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National Young Readers Day takes place on every second Tuesday of November. So, this means that this year, Young Readers Day lands on Nov. 14th, 2017.

For all of the young readers out there, this day will be like Christmas for you. You can tell your parents about it and force them to take you to Half-Priced Books, Barnes & Noble or the library to celebrate this national holiday like a true book lover. And for parents, you can use this day to promote reading so your children can continue to smash the stereotypes of social media-driven children.

To aid you all in your endeavors, we’ve created a must-read list for children, young teens and young adults that will change their lives in some way, shape or form. Scan through our list and see what you’ve read, what you haven’t read and create your book list for the upcoming holiday.

Young Readers Day Background

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Young Readers Day dates back to 1989. Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress created this national holiday to encourage young readers to read, expand their minds and live long, happy and successful lives. These aren’t just generalities. It’s been proven that people who read live longer and tend to be nicer people.

In a study of 3,635 people, Yale researchers from the School of Public Health proved that people who read books had a significantly higher rate of survival. Becca R. Levy, one of the researchers, shares, “The survival advantage remained after adjusting for wealth, education, cognitive ability and many other variables.”

Additionally, a study conducted by researchers from Kingston University noticed a positive relationship between nicer and more empathetic people and their reading habits. Lead researcher, Rose Turner, explains this phenomenon. She says, “When we read we go by what is simply written on the page and we have to fill in the gaps as we go along, giving us a chance to develop empathy skills as we try to understand what a character is going through. Whereas when we watch something, we are provided with a lot of that information already.”

So, be a good U.S. citizen and help yourself (or your children) become nicer and live longer by picking up some of these books and spreading the book fever.

Children’s Books

1 “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak

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This book embodies what books can do for us all. It lets our imaginations run wild and helps us escape into another world. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance and love of friendship and family.

2 “Little Bear” by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

“Little Bear” explores the story of a young cub that wants to learn more about his absent father. It’s  a story from modern times that shows the importance of the father’s role but also the mother’s role in a nuclear family.

This show later became an amazing animated series that follows Little Bear’s adventures and places equal importance on family and friends.

3 “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein

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This is an age-old book that every child  (or adult) should read. This heartwarming sad tale emphasizes generosity for others and how it can bring happiness to the giver. However, it also warns against a constant one-way street of giving and taking.

4 “Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans

This book follows the adventures of the smallest girl in covenant school called Madeline. It’s a series of books that highlight the importance of perseverance and courage. Like “Little Bear,” this book was also adapted into a series with the same core themes.

5 “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond

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The success of this book started an entire “If you give…” series that went on for years.

It’s a fun story, following the experience of one child who gives a mouse a cookie. Its circular narrative causes the boy to give and give to the mouse until he wants another cookie and the cycle begins all over again.

Teen Books

1 “Uglies” Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

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This story follows the adventure of a young girl who fights to remain herself and not let society (literally) force her to conform. It takes place in an alternate universe where everyone at a certain age must all look fit and pretty or face the dire consequences.

2 “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton

Many schools supply this book as a part of their curriculum, but not everyone takes it seriously. If you read it before you’re about 13 or 14, the message may completely go over your head. This book is a coming-of-age story that has a similar setting as the musical “Grease.” However, it contains a much more serious tone with gangs that fight with knives instead of simply racing cars.

3 “Daughters of the Moon” Series by Lynne Ewing

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“Daughters of the Moon” books are a coming-of-age story for five teen girls (that happen to be moon goddesses) with different personalities and walks in life.

One is an upper-class beach chick and others are low-income girls surrounded by gang culture. It’s set in present day but takes place in a world with mystical elements. The women must balance fighting to protect humans from overzealous demons and struggling to overcome everyday issues like first-date nerves.

4 “Song of the Lioness Series” by Tamora Pierce

This series follows a young girl named Alanna who wants to be more than a handmaiden in her country.

However, in her society, it’s unheard of for young women to be knights. But that won’t stop Alanna from being the best knight city has ever seen. She’s one of the few people who can stop the corruptness from taking over and destroying everything.

5 “Circle of Magic Series” by Tamora Pierce

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Circle of Magic is another fantasy story that follows the lives of four mages, as they learn to master their powers and protect others. This series continues in another series called “The Circle Opens” and finishes with the amazing story “The Will of the Empress.” This is one of the few books of the time that emphasized diversity in race, gender and sexual orientation.

Young Adult Books

1 “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

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Although many high schools introduce this book early, you have to be a certain age to understand the gravity of this book’s message. Harper Lee does a great job of breaking down the big themes of systemic racism, unconscious bias and fear of the “other.”

2 “The Sound Of Fury” by William Faulkner

“The Sound of Fury” is another story that schools introduce around freshman or sophomore year in high school, but you can’t really understand what’s truly going on in the narrative until you’re much older to process the mature themes.

Told in a “stream of consciousness” format, the story follows four siblings in very different places in life. This is a coming-of-age story set in a southern county with ancient ideals.

3 “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger

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This acts as another coming-of-age tale that follows Holden Caulfield as he tries to figure out who he is and what drives him. He fails out of multiple colleges, has a weird interaction with his English professor and has interesting dreams with kids dancing in a rye field.  But what remains true throughout the entire novel is the open, therapeutic relationship he has with his 10-year-old sister.

4 “Looking for Alaska” by John Green

This dark tale will enthrall you with every page. A young man named Miles Halter tries to find himself by figuring out the meaning behind François Rabelais’s last words: “I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” When he goes to a boarding school to do this soul searching, he meets a multitude of friends that change his whole life. This story balances pain, happiness, romance, friendship and everything in between.

5 “The House of the Scorpion” by Nancy Farmer

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This narrative tells a retro-futuristic tale about a drug cartel, clones and an old man who refuses to die. The story is told from the perspective of one of the many young clones of drug lord Alacrán, who lives a pretty ignorant life with his nanny and believes the Alacrán is something like a father to him. However, he soon realizes that Alacrán will be the man who kills him one day. Overall, Farmer beautifully executes a story of identity, angst and fear.

What do you think? Do any of these stories suit your fancy for Young Reader’s Day?

If you have any more must-reads that you’d like others to know about, start the conversation in the comments section. Let’s get this holiday rolling!

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