3 Novels Teaching Me How to be a Better Human
On June 10, 1815, Thomas Jefferson is said to have written these words in a letter to John Adams: “I cannot live without books, but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object.”
I think you’ll agree there’s something about books that would be truly tragic to live without (and I also recognize in myself how the reading of those books far too easily becomes amusement instead of use). I would only add this: “I cannot live without books that challenge my paradigms and make me a better human.”
To be honest, I wasn’t looking for books to challenge my paradigms and help me grow when I found the three novels below. In truth, I don’t read novels nearly often enough—I go straight from non-fiction to binging Netflix way too often. But I always try to keep a good novel going and sometimes I stumble upon a few that even Netflix won’t make me put down. So, as I started thinking about the 52 books that have helped me grow the most over the past few years, these three immediately came to mind.
#1 — Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
In Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, I found myself suddenly face-to-face with my own ideas about race, privilege, and the way our society works — ideas that were put into me when I was too young to understand them — that needed a hard second look and in most cases, uprooting and changing. I read a lot of great books after owning up to my racism a couple of years ago, but this one brought on an unexpected new awakening. (And the audio version was incredible!) I’ll definitely be reading it again.
“With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion--and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game. -Bookshop.org
"Small Great Things is the most important novel Jodi Picoult has ever written. . . . It will challenge her readers . . . [and] expand our cultural conversation about race and prejudice."-The Washington Post
"A novel that puts its finger on the very pulse of the nation that we live in today . . . a fantastic read from beginning to end, as can always be expected from Picoult, this novel maintains a steady, page-turning pace that makes it hard for readers to put down."-San Francisco Book Review
#2 — American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
In American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, I found myself suddenly rethinking everything I’ve ever said about my country being “mine” and also thinking about families torn apart at the borders in a whole new light. I had my first awakening about this when I spent a couple of months working in South Texas back in 2015 with Border Patrol constantly swarming and our Texan coworkers sharing very loud opinions, but this book brought a new realization.
"American Dirt just gutted me, and I didn't just read this book-I inhabited it....Everything about this book was so extraordinary. It's suspenseful, the language is beautiful, and the story really opened my heart. I highly recommend it, and you will not want to put it down. It is just a magnificent novel." -Oprah
"A heart-pounding, page-turning, can't-put-it-down, stay-up-till-3 a.m., adrenaline-pumping story...that examines, with sensitivity, care, and complexity of thought, immense, soul-obliterating trauma and its aftermath." -Los Angeles Times
EXTRA TIP: If you pair American Dirt with the nonfiction book Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario, you will be doubly immersed in family stories that might change the feelings that come up for you when immigration pops up on your news feed again.
"A heartwrenching account. [Enrique’s Journey] provides a human face, both beautiful and scarred, for the undocumented. A must-read. -Kirkus Reviews, Starred
“This powerfully written survival story personalizes the complicated, pervasive, and heart-wrenching debates about immigration and immigrants' rights and will certainly spark discussion in the classroom and at home. -Booklist
#3 — The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
In The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, I’ll admit — I was skeptical at first. I wasn’t sure I could get into the story. At first I thought the word choice was too different, too niche, and the sentence structure was unfamiliar. Then, I had to ask myself, “Wait, is that really what’s going on? Or is the subject matter what’s really causing you discomfort?” It was me. I wanted to stop reading because I couldn’t handle it. The story was too true. It was calling me out of all of my darkest places. I’m so glad I kept reading and let it call me out. (& it’s especially good on audio - the audiobook performance is stellar!)
"Though Thomas's story is heartbreakingly topical, its greatest strength is in its authentic depiction of a teenage girl, her loving family, and her attempts to reconcile what she knows to be true about their lives with the way those lives are depicted--and completely undervalued--by society at large."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Beautifully written in Starr's authentic first-person voice, this is a marvel of verisimilitude as it insightfully examines two worlds in collision. An inarguably important book that demands the widest possible readership."-Booklist (starred review)
"With smooth but powerful prose delivered in Starr's natural, emphatic voice, finely nuanced characters, and intricate and realistic relationship dynamics, this novel will have readers rooting for Starr and opening their hearts to her friends and family. This story is necessary. This story is important."-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A little word about the book links I use. . .
The book links in this post point to Bookshop.org. That's because, 1— a portion of every sale they make goes to keep small, local, independent bookshops alive, and 2— they have incredible service. You also might notice I'm now using a new audiobook service Libro.fm because they support small, local, independent bookshops, too. (They even let you pick your favorite local bookshop to support with your purchases or monthly subscription—I chose Bellabooks in Belfast, ME.) If you haven't checked these out before, I hope you will. Especially if you love sweet little local bookshops and want to keep them around.
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