My Ideal Book Shelf

By Laura Zweig

Harry Potter- The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling was a defining point in my childhood. I snarfed down every book like I was a starving child in Africa and the book was the first substantial food we’d seen in months. I would read Harry Potter everywhere, turning down invitations to play to read for the umpteenth time. Who needs sports when I can live vicariously through Quidditch matches?

To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee’s quintessential American novel is my favorite “serious literature” book. In addition to introducing me to Atticus Finch and thus raising my standards for all men everywhere, this book fosters a lingering element of humanity absent in other famous works. It’s a novel that recalls where society has been and instills hope for the future. It should be required reading.

Looking For Alaska- In one of John Green’s other books, there is a quote about literature that stood out to me. “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” That quote perfectly describes my feelings toward Looking For Alaska. Telling the story of the boarding school adventures of Miles and his friends The Colonel and Alaska, this young adult book examines life’s biggest questions about love and loss. It’s a book that changes you.

The Giving Tree- In my opinion, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is the greatest children’s book of all time because it transcends age. While some of the morals get a little sketchy and while I don’t recommend giving away everything one has to an unappreciative schoolboy, I just can’t help feeling all warm and fuzzy whenever I read it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky’s book is basically everything I wanted my high school experience to be. Whenever I’m feeling happy or sad, I can connect to whatever raw emotions Charlie puts on the page. Every read is its own emotional catharsis, and I know it’s going to be one of those trusty books that I can always pick up and feel better.

The Book Thief- I’ve read a lot of Holocaust books in my time, but none have stuck with me like Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief. Not just because I’ve “accidentally” “borrowed” books from every one of my English teachers, but because it’s such a chilling story told in a captivating way. Narrated by death, the book makes me laugh and cry and mourn and rejoice.