Thinking and writing about the books that shaped me brings me back to the books that made me a reader, the books that made me feel all the feelings, and yes, the books that still live rent-free in my head.
These aren’t necessarily my favorite books (though many are), but rather the books that made some impactful change in me and/or my reading life.
In this book list, you’ll walk down memory lane and/or find something I highly recommend to read in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature, so let’s get literary!
Children’s Books That Shaped Me
American Girl Books
Where’d you learn about history? I learned about it from the American Girl books. Through Molly, particularly, I tapped into my family histories during World War II.
Now? My nieces share my Molly doll and do the same. The nostalgia is palpable for generations.
Related Post: American Girl Molly Books
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
And where’d you learn about life? Because I learned about it from Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. No one before or since has spoken to the thoughts in every young girl’s head.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve read this book, and perhaps you can’t either. I know I’m not alone.
The Baby-Sitters Club Books by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club book characters are who I aspired to be as a preteen. They had fun, independence, and a cozy Connecticut community.
What more can you ask for at that age (or any age)?!
Related Post: Baby-Sitters Club Books
The Best Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill
I bet you never heard of The Best Loved Doll! But I also bet that you, too, have a random childhood book you never forgot. This 1962 book had vintage black, white, and pink illustrations that kept me coming back to it again and again.
As an adult, I thought about it so often that I purchased a used copy to keep in my home library.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
If I could only name one book that impacted my childhood, it would be The Polar Express. I have vivid memories of “checking on it” each week during library class to make sure it was ok.
It’s, quite literally, a magical story with breathtaking illustrations and festive charm to match.
Fiction Books That Shaped Me
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
East of Eden was my favorite required reading in high school, and when I browse Reddit threads, I repeatedly see it recommended more than any other classic. So, I know I’m not the only one with whom this story has stuck!
It’s based on the story of Adam and Eve and their sons, Cain and Abel, but it’s set in the Salinas Valley, California, beginning in the early twentieth century.
The power in this story comes from themes of good and evil that are so monumental that they are Biblical.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
I grabbed the thriller The Lovely Bones from a Borders clearance bin on summer break from law school, hoping for something engaging yet cheap.
One of the bestselling books of all time, it’s based on a family’s hunt for their missing teen and her killer.
But this is not your average whodunit. In fact, the reader knows early on. Rather, it’s a poignant take on how each family member copes with grief, making it a uniquely emotional standout in the genre.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
My sister-in-law gave My Brilliant Friend to me before I went to Italy, but I wasn’t expecting much based on its truly awful cover. It became my favorite book of all time.
This story begins the My Brilliant Friend series of female friendship that spans decades, beginning in the slums of the 1950s in Naples.
What makes Lila and Elena so memorable is the “cat and mouse” nature of their relationship that constantly pulls you in different directions and the way the whole community becomes part of the story, making it feel like you’re a part of their world.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
I think about Read With Jenna book club pick The Dutch House so often that I sometimes wonder if I’ve built it up too much in my mind. At some point, I’ll re-read it to find out.
Here, we have an epic sibling saga in which the conflict comes from parenting (or lack thereof). This makes their bond so much more powerful for the reader.
I so often go back to Maeve and Danny in my mind. I picture them sitting nostalgically outside “the Dutch house” they once shared, talking.
Related Posts: The Dutch House Book Review | The Dutch House Book Club Questions
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I picked up the popular coming-of-age book The Perks of Being a Wallflower, expecting the average angsty teen drama about being an outcast in high school. Boy, was I wrong!
This story takes a dark turn that allows its themes of healing through love and togetherness to consume me completely. For that reason, I always think fondly of it.
Related Posts: Summary of The Perks of Being a Wallflower | The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book List
Nonfiction Books That Shaped Me
The Diary of Anne Frank
No story is more personal than a diary, and no diary in history has had more impact than The Diary of Anne Frank. Through her young eyes and old soul, we learned not just what happened in World War II, but how it really felt.
Her profound wisdom beyond her years is what keeps me coming back.
Educated by Tara Westover
I’ve read several memoirs about difficult upbringings, but Westover’s Educated is the one that’s always closest to the top of my mind. Her tale of growing up in a survivalist, abusive household, only to later attend Harvard, made my jaw drop.
I still feel shocked when I think about it.
Related Post: Educated Book Review
The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff
Every American who was alive on 9/11 has a story. But, this oral history of 9/11 was curated and told by 500+ people, minute by minute, and the result is utterly fascinating.
The Only Plane in the Sky is history in a form that feels raw and immerses you deeply in each moment.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
I’m cheating here a bit because this memoir of the founder of Nike is technically my husband’s favorite nonfiction story (though I loved it too). But Shoe Dog impacted him so much that it made him a regular reader who now talks books with me, thus shaping my life by proxy.
This book encompasses the very real roller coaster ride that is business ownership with narrative depth.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
When Breath Becomes Air was the first audiobook I listened to, which forever hooked me on the format. It sounds cliche or like a pun to say that it was breathtaking, but it was.
A 36-year-old neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer questions the meaning of life in the face of his mortality, which makes you, as the reader, think deeply, too.
Now that you know the books that shaped me, share the books that shaped you in the comments below.
