anyone will ever read. It’s awesome

Books Everyone Should Read by Age 19, Mike

-Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

-Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

-In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

Books Everyone Should Read by Age 23, Vanessa

-Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad This book was the first book that ever got me thinking about after life, heaven, hell, good vs evil and really opened my mind to the idea of philosophy and religion (I also had a fabulous teacher and class).

- Walden by Henry David Thoreau

-Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease Every person who has every known me knows that I am obsessed with this book.  My copy is so thumbed through I can barely open it without a page falling out.  This book was instrumental in my understanding of men–boyfriends, friends, dads, teachers and has helped e with every aspect of my current carreer.  That there are both pyschological and scientific reasons behind behavior (also a fun read).

- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow His story is amazing and his life lessons are truly remarkable.

Books Everyone Should Read by Age ___, YOU!

-Your turn to add yours in the comments!

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No Responses to “Books Everyone Should Read Before Age____”

  1. Shannon
    12. Aug, 2008 at 6:45 pm #

    Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares

    Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch and Sheila McGraw

    The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

    On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer

    Gingerbread/Shrimp/Cupcake by Rachel Cohn

  2. Scott
    13. Aug, 2008 at 8:32 am #

    Books Everyone Should Read by Age 26, Scott!

    Life of Pi by Yann Martel
    The Book Theif by Markus Zusak
    Watership Down by Richard Adams
    Lord of the Flies by William Golding

  3. Vanessa
    13. Aug, 2008 at 8:56 am #

    scott-
    such a good add “Life of Pi by Yann Martel” I loved loved this book, thanks for the reminder!

    Vanessa

  4. Scott
    13. Aug, 2008 at 11:48 am #

    The World is Flat: for high schoolers or college folk who are trying to decide what their career might be. Its a vital read to understand how the world works today.
    Never Eat Alone: A great guide to genuine networking and growing your social network. People may think networking is a dying art, but it’s just as important as ever.
    Most Tom Clancy Books: These have no great moral lesson, they are just awesome military novels.

  5. Kathryn
    07. Sep, 2008 at 8:33 am #

    Books everyone should read while in high school

    Go Ask Alice

    Speak

    It Happened To Nancy

    Bad

    A Child Called It

    Catalyst

  6. anonymous
    21. Dec, 2008 at 7:47 am #

    City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

    Haunted by Chuck Palaniuk

    All Hallows Eve by Vivian Vande Velde

    Feed by M.T. Anderson

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