Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Hi everybody, and welcome to a new Top Ten Tuesday!
Today’s topic is about the books we wish we had read as a kid and I’m twisting it just a teensy bit to books I wish I had read as a teen. Because I often think with a lot of YA and adult books I read nowadays that I WISH I HAD READ THIS EARLIER. Because books can teach us so many things, and a lot of those things would have been nice to know about earlier. Or would have been crucial in my development in that time period. Or I feel should just be mandatory reading for all teens. So here are a few of the books I wish I had read as a teen and the lessons they could have taught me:
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
Though the political landscapes of the USA and Belgium are not very alike, this book still could have taught me very early on WHY it is important to vote, why you should do your research on it and why every vote matters.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Though a cute romance, this book would have also taught me something very important: what gaslighting is and how to recognize it when it’s happening to you or to loved ones.
Going Off Script by Jen Wilde
This YA contemporary could have taught me early on why LGBTQ+ representation on TV is so very crucial and what queerbaiting is.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
As a teen, I didn’t know about social anxiety. Learning about it through a fun, cute book that also celebrates the geek life instead of insulting it (which was basically what happened to geeks when I was a kid) would have been an eye-opener.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Though we do learn about racism as kids, I think this book would have been valuable in really getting the message to sink in. Even as an adult, this book shook me and I think it should be mandatory reading for all kids.
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
This book could have taught me that your grades don’t define you and academic success is not the only way to succeed in life. As a stressed-out teen who definitely could have related to Frances, this book would have been very welcome.
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
This book is so crucial because of the asexuality representation. I only learned about asexuality a few years ago and that’s just not right. I should have known there was such a thing as asexuality when I was younger, as well as that sexual and romantic attraction are not the same thing.
Wanderlost by Jen Malone
When my anxieties were keeping me from things like studying abroad or going on school trips, this book could have helped motivate me and show me that good things can happen when you take a chance and step outside of your comfort zone.
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I only read this series when I was 19-20 and honestly I always wish I could have experienced their magic when I was younger. Though I always loved reading, I consider reading Harry Potter as the starting point of my full-blown fantasy reading addiction and well… who knows what other stories I already could have read if I’d discovered this kind of magic sooner?
Tell Me:
What Books do you wish you had read as a Child or teenager?
These are all such great stories! Harry Potter made my list, too.
My TTT: https://notprimadonna.blogspot.com/2020/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-enjoyed-when-i.html
Harry Potter for sure!
Queens of Geek does sound like a great book to read. And I think THUG should be mandatory reading for teens (I haven’t even read it but it is so important)
Yes, THUG should definitely be mandatory reading for teens, it is indeed so important.
Harry Potter, too. Then maybe I would’ve loved the books more. I think they’re fine and I love the fandom but I’m not a super fan of the books, to be honest.
I totally understand! I do love the books a lot, but I definitely think they would have been more magical if I could have read them as a teen.
I love the angle you took on this week’s topic! It’s so true, there are so many books that I feel like could have taught me some important lessons had I read them earlier in life. Great list! š
Thanks! Books really are so crucial and can teach us so much š
Great list! I’m somewhere on the aro/ace spectrum, so I wish books like Let’s Talk About Love had been around and shouted about when I was a teenager, too.
Yes, exactly! Though I’m happy there is more representation now, we still have a long way to go.
Yeah, I wish I could have read The Hate U Give as a teen, too.
My TTT.
Yes, it’s such an important read and every teen should read it.
I definitely think Radio Silence would have given me so much more if I’d read it when I was the same age as Frances. Harry Potter on the other hand came into my life at just the right time, I grew up with the books being released.
Yes, same about Radio Silence!
I was early 20’s when I first read Harry Potter, which was fine, but I think they would have been even more magical If I’d read them as a teen and also ‘grew up’ with Harry and co š
I like your tweak on the topic. I actually read a lot of realistic fiction growing up, which I think is a credit to my empathy, etc. I am very thankful that I grew up with the Harry Potter books though!!
-Lauren
Yes, books are so important for empathy!
Fun post! Love that you share what you think these books would teach you had you read them as a teen. š Still need to read “Wanderlost” and of course, “The Flatshare,” too! Both sound like my kind of reads. š
Thanks Rissi! Oh, I do hope you’ll love The Flatshare and Wanderlost when you get to them!
I think you’re right- so many books could have been helpful to read them as a teen. I’ve often thought that too. Queens of Geek and Radio Silence for sure. Radio Silence in particular I thought was so good.
Great point about Wanderlost. I always loved the idea of studying abroad but I’m not sure I would have taken the plunge in high school even if I had had the chance- and I think books like that can maybe help us, like you said, step out of our comfort zone some.
Yeah, I’m so happy I read those books, but I think they would have been extra powerful if I could have read them as a teen!
There are SO MANY books that I wish had been out when I was a teen!! I had such slim options that I basically just skipped right to adult books. I also read Harry Potter when I was 20 years old and wish I had read it as a child. I mean, I LOVED it so much to the point of obsession, but I think I would have been more immersed in the magic as a kid.
Yes, exactly! I love those books so much, but I also think it would have been even more magical if Iād read them at a younger age.
I didn’t read HP as a teen either. Sadly, it wasn’t out. I wish it had been, though. Such a magical series!
Yeah, I loved them, but I think it would have been even more magical if I’d read them at a younger age.
Back when I was a teenager (a million years ago, roughly), there weren’t a lot of books being written for teens and the ones that were certainly were not diverse. I love that teens today have such a wide variety to choose from. There’s so much to learn from these books, like you pointed out. I wish this kind of diversity in books had been around when I was a kid.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes, you’re so right! Though there is still a lot of room for improvement, I’m happy the diversity in books has already improved so much since I was a teen.
Very good post–social anxiety was not a thing at all when I was a kid. We were just “moody” and our folks pushed us out to social events like it or not. I think there’s a happy medium!.
No pressure at all to click and read! Here’s an older post I did on books I’d give young adults–original title was Books I wish my kids would read. https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/top-ten-tuesday-book-for-new-young-adults/
Yeah, I can totally relate to social anxiety not being a thing when I was young. Luckily, there’s less stigma on it nowadays and kids can recognize themselves in books.
I read the first Harry Potter book when I was in 3rd grade, so I got to grow with the series, it was pretty awesome. I wish everyone could have experienced that!
That does sound awesome, I think the series was even more magical like that!
Great choices! I wish Harry Potter had been around when I was growing up. I know I would have adored the series even more than I already do if I had first read it as a child or teen. And yes, so many life lessons!
Yes, exactly! I love Harry Potter, but I think I would have loved it even more if I’d read it when I was younger.