For the love of books
I often revisit my teenage years through my favorite young adult novels. There are feelings of nostalgia as I fall in love with the stories and the characters again and again. Below or some of my recommendations but my full list would probably be a book of it’s own.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The amount of teenage angst in the book is amazing. Even though Holden Caulfield is the most selfish protagonist I’ve ever read about I love his wit and naiveness. Every time I walk past Central Park in the winter I ask myself “Where have all the ducks gone?” and I long for the days of old New York. Salinger does such an amazing job of bring out the voice in his characters, it’s hard to believe they aren’t real people. Holden’s pessimistic attitude makes you laugh throughout because you know it will only get tougher for him ahead and it reminds you of when you were a teen and thought you had everything figured out too.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Not only is this one of the greatest American novels ever written but it is also fun to learn and see through a child’s eyes. From the imaginary games Scout and Dill played during the summer to the way she looked up to Atticus. We learned so many lessons alongside Scout and with each read we gain new perspective and revisit a childhood from a time
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Really any John Green novel is excellent, Alaska is just my personal favorite. Green captures first love in a way that makes you feel like each one was real and yours. But beyond the love there are friendships, adventures, pranks and good times that could only be had by high schoolers. Each of his novels shares something different and each is an experience all their own. I first read Alaska in 8th grade and it changed the way I saw things and I love returning to the book after a long time and being reminded of the lessons I’ve learned.
The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
I grew up with these characters. We learned lessons together, stood up to bullies, and battles the most horrible wizard of all time. Reading them again now brings feelings of nostalgia and pride for the strength of each characters in the books. You laugh, you cry, there are lessons to be learned, adventures to share, and an entire world to be a part of.
Adult Coloring books
What better way to feel like a kid than some good old fashioned coloring? The newest trend is adult coloring and you can find coloring books everywhere now. And you can color pictures of pretty much anything: serene landscapes, breakfast food, swear words, etc.