7 Books to Read Before Graduating High School
By Madeline Diamond
There are plenty of books I wish I would have read in my late teens and early twenties. From essay collections that encapsulate the mix of emotions that go along with becoming an adult to coming-of-age novels that discuss race, sexuality, and mental health within the context of growing up, I look back and think about how helpful these books would have been, both to validate my own thoughts and experiences and to expand my worldview. I’ve compiled a list of seven books that I’ve read in the past several years that I can’t recommend enough for you or the wide-eyed eighteen-year-old in your life.
The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan sheds light on the range of emotions you’re about to experience as you enter a more grown-up world, and the lessons are invaluable. Keegan encapsulates the often overwhelming mix of excitement, joy, fear, and sadness that comes with growing up.
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead follows Benji in the summer of 1985. It’s a blast to read about Benji’s life as a teen mostly on his own for the summer, having fun and making teenage mistakes, while the author also explores themes of race, class, and identity in a way that will make you think about growing up in a broader scope.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros follows Esperanza, a 12-year-old Chicana girl growing up in Chicago. Cisneros’ writing is poetic and poignant, which encourages the reader to care deeply about Esperanza’s journey as she grows up.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a memoir is about growing up in an unconventional, nomadic family, and how her childhood shaped her into the adult she is today. Walls explores themes of identity, gaining agency over one’s own life in a way that is helpful for a young person growing into themselves to read.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky is a poignant tale of making friends, falling in love, and coming to understand yourself in high school. The book discusses mental health, sexuality, and abuse, as it sheds light on the heavy issues teenagers deal with, often alone, though it also celebrates friendship and normalizes asking for help.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a perspective on being Black in the United States. In this letter to his teenage son, Coates writes about his childhood and also frames the context of the book between the murders of his Howard University classmate Prince Jones in 2000 and Michael Brown in 2014, both at the hands of the police. Coates discusses the country’s history of racial injustice, current issues of inequality, and where we go from here.
Normal People by Sally Rooney pays attention to the period of time between high school and college and the rather messy process of growing up. You’ll follow Marianne and Connell as they experience relationships, both healthy and toxic ones, abuse, mental health struggles, love, success, and failure in a story that depicts the highs and lows of this stage of life.
Madeline Diamond is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and co-founder of the newsletter Read Receipts.