25 Favorite Books From my Childhood, Teenage, and Present Years That You Should Read in Your Lifetime

When I was little, every night my parents would read to me. I enjoyed this more than they will ever know and I greatly appreciate it today. I grew up with a thirst for knowledge and reading was the way I found it to be possible to get all the knowledge I wanted. 

I was reading by the age of two and when we used to have reading challenges in school I was always on a mission to be sure I won. It did not matter to me what I read because I would be interested in anything. By the time I was in 5th grade, I was reading young adult novels that I fell in love with and still remember to this day. A few of my favorites were A Wrinkle in Time, The Giver, Messenger and Gathering Blue. Surprisingly, I loved these books and remember them the most. All are based on dystopian societies and when I look at what I read today, it was totally different then. 

The list below describes 25 books that I suggest reading within a lifetime, but include books that I enjoyed as a kid, young adult, and what I enjoy today. Take a look for yourself and let me know how many you have read or would like to read in the future.

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
3. Messenger by Lois Lowry
4. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
5. Divergent series by Veronica Roth
6. Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver 
7. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
8. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
9. The Shining by Stephen King
10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 
11. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
12. The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
13. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
14. Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
15. When Lightning Strikes by Meg Cabot 
16. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks 
17. Insomnia by Stephen King
18. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
19. The Secret series by Rhonda Byrne
20. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen 
21. Jackie Robinson: American Hero by Arnold Rampersad 
22. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres 
23. Swan Song by Robert McCammon 
24. 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James
25. Holes by Louis Sacher