Top 10 Books That Should Be Required Reading

                                    Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I have an embarrassing confession to make: I hated mandatory books when I was in school. There weren`t that many Romanian novels that I enjoyed, maybe two or three. It wasn`t necessary the authors because in many cases I loved their other works. I just couldn`t connect with the books that we HAD to read. I did excel at my Universal Literature class, but that was mainly due to the fact that I`ve read those books before. While I don`t want to diminish the importance of classics (most of my faves are classics, after all), I do think it`s important to shake things up a bit. With that in mind, here is my selection of books that should become mandatory.

1. Harry Potter. Enough said.

"Harry Potter" is the series that turns children into readers. Most of us pick the books when we are 8-9 and our lives are never the same. ( I read it in my 20s, but details)However, I cannot stop but think how magical it would be if this series would be part of that long summer reading list. I for one would be so curious to see everyone`s houses, learn about their favourite character and teacher, etc. 

2." Percy Jackson and the Olympians" by Rick Riordan

How funny is it to recommend a series that I have not read yet? Talk about questioning a book blogger's integrity. But hey, I know the plot. And I know that reading it might make me remember more about Greek mythology than all the history lessons combined.

3. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

This is another book that might spark more interest in history. I mean, I am fascinated by everything that has to do with history and politics. But I know a lot of people find these subjects boring. So a heartbreaking YA set in WWII might be the cure for that.

4. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

I know that a lot of you might consider this book overrated. I know its flaws, but I cannot deny the impact it had on me. It captures being a teenager so well, and I think that most young readers will be able to relate to it.

5. "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

One of the reasons why I love this manifest so much is that it`s simple and pretty straightforward. It does not have any scientific terms that might confuse you. It just explains why we still need feminism today and why EVERYONE should be an advocate for it.

6. "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

I saw the movie when it first came out, but only now did I get the chance to read the book. And what a marvellous experience has it been! While I`m aware that students get their fair share of dystopian books, this novel should be on that list as well. First of all, it will make you question lots of things. But unlike other novels, there really aren`t heroes in this book. Everyone is flawed and I bloody loved that!

7. "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

Again, I`m cheating a bit because I`m currently reading it. But wow, is it amazing or what? Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this book sheds some light on issues like racism and police brutality. And it showcases that no matter what we want to believe in, the society is still far from being perfect.

8. "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

I think that we should change the title of this post into "All Historical Fiction Should Become Required Reading". This is another book that will make you question life and the idea of good and evil. An impressive book, that will touch many hearts.

9. "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Hey, a book that doesn`t make you want to cry until 3 AM. Not only is this book funny and heartwarming, but it deals with issues like sexual identity and coming out. Something that we should be able to discuss freely.

10. "One Flew Over The Cuckoo`s Nest" by Ken Kesey

As you all know, I love my modern classics. And whilst "To Kill a Mockingbird" remains my favourite book, there are so many other masterpieces out there. In my opinion, "One Flew Over The Cuckoo`s Nest" is one of them. Again, it`s a book that will make you question the system and the world you live in. Which is what school books should do. They should make you THINK!

 Do you agree with my picks or not? What other books do you think should become mandatory?