This week I share the books that I wish were around when I was younger. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. 

I’ve been constantly reading for a long time now. I read a lot when I was younger, but from the age of about 12, I read nearly every day. Like I do now. But books have changed over time, so today I’m sharing the books that I wish I had around when I was younger. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: There should be no surprise that that has made my list. It’s one of my favourite books of all time and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. It’s also such an important book. I believe that if I read this when I was in my early teens it would have had such a big impact of my life. It would have driven me a whole lot more. 

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo: I just finished this one and it was fantastic. It’s honest and real. It’s heartbreaking at times but it’s also uplighting. This would have packed such a punch if I read it a couple of years ago. I know I would have fallen just as love with it as I am now.

This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield: This book made me feel so many things from anger to hope. From sadness to being proud. This is just a poignant story, that it would have hit home if I was able to read it when I was 15/16 for sure.  

Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz: Being able to read about disability so easy would have been fantastic when I was younger. Especially when my health was changing a lot and I was in and out of the hospital. I like this book a lot and it looks at chronic illness is such an honest and real way. 

Dear Martin (Dear Martin #1) by Nic Stone: While this is an emotional read and would have hit me right in the guts. But it’s also an incredible read that is impactful and powerful. It explored the injustices of the world and why the #BlackLivesMatter movement is so important to understand. 

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume: This is another one that I enjoyed reading, but if I read it, even a few years ago when I was younger. It would have hit differently. It would have been something that been something that I absorbed a lot.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo: I know I have already included one of her books. But I want to include this one for another reason. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I got into poetry and spoken world more. But if I read this one in my teens, I would have discovered it earlier – and a whole other band of books. 

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde: This is another one that looks at mental health in an honest and real way. But it also looks at being a geek and how it’s not a bad thing. It’s a positive light. It’s about being who you are and not letting anyone tell you aren’t you.  I was already out of high school a few years before this one came out and a little earlier would have been amazing. 

How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox: This one looks at mental health in an honest and real way. It would have been something that I would have loved to read when I was younger. Reading fiction books that discuss mental health in the way that How It Feels To Float does is rare. 

And that is it for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Have you read any of these books? What do you think of my list? Let’s Chat!