Let’s face it, sometimes we love to judge a book by its cover, but these books aren’t only beautiful on the outside, they’re filled with inspirational metaphors, innovative imagery, and of course, the power to change your perspective on the world.
The Sun and Her Flowers is one of the most inspirational books I’ve ever read. Rupi Kaur has a genius way of comparing the perils of heartbreak to the life cycle of a flower. I related to this book so intensely that there are sticky notes on almost every page to mark the lines that spoke to me.
Honestly, this book isn’t just for teenagers. It’s for anyone who’s ever been broken, bruised, heartbroken, betrayed.
The hype is well deserved. To be honest, at first I thought that this book was going to be sort of like one of those fake deep poetry books that didn’t have any real substance, but I was dead wrong. It makes me sad that I’ll only list Rupi Kaur’s work on here once so that I’m not repetitive, but I’ll include some of her other honorable work as well. The Sun and Her Flowers is only ten dollars, while Milk and Honey is only eight dollars. They’re both relatively cheap, yet life changing, so I suggest that you look into buying both of these books. There’s also a box set too, which gives you a nifty little discount.
I read this book in the seventh grade and honestly, I’ve never been the same. The way that this book displays adolescence is terrifyingly accurate. Holden Caufield is the human embodiment of teenage angst, which made twelve year old me want to drop out of school and start smoking. Thankfully, I didn’t.
High school students are often forced to read this book in increments, write reports, answer quiz questions, and analyze the color of a trivial character’s shirt. As an author myself, I should tell you, none of that means anything at all. We chose the color red for that character because it was based off of someone we knew who wore red. It wasn’t a metaphor for who they were inside or the fires within their soul. They just liked red.
The thing that most teachers don’t realize is that this book is best read quickly. There’s not a convoluted story line, a proper story setup, or really any dynamic characters besides Holden. If you actually sat down and had the time to contemplate this book without the fear of failing an exam, you would realize that it’s actually a depressing and realistic account of the human condition.
Click the link above to buy this book for about eight dollars
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This is by far one of my favorite books. It’s an accurate depiction of grief, trauma, love, loss, mental illness, and growing up. The perspective of being Charlie’s pen-pal is innovative and effective. If I had to pick one book on this list that was the saddest to read, this would take the cake. I can’t say much without spoiling the ending, but it ties the story together in a way that explains Charlie’s behavior with one final a-ha moment.
This book is only about seven dollars, which seems very inexpensive for the amount of tears that I shed. Not many books have made me cry, but TPOBAF made me wail like a small child. Click the link above to buy 🙂
Also, if you have time, please please please watch the movie. It has my favorite celebrity crush (The one and only Ezra Miller) in a leading role and a cast that does a wonderful job of following the book (I’m talking to you Percy Jackson, learn from your mistakes, child).
The first time I read Looking for Alaska, I was at sleep away camp and feeling horrible about being away from home. My mind was captivated by the setting that John Green so eloquently created within this boarding school.
As I got older, I realized why the story was so captivating. Throughout the book, it is to be inferred that Alaska has severe bipolar disorder. Her actions are motivated by severe mania followed by periods of depression. I didn’t know why she felt so relatable, but what young me didn’t realize was that a couple years later I would be diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. I couldn’t make this list without including a book that helped me discover my identity.
Click the link above to buy Looking for Alaska for only eight dollars.
5. Peribat
Now, I think it’s time for an indie book to appear on this list. Peribat is an undiscovered gem which highlights the struggles of those with mental illness. This is the synopsis given by the author:
” Peribat is the ultimate novel about teenage disaster, awkward love, aesthetically pleasing memories, and mental illness, all wrapped into a tidy winter package. Persephone’s a manic and neurotic teenage girl who can’t get her mind off of this one guy. Unrequited love, a hunger for adventure, and a pair of missing “dead girls” lead two teenagers on a life-changing road trip during the biggest winter blizzard of the decade. If you’re looking for a dark and neurotic realistic romance novel, look no further. Peribat adds a modern and realistic touch to the perils of young, unrequited love. Written by a teenager for teenagers, It’s the perfect read to keep in your backpack for six months until you get stir-crazy and need something to do.”
It’s a little pricier than the more popularized teen books, but that’s usually the case for many authors who self-publish. The book is about 120 pages, which short, yet exactly what most people with short attention spans can easily read. I strongly suggest splurging just a little bit extra on this one 😉 As per usual, click the link above.
(I earn a commission for every purchase, so please help me earn money so that I can actually buy the cute clothes that I suggest on my blog. Legit guys, it’s painful suggesting things you know you can’t have. Forbidden fruit I say 
And I have like two dollars in my bank account because I spent it all on tapestries when I was manic.)
Heiress 