I don’t know about you, but I often find myself getting overwhelmed with the stress of the daily grind. Also, who isn’t stressed in the current socioeconomic environment? Sometimes, I just wish I could go back to being a kid, a time when life was simpler. I wish I could go back to when my biggest worry was getting to Walmart after school so I can grab the newest Heroes of Olympus installation.
Luckily, books are able to transport us to past times when we felt happy and content. When I want a dose of nostalgia and to feel like a kid again, all I need to do is pick up one of my favorite books from back then. Here’s a list of my favorite classic YA books that never fail to transport me back in time to my childhood bedroom and less stressful times.
The Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman
Genre: Sci-fi, Dystopian
When I tell you, this series had a grip on me when I was in middle school.
After the Second Civil War over reproductive rights, a compromise is reached where parents of children aged 13 to 17 can consent to have their children “unwound”, meaning they can be taken apart and their organs given to other people. The book follows Connor, Lisa, and Lev as they try to survive a world where their lives are determined by how valuable they are to society.
This book definitely touches on a topic that is still hot in today’s society. Reproductive rights are a very polarizing topic, and this book narrates what a world would look like if a dark compromise was made.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA Dystopian
Do I even need to say more? Back in 2012, every middle schooler, their mom, their siblings, and their cousins were reading this series. I vividly remember being 12 years old in March, lining up for the midnight premiere of the movie an hour before the doors opened. (Also, why are midnight premieres not a thing anymore?)
In the ruins of North America, a new nation rose called Panem. The Capitol of Panem is harsh and cruel. Every year, they punish the surrounding 12 districts by forcing two children to enter The Hunger Games, a fight to the death, where only one will remain standing.
This series consumed my middle-school mind, body, and soul. Of course, I was very concerned about choosing between Team Peeta and Team Gale, but the beauty of rereading them multiple times as an adult is being able to see the deeper themes throughout the series. And since Suzanne continues to write in this series, I can’t escape.
Last Survivors series by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre: YA dystopian, Sci-fi, Post-Apocalyptic
I’m actually in the process of rereading this series right now, and I’m enjoying it just as much as I did the first time.
Miranda is your typical teenager. She worries about her role on the swim team, whether she can ever figure skate again, and whether her favorite figure skater will win Olympic gold. Until an asteroid hits the moon and pushes it closer to Earth. What follows is a fight for survival as natural disasters ravage the world and food becomes scarce.
This series has me sitting on my couch wondering if I’d ever be able to survive an apocalypse like this. My conclusion is always no because my pantry has like one loaf of bread and a can of soup in it.
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY MORE??? This is definitely my #1 book series of all time, and you can rip my copies from my cold, dead hands.
Percy Jackson is a troubled kid. He’s been in six different schools in six years, and he just can’t help screwing it all up. When his mom tells him the truth of where he came from, everything makes sense. His ADHD, his temper. She takes him to the one place he will be safe – Camp Half Blood. But there are forces working behind the scenes that threaten the safety of everyone at camp – and the safety of the world itself.
I enter a Percy Jackson brain rot era at least once every few years, where my entire personality is taken over by the book series (including Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo), as well as The Lighting Thief Musical. If you haven’t listened to it, I highly recommend. You might even hear me screaming “Good Kid” from the rooftops.
Warriors by Erin Hunter
Genre: Fantasy
I loved these books so much as a kid, it’s a surprise I didn’t become a furry. I would play “warrior cats” on the 5th grade playground and eat wild plants that I probably shouldn’t have.
Four cat clans have lived in the forest for generations, following laws passed down by their ancestors. However, danger is afoot, and Thunderclan is at risk, while Shadowclan grows stronger every day. However, one housecat named Rusty may be the key to saving the forest.
These books can actually get pretty dark for a children’s series. Should I have been reading about cats dying in childbirth or being eviscerated when I was ten years old? Probably not. But I did, and I’m sure my brain chemistry was altered forever.
I can count on all of these books to take me back to my childhood and help me relax a little bit. Do you have any favorite childhood books that have the same effects? Do we share any favorites? Let me know in the comments!
