1. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
What It Is
Before I tell you what this book is about, I’d like to tell you about the story of the first time I laid eyes on it. I was at the bookstore and had been touching and sniffing the books as I always do, wishing I could take them all home. When I saw it, the cover intrigued me. I could tell it would be a sad story. Then I started reading it while standing. I did not have the money on me back then to buy it, so I decided to just read a little. I got to page 25 until I could not take it anymore. I didn’t want to stop, but my neck hurt, and my legs were protesting. I then vowed I would buy it the next time I see it.
This is the story of Zinkoff, an innocent little boy who loves school. He wasn’t great in school. He just loves it. He loves it so much he went there early on a Saturday. Zinkoff also loves to play. He does not always win, but he loves it anyway. He would cheer even if they lost, simply because he was just happy he got to play. He doesn’t notice it, but the other kids do. He was a loser. Soon enough, he will come to this realization.
This book spoke so much to me. I think growing up is a sad process because it makes you think of the world not as a fun place to be in, but as a place you should excel in. This book reminds me of my inner child, the one who doesn’t care if she wins or loses as long as she had fun during the game.
Favorite Lines
He races the car. He is surprised that it passes him. Surprised but not unhappy. He is too free to be unhappy. He stops and looks for someone to laugh with and celebrate with. He sees no one, so he laughs and celebrates with himself.
Recommended For
- People who feel like they’re different
- Kids who have trouble in school
2. Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
What It Is
This is the second installment of the famous Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland duology. It tells the story about Alice and her adventures in the world on the other side of a mirror (a looking glass). It is filled with more poems and curious characters (Humpty Dumpty is here) than the first book, and it contains “Jabberwocky,” one of my favorite poems.
In this book, Alice goes through a chessboard, meets a clumsy knight, and becomes a queen. Of course it was all just her imagination, but as Lewis Carroll says, “Life, what is it but a dream?”
Favorite Line
“It’s too late to correct it,” said the Red Queen: “when you’ve once said a thing, that fixes it, and you must take the consequences.”
Recommended For
Anyone who loves the film adaptations and nonsensical things that somehow make sense
3. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
What It Is
This is the story of a little girl who just moved to a new house with her parents. She does not get much attention from them, and she’s always wishing that things would change somehow. Then she discovers a door that leads to nowhere. One day, that door opened up to another world, where she had another mother and another father who were nice to her. They want Coraline to stay. But the longer she stayed, the more she realized she was fine with her old family and that she wants to go back. But getting out is not going to be easy.
Favorite Line
“Because,” she said, “when you’re afraid but you still do it anyway, that’s brave.”
Recommended For
- Anyone who is not contented with his present life
- Kids who are too afraid to try things out
4. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
What It Is
This 1967 novel is a classic story about two gangs, the Greasers and the Socs. The Greasers are poor and powerless, while the Socs are from rich families. They compete with one another, and in their need to prove who’s stronger, someone ends up dead. It is a controversial read about teenage angst, their need to belong, and the consequences that came with it.
I’ve written an entire article dedicated to this book. Click here to view it.
Favorite Line
“. . . you don’t just stop living because you lose someone. I thought you knew that by now. You don’t quit!”
Recommended For
Teenagers in general, but adults could learn a lot from it too
5. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
What It Is
Jerusha “Judy” Abbott grew up in an orphanage until she was eighteen. She was offered a scholarship by a mysterious man. The only thing the sponsor wants in return is for her to write him a letter every single month. This is a small price to pay, considering the fact that the scholarship enabled Judy to live a lavish lifestyle, not unlike her classmates. The only thing she saw of her sponsor was his shadow as he left the orphanage. Because the shadow made him look like he had really long legs, she decides to call him Daddy-Long-Legs, which is basically this guy right here.
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| Judy’s sponsor Source: burkemuseum.org |
The story is written mostly in letters—the ones Judy sent as “payment.” In the end, she becomes an up-and-coming author and discovers who Daddy-Long-Legs really is. Spoiler alert! It’s not a spider.
This is a classic story that has been adapted to film many times. If you’re like me, who grew up watching the TV series, you’ll definitely enjoy the book!
Favorite Line
It isn’t the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh—I really think that requires spirit.
Recommended For
Graduating high school students
6. Stainless Longganisa by Bob Ong (reread)
What It Is
This is a Filipino book written by a Filipino author who does not want to reveal himself. Bob Ong is just a pseudonym, but no matter who he is, I really really like his books. This one in particular is about his life as a writer. He talks about his struggles and the things he had to give up in order to write. It is also injected with a couple of political comments.
This is written in Tagalog, though, so if you don’t speak the language, I recommend you read it anyway—you know, for fun. To help you start, here is what a longganisa is.
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| Source: http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2016/09/best-baguio-longganisa.html |
Favorite Line
Hindi para sa tamad ang pagsusulat. Kaaway n’ya ang ingay, pero kalaban n’ya rin ang lungkot.
I roughly translate this to “Writing is not for the lazy. Noise is a writer’s foe, but sadness is also his enemy.”
Recommended For
Writers and aspiring writers
7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
What It Is
This is a middle-grade book about Greg Heffley and his family’s road trip. Because his mom read an article in a magazine about the importance of family trips, they go to one. Only her mother agrees with it, but as you know, the kids can’t argue with Mom and neither can Daddy. Throughout the trip, they get lost, get attacked by birds, and sleep in cheap motels that look like the ones gangsters go to when they’re being chased by the police.
You may have seen the movies, but I guarantee you’ll enjoy the books much more. If you’re not already a reader, this is a great place to start. The books are seventy-five percent illustrations! If you can’t get through this, I don’t think you’ll be able to get through any novels in your lifetime.
Favorite Line
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my years of being a kid, it’s that you have ZERO control over your own life.
Recommended For
- People who are planning to have a family trip
- People who have trouble dealing with their families
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
What It Is
This is the eighth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. In this story, Greg Heffley loses his best friend, Rowley Jefferson. Rowley managed to find himself a girlfriend, so that leaves Greg all alone as he tries to navigate through the rest of middle school. Without Rowley around, Greg realizes just how important his friend is. He is left to fend for himself against the bullies as well as the dog that hates him. He tries to be okay with losing his best friend and works hard to find a new one, but in the end, no one can really ever replace Rowley.
Wow! That was too serious for this book. It’s really just filled with stupid things Greg does now that his best friend was not around. Trust me. It will leave you with a lot of laughs.
Favorite Line
I know Mom’s always saying friends come and go and family is forever, and maybe that’s true. But your family isn’t gonna be there when Meckley Mingo chases you with his belt on your way home from school.
Recommended For
Kids (and adults) who are having problems with losing and/or feeling distant from their friends
9. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
What It Is
This is Mindy Kaling’s first autopbiography. She has written another one, called Why Not Me? If you don’t know who Mindy is, she is a screenwriter for the TV series The Office (I haven’t seen that yet). She also made a funny speech for the commemoration exercises of Harvard Law School. (I’ve seen that. It’s good.)
In this book, she talks about her childhood, her friends, her jobs, and her specific instructions for her funeral among other things. This book made me feel like I’m not alone when it comes to being in your twenties and still not having a clue where to go from here.
Favorite Lines
I liked hanging out with my family! Later, when you’re grown up, you realize you never get to hang out with your family. You pretty much have only eighteen years to spend with them full time, and that’s it. So, yeah, it all added up to a happy, memorable time. Even though I was never a star.
Recommended For
- Young female professionals who are still trying to figure life out
- People who aspire for a writing career in Hollywood
It's a Ping Thing 