The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
From the point of view of death in WWII Germany. He follows a girl as she is fostered by an anti-nazi family and as her world falls apart around her.
Kite Runner - Khalad Hosseini
About two best friends, one fortunate and rich, the other his servant, growing up in 1970's Afghanistan and follows the fortunate boys story through life. It's shocking and beautiful and I loved it.
The Time Travelers Wife – Audrey Niffeneger
An unconventional love story that centers on a man with a strange genetic disorder which causes him to unpredictably time travel, and his wife, an artist, who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences. I’m generally not much into romance and I loved this.
The Tomorrow Series - John Marsden (young adult fiction but they're amazing)
A group of teenage that are camping in the Australian bush when Australia is invaded by enemy soldiers. It involves every genre pretty much, adventure, drama, romance, friendship. I have read the series too many times
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
McCourt's autobiography of his growing up and living in poverty in first New York and then Ireland with an alcoholic father, depressed mother and many many siblings. I cried so hard in this book.
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Ultimate classic of a girl whose white father, an apparently lone non-racist, defends a black man obviously wrongly accused of murder
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
Another classic. A psychiatric institution that is turned on its head by McMurphy, a man obviously not insane. The manipulative warden Nurse Ratched dictates the ward with shocking consequences.
Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
The true story of Mitch Albom's old professor who is dying and every tuesday, gives Albom a lesson of life.
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingslover
A Reverand, his wife and four daughters move to the Congo to try and convert the locals to christianity. The point of view of all the daughters allows us to see how they grow and mature and learn that their father is not all controlling.
The Obernewtyn Chronicles - Isobelle Carmody
A post-apocalyptic world ruled by a dictatorship of a government. Some people begin to show signs of advanced mental abilities (read others minds, have visions of the future etc) and are burned or taken to "farms" which inevitably mean death. One of these "misfits" is caught and we follows her awesome journey
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
The story of a teenage girl who, after being brutally raped and murdered, watches from heaven as her family and friends go on with their lives, while she herself comes to terms with her own death.
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
In this story, the protagonist Piscine "Pi" Patel, an Indian boy, is shipwrecked and stuck on a small boat with a tiger, hyena, orangutan and zebra. It’s a riveting story of how he survives for over 200 days.
The Magician – Raymond E. Feist
A series mainly about a boy named Pug, but following many other characters, in the fantasy realm of Midkemian. A story of magic, love, adventure and growing up it’s the ultimate fantasy book, incorporating everything from goblins, to elves and to some creatures completely new.
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist follows Santiago, a young Spanish shepherd, on a journey to fulfill his Personal Legend. He travels far and through it we gain much insight on our very own lives. It has been hailed as a modern classic.
Looking for Alaska – John Green
Follows Miles who is sent to boarding school after begging his parents to send him. Here he meets a girl who changes his life forever. Proof that Young Adult fiction does not need to be dumbed down, it’s very deep and moving.
The Giver – Lois Lowry
The Giver is set in a future society, which is at first presented as a utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian. The novel follows Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. I loved this book, which although aimed at a younger audience, was fantastic in conveying it’s message of hope.
Looking for Alibrandi by Melinda Marchetta
I was very reluctant to read this book at first. Apparently every Sydney child studies this in school however I never did for some reason. I classed it as a “kids book” even while I was reading it until I got right to the end and I realized how good it was. It told a story of change and strength and simply growing up. I ended up loving it. It follows Josephine as she discovers her heritage and what is really important in her life.
