It’s hard to pick favorite books, and I won’t even include the Harry Potter  series by J.K. Rowling on my list. Harry’s story is an epic tale of the power of love, friendship, loss, and the triumph of good over evil.

Though categorized as “young adult,” I read them in my 40’s (when they came out). The series defies age limits and would be consistent on all my lists. But here are some favorites for different age groups, as well as 2019 favorites.

Childhood

  1. Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren
    • Independent, strong, loyal, kind and funny heroine.
  1. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut, or most anything else by Dr. Seuss
    • How can you not love someone who wrote: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
    • “A person’s a person, no matter how small” from Horton Hears a Who is classic too.
  1. Junie B. Jones series, by Barbara Park
    • Kids can’t help but love a spunky, funny heroine like Junie B.
  1. The Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne
    • Smart and clever stories, with a bit of history and science thrown in.
  1. Mirrette on the High Wire, by Emily Arnold McCully
    • Living the dream….

Teens

  1. The Little Prince, by Antoine de St. Exupery
    • Perhaps my favorite of all time, and a book for all seasons of life.
  1. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
    • Fantastical and philosophical.
  1. The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd
    • Just lovely and moving.
  1. Frindle, by Andrew Clements
    • Clements’ imaginative and empowering first book, and the first of many wonderful children and teen novels.
  1. The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak
    • Beautiful, haunting, and deserving of a tear or two.

Adult

  1. A Thousand Splendid Suns, And the Mountains Echoed, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
    • Magnificent, sweeping storytelling that moves the heart and soul. How could I pick just one of these masterful novels?
  1. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
    • I’m a big fan of Irving’s quirky style, but this sweet, aching story is my personal favorite.
  1. The Magician’s Assistant, by Ann Patchett
    • Again, a personal favorite of her work, because it’s…well, a little magical.
  1. Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
    • Heartbreaking but eloquent, and particularly moving for those dealing with the elderly. It came out at the right time for me.
  1. Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach
    • Because my dad gave it to me many years ago, and it conveys a simple but profound message.

Bonus: 5 Favorites for 2019

  1. Becoming, by Michelle Obama
  2. The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai
  3. Every Last Note, by Lisa Genova
  4. Unsheltered, by Barbara Kingsolver
  5. This is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel

Five is a tough limit, but they’ll do for now. As Scarlett said, “Tomorrow is another day.” I might choose five more. What books would I find on your shelves? Is there a story behind your favorite story?