Good Reads for Teenagers

Living in an era where people can easily stream movies, the essence of reading books is perishing. There once was a time when people would avoid one another with a book in their hand instead of staring at bright screens. Reading is a joyous activity that is underappreciated and not done as often as it should be.

Teenagers prefer to scroll through social media rather than pick up a good book. Now here’s food for thought - Is this overuse of entertainment technology making us smarter than books ever did? We cannot really put a finger on it, but there are some unique experiences books can provide which no modern technology for entertainment can.

Perhaps teenagers don’t read much because they lack good recommendations. With so many authors publishing their books every other day, how do you select the best ones? You can’t read hundreds of books altogether. You need to pick on and delve into its deepest mysteries to truly appreciate the work of art.

Therefore, in this article, we talk about some of the books which have shaped the lives of teenagers over the last couple of decades. We could list other books throughout history, but we figured taste changes with contemporary society.  And so, here are some of our top picks for the 21^st century-

Harry Potter

It’s no surprise that the wizarding world by J.K Rowling made the list. The author and the story made every little child eagerly anticipate their Hogwarts letter at the age of 11, only for harsh reality to shatter their dreams.

The series has 7 books, and it’s best to suggest your child to start by the age of 10. Hopefully by their 11^th birthday, they too will wait for the mailman to deliver their letter of acceptance, and get their hopes crushed when they find out they are muggles.

If possible, don’t let your children watch the whole movie series before they finish the book. The movies miss out on plenty of side plots, which are quite emotional. Watching the first or second movie is fine for them to picture the characters when they read.

If you are still wondering why we recommend teenagers to read Harry Potter, it’s because the author teaches us to not be afraid of sharing our imaginations. Our thoughts and creativity can open up a whole new world, one which others may be interested to be a part of.

Because of the wizarding school storyline, young readers can relate to the shenanigans of the squad throughout their school life. This creates a sense of attachment to the story as children see themselves through the eyes of another school-going kid. The book transports the reader to an alternate universe where magic is real, and in such a way which makes you believe that every detail of the story is true.

Another crucial lesson we learn from J.K. Rowling is to always come up with something new. Whenever we picture witches, we imagine them flying on a broomstick. But did we ever think of witches and wizards playing a game that revolves around flying? Also, the author comes up with spells of her own, which sparks young minds with aspirations for innovations.

Reader’s Digest

Fantasy books are not the only ones we recommend for kids. It’s important for children to develop their IQ, emotional intelligence, and social intelligence. These are lessons that can’t always be taught verbally or in practical class. Often, these ideas are picked up by children as they are allowed their own space and time to ponder upon scenarios.

Reader’s Digest is undoubtedly the best non-fiction out there. Tackling various topics one at a time, the magazine succeeds in conveying information better than any other. Scrutinizing every detail and aspect, Reader’s Digest delivers a better understanding than what many teachers are capable of.

Moreover, these monthly publications allow children to view the world under a microscope and understand the world better. Teenagers who read the issue tend to be more empathic and mature.

Some contexts, such as diet, how to deal with stress and anxiety, or what makes a person an achiever are hardly ever talked about. These are important topics of discussion but fail to share the limelight in an ordinary conversation or classroom discussion.

Reader’s Digest manages to fill in these gaps as it talks about the stress levels in all walks of life, along with other lifestyle management topics that inspire young readers to be more disciplined and thoughtful. Therefore, once you feel your teenager is old enough to be responsible, hand them an issue of Reader’s Digest to read and ask their opinion on it afterward.

Digital Fortress

Truth be told, this is a surprising entry on the list. When people talk about Dan Brown’s books anyone hardly mentions Digital Fortress. Most of the author’s hype was for Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and other fictions. But given how dependent the current generations are on technology, Digital Fortress is worth a resurrection.

Most of Dan Brown’s stories span over a brief period of time and therefore, the action is jam-packed and fast-paced. In contrast to what we learn from Rowling, Dan Brown’s work teaches children that their stories don’t have to entail so much history and lifelong years of the characters. Any particular one-off mission can register itself as a novel, too.

While Rowling teaches children about creating a mystic world out of thin air, Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress teaches teenagers how to incorporate everyday objects into a story and make a thriller out of it. With how heavily invested we are in modern science, Digital Fortress encapsulates the consequences of this technology falling into the wrong hands.

With encrypted messages that boggle creative minds and captivate the audience to keep turning the pages over and over, this novel is a must-read for teenagers. What rattles the reader’s minds is the unforeseen plot twist. Anyone who finishes the book will surely gain a new perspective.

Final Words

Teenagers should focus on a variety of reading materials. Hence, the fantasy, non-fiction, and fictional recommendations for children should proliferate their mental and social growth. Buy these books for your children and watch them bloom.

Photo by Vadim Fomenok on Unsplash