From Madeline to 1984

Books can take you to many worlds. However, books can help you grow as an individual. They are important life tools to help you survive in today’s society. The following are books that made me who I am today:

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. In two straight lines, they broke their bread, brushed their teeth, and went to bed. They left the house at half past nine in two straight lines in rain or shine - the smallest one was Madeline.”

I would always remember these words my mom would read to me before going to bed. These books taught me that as a little girl, you can go on different adventures, no matter how big or small. The world was much bigger than the four walls of my house.

The Baby Sitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin

Initially, I was recommended this book by a classmate. They thought I would find it interesting because I share a name with one of the characters in the book. However, when I read, I found so much more. The books not only taught me the importance of female friendships, but they also taught me that girls can create a business for themselves. It was very empowering for my fourth-grade self to see girls have their own agency and make their dreams a reality despite all the ups and downs life threw at them.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Considering how religious my mother was, I was surprised that she allowed my younger sister and me to read the books. Somehow, this and Sabrina the Teenage Witch were safe, but Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer were bad. Weird, but I just rolled with it.

The novels exposed me to a world of magic. For a girl who was physically limited in her surroundings, this was very profound. With magic, anything was possible. It opened my eyes to many new worlds to explore. It also exposed me to the world of banned books. I went to a Christian school, and they banned the book because they feared it would cause children to learn magical spells. At that point, it taught me that people tend to ban things they don’t understand. It taught me that I need to make my own decisions on what I decide to read, not let somebody dictate that for me.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The book taught me that not all cages are physical. Society puts us in a cage based on gender, race, sex, and ability. We can either let society define us or define ourselves despite society’s expectations.

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Ms. Rhodes is only a couple of years older than me, but she started her writing career as a teenager. It taught me that even though I was a kid, I can have my own voice that I can share with the world. I didn’t need to be an adult to start my dream as a writer.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

This book taught me that girls can be the heroes of their own story and fight for what they believe in. Alanna wanted to be a knight and fought tooth and nail until she became one. It was empowering to me as a girl to see someone follow their own career path even though it was considered unconventional. It made me realize that you need to do what is best for you, not for someone else.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

The book made me realize that a person’s history is never simple and can sometimes be horrifying. We watch Dana experience the horrors of slavery and how the people back then tried to justify the benefits of it. However, Dana gradually sees how the system destroys her ancestors, particularly Rufus, until there is a point of no return. It illustrates the point of seeing history for what it really is instead of through rose colored glasses.

1984 by George Orwell

This was required reading for a history class. I was mystified at the time about a fiction book being used to teach us about history, but I realize what our teacher was trying to illustrate to us students. It doesn’t take much for a country to become tyrannical, and people lose their rights without warning sometimes. Especially during this time, when the rules in our government are constantly changing, books like 1984 need to exist before our history gets to the point of no return.

I appreciate what these books have taught me over the years. I have learned to speak my own voice, creating something new, having ownership over my own agency, and noticing what goes on in society so we don’t revert back to the sins of our past. All these books will hold a special place in my heart for years to come. Which books have held a special meaning in your life?