There are good books, and then there are amazing books that impact your life – books that make you think, make you empathize, make you change, make you share. Here are my top five (so far), in no particular order:
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
“When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”
Bravery, acceptance, kindness, empathy, childhood, kindness, family, and did I mention kindness?
Wonder on goodreads: Wonder
Bonus – Movie: Wonder (2017) – Rated PG; starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
Bravery, standing up for what is right, racism, police brutality, empathy, white privilege, social action
The Hate U Give on goodreads: The Hate U Give
Bonus – Movie: The Hate U Give (2018) – Rated PG-13; starring Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby
This Is How It Always Is
by Laurie Frankel
“I wish for my child, for all our children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed, appreciated selves.”
Hope, love, fear, secrets, family, parenting, truth, bravery, transgender, revelation, celebration
This Is How It Always Is on goodreads: This Is How It Always Is
Bonus – Movie: It doesn’t look like there is a movie in the works yet – but there should be!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
“These days, loneliness is the new cancer–-a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them.”
Friendship, loneliness, survival, trauma, mental health, acceptance of self
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine on goodreads: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Bonus – Movie: Reese Witherspoon picked up the movie rights, but no date in sight yet!
Counting by 7s
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
“For someone grieving, moving forward is the challenge. Because after extreme loss, you want to go back.”
Heartbreak, hope, light, strength, resilience, family, the human spirit
Counting by 7s on goodreads: Counting by 7s
Bonus – Movie: A film version has been optioned, but no date in sight yet!
