Summer is almost in full swing, and I can’t think of a better way to pass these hot, long days than under the shade of a tree with a good book.
Ok, I know that’s not for everyone, but that pretty much sums up most of my childhood summers, and I loved every bit of them. Now, I wasn’t reading modern (or postmodern) literature, mind you. I was reading the classics, stories from centuries past that excited my imagination and showed me new worlds full of different people and ways of life.
Sometimes, when I hear about the reading lists for kids in schools today, I can’t help but be underwhelmed. Enough of the post-apocalyptic books. Books like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and The Giver are all the rage, but they’re very similar in plot and narrative style. How many times does your kid really need to read about despotic adults who are overturned by brilliant, crime-fight kids? And don’t get me started on the whole Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. But I digress…
If I’m trying to make a point through all of this it is that I don’t know many kids nowadays that have read American and European literature pre-1900s and I feel that there is some loss with that void. I truly believe a good book can be the gateway for a child in developing their global awareness, cultural sensitivities and even a greater depth of empathy for the other. If they’re only reading contemporary books, they’re really just reading about themselves.
That being said, here are five suggestions (really, five of my favorite childhood books) that I would suggest handing over to your kid this summer. At the very least, why not try something new, right?
1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Sure, your kid may have seen the movie with Jim Caviezel and Guy Pierce. But let’s be honest, that movie has very little to do with the book. The story is based on actual events and is really a gripping tale about revenge and its consequences. And, by the way, in this book, there really is no happy ending. That’s a bit of a plot twist from your typical American story nowadays. Of course, I’m recommending the abridged version (it’s a bit shorter). But this is hands down my favorite book as a kid.
2. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea By Jules Verne
I had to include at least one maritime adventure on this list. This is a story every kid should read at least once. The cast is multiethnic, the geography is expansive (Captain Nemo visits everything from the lost city of Atlantis to the South Pole), and the scientific discussions on both exploration and colonization are wonderful introductions to the subject. If nothing else, it is a good book to excite your child’s imagination of the sea.
3. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle
If your kid is just absolutely into the sci-fi genre and refuses to read anything else, than this may be a good start. It is a true journey through the universe with creative applications of Einstein’s theories no less and intergalactic battles with abstract forms of evil. It doesn’t get more “sci-fi”-ey than this, but unlike modern tales, this story is also full of lessons in compassion, love and self-worth. Truly, it’s a unique gem. Plus, if you’re family hasn’t seen the major motion picture of this story that was released in the spring, you could watch it as a follow-up to the book and discuss the major differences.
4. The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
If your kid has never read a great detective book, than this is a must. Sherlock Holmes is a classic, and still remains a popular figure in the modern imagination. His art of deduction always amazed me, and I found myself as a young girl trying to piece together the clues of the case faster than Holmes could (of course, usually without success). These short stories are intellectually stimulating and they provide an apt glance into 19th-century British life.
5. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
It’s a sad, but true fact that most American kids have very little understanding of real poverty or sympathy for those suffering from it. This book could help make the difference. Unlike our modern American novels that are all about strong, capable children who can pull themselves up by their own bootstraps (so to speak), this is a story about a helpless boy, whose only fate is to suffer and then suffer some more. It’s raw, humbling and yet gritty in it’s own way. This orphan survives through sheer determination and will power. I would highly recommend it.
So, there it is. There’s my list. Trust me, there are many more good books out there and I’m all too happy to share more. What else would you add to this list?
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