I think it all started with my mom reading books to me in the school drop-off line. My love for books just continued to grow from there. Below are the ones that have changed my life.
1. I Stink by Kate McMullan Illustrations by Jim McMullan
This is one of the earliest books I remember along with The Monster at the End of This Book. Both of these highlighted the creativity that can be expressed in writing. These silly books brought young Kristi so much joy and sparked my reading journey.
2. Dork Diaries Series by Rachel Renee Russell Illustrations by Nikki Russell and Rainbow Magic Series by Daisy Meadows
These two fundamentally shaped my late elementary and early middle school. While I don’t remember the plot, I remember the sense of security and happiness these series added to my life. I can confidently say they became a part of who I am and for that I will protect them with my life.
3. Land of Stories Series by Chris Colfer and P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
I can thank these two for late middle school Kristi. She was obsessed with Minecraft, Dan and Phil, and these books if you were wondering. West’s book taught me it was okay to have feelings for someone and not to hide or change myself; they either like the real me or I am better off without them. As for Colfer’s book, I was so excited to see a female main character who was a leader and not letting a meager boy dictate who she was.
4. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
Now, I know this is a very mainstream answer, but this series is a major part of my life that it felt wrong not to mention it. My sophomore year English teacher, Mrs. Dickhut, made us read the first book. Which happened to be the year of the lockdown. It became no question that I devoured this series within seconds. The way Katniss is such an unreliable narrator makes me love the story even more. (If you are going to be next to me in the theater for Sunrise on the Reaping, I apologize in advance.)
5. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood and People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
I read Hazelwood’s book in my senior year of high school. I can confidently say now that I related to Olive so much for ambition and her demisexuality. As for Henry’s book, I read earlier this year but it is paired because I also saw myself in Poppy. The desire for adventure but the terrifying reality of confronting your feelings made me feel seen. These two main characters made me feel a little less alone.
6. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
These two have both been very popular this year. What they share in common is that they were both out of my comfort zone. I tend to stick to books that have happy endings or focus on romance; my main goal this year was to change that. Guess what, it worked. I fell in love from the first line and introduced to new genres. While I could talk for hours about these, I believe you should go into these books blind. This is your sign, go read them (after you finish this post of course).
7. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner and I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
These are the first books to make me cry. They are not fictious stories but real lives and real experiences. Both of these authors are cathartic in their storytelling. Their honesty allowed me to feel a little less alone in my own grief and experience. I don’t want to spoil too much on either of these, but I highly recommend adding memoirs into your reading rotation.
To some, books are just words on paper, for me it’s different. All of the books have shaped me into the person writing this post. For that alone, I will defend these books with an iron sword and a grateful heart.
If you have ever had a book emotionally change you; drop them in the comments. I am always ready to be changed.
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