Five Books that Changed My Worldview

We love it that Sparkler rebel_of_nowhere is such an avid reader. We recommend her recommendations! —SparkNotes editors

Every year in high school, teachers hand out a list of required reading that students must slog through. Whether you devour the classics or just barely keep your eyes open as you turn the pages, you pretty much know what to expect; the books have been assigned for years, and your older siblings or friends probably already told what you were going to read. While books like To Kill a Mockingbird and The Sound and the Fury are excellent in their own right, sometimes you just want something a little…more exciting and relevant.

Here are five books that every high schooler should read. As we grow up and find our places in the world, we'll carry forward ideas and influences from these books. And the excellent writing, thought-provoking themes, and exploration of human nature in these novels will help you think about the world in a different way.

1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
When the Price family moves to the Belgian Congo, everything in their lives changes. The five Price women and their harsh minister father struggle to survive on foreign soil amid the strife of the Congo. Narrated in sections by Nathan Price's wife and daughters, The Poisonwood Bible tells the story of growing up in a dangerous world. The women struggle to find their own identities and separate themselves from Nathan’s tyrannical rule as they gradually begin to adapt in different ways to African society. The first person narrations are witty, insightful, and profound, from the mute but intelligent Adah to her idealistic twin, Leah. The women's different views of their new life and the challenges they face will touch the reader’s heart.

2. Atonement by Ian McEwan
Atonement is the heartwrenching story of Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner, lovers during World War II. Cecilia’s imaginative but immature sister, Briony, doesn't understand their love, and wants to ruin it. Atonement tells of Cecilia and Robbie’s perseverance through their personal troubles and the war. It is both sad and hopeful. Each chapter will leave you wanting more, and feeling wiser about the world.

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
1960s Mississippi is a tough place for a black maid, especially a sharp-tongued one like Minnie, whose attitude has lost her more jobs than she can count. In The Help, Minnie is just one of the many amazingly realistic characters whose wit, challenges, and personality leap off the pages and into the reader’s mind. Two black women and a young white woman narrate this gripping story about the fight for acceptance among the prejudiced inhabitants of Jackson, Mississippi. As an unlikely ally, a white, female aspiring writer helps two maids work on a revolutionary project that has potentially life-threatening consequences. Their bravery and determination promise that Jackson will never be the same. Written with captivating dialogue and astoundingly convincing characters, The Help is a one-of-a-kind book about how anybody can make a difference.

4. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Considered by Steinbeck to be his best novel, East of Eden follows the lives of the Trask and Hamilton families, which parallel the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. The recurring themes will push you to think about things in ways you never have before. Rebellious Cal, monstrous Cathy, wise Samuel, and cunning Lee are just some of the incredibly realistic characters Steinbeck created. As you read about them, they seem to be just as real as you are. Steinbeck explores the deepest parts of human nature in this amazingly rich and thought-provoking masterpiece.

5. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

“The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family we are willing to do anything—even die.” This is the intriguing proverb that shapes Three Cups of Tea, a book that describes Greg Mortenson’s journey into the Middle East, where he's determined to combat poverty by encouraging education. While building more than fifty schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mortenson becomes family to those he helps. His book is an honest and moving account of the struggles he and others faced with undying determination and faith. After reading this book, you'll see new meaning in the phrase "never give up."

What book or books changed your worldview?

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