3 Must-Read Books to Finish Before You Turn 16: Our Updated 2024 List
Recommendations by Sarah, English Language and Literature, University of Oxford
Reading Recommendations for 16-year-olds
No matter who you are and what you’re interested in, reading fiction can be one of the most pleasurable and profitable ways of spending your spare time. Books shape the way you see the world; they help you to develop empathy, a sense of history and a questioning mind. By inhabiting the perspective of someone else as you read a narrative, you are expanding your own perspective whilst being able to relate your own experience to the experiences of others; you begin to see where you stand in the world.
So, reading prepares you for the world at large, but it also benefits you in the present. Time and again studies have shown that children who read more perform better in examinations in all subjects: reading improves your comprehension and analytical skills, your vocabulary, your written expression and your ability to connect ideas. These skills are invaluable across the board. With this in mind, have a look at this list of books to read before you turn sixteen; they are challenging, so don’t rush. However, enjoy them! Fiction promises to transport you to another time and place. It can provide solace, intrigue and wonder.
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Plot
The rebellious Holden Caulfield is one of literature’s best-known creations. An archetypal unreliable narrator, the novel follows two days in his life after he has been expelled from boarding school. Holden returns to New York City, but cannot yet return home because his parents are unaware that he has been expelled; instead, he goes to stay at a hotel. Alone in the city, he confronts various seedy aspects of adult life before encountering a former girlfriend, his younger sister and former English teacher. Each of these meetings reveals Holden’s disillusionment with adulthood; the novel grapples with Holden’s frustration with the ‘phoniness’ of the adult world alongside his awareness of the necessity of entering it.
Who should read it?
The novel’s themes of alienation, the containment of inner turmoil and identity make it a classic narrative of adolescence which is often read by young people. It voices the angst which follows the feeling of being misunderstood or out of place; these are emotions often felt by teenagers at times of change, so read it if you’re feeling frustrated or at a crossroads of some kind.
Skills it will teach you
The unreliable first-person narrative will prompt an awareness of the constructedness of perspectives in written texts; you’ll learn to be aware of how a particular perspective shapes the way things are described. Try to apply this tool to other texts you read; for example, how does the way in which news articles are written shape your understanding of what is being described?
George Orwell, 1984
Plot
Following the plight of Winston Smith, this novel describes a dystopian world in which truth has become malleable. The society which Winston inhabits is totalitarian, with citizens’ lives being controlled by Big Brother, the symbolic ruler who watches over everyone. Winston’s growing urge to rebel against this oppression leads him to begin a secret relationship with Julia, a co-worker at the Ministry of Truth, but the malevolent forces around him conspire to threaten his attempt at taking control of his life.
Who should read it?
This book is of increasing relevance in today’s society of surveillance and ‘fake news’; it raises awareness of the ways in which society can manipulate our thoughts and ideas. Orwell highlights the importance of freedom of thought, and in light of today’s turbulent and confusing politics, everyone of any age should be sure to read this book as a warning against the danger of succumbing to ‘groupthink’.
Skills it will teach you
This book will teach you to question what ‘truth’ entails: how do we know that the facts we are provided with are valid? This is a useful tool when reading the news and encountering information on social media. It will also assist you in your studies; for example, when analysing sources in History, apply the question of ‘is this true’ to the information you are presented with, and consider whether the people which this information was aimed at would have asked this same question.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun
Plot
This novel is set in 1960s Nigeria in the midst of civil war. It tells the tale of the twins, Olanna and Kainene, high-class women whose lives diverge as they choose different paths, and their lovers, Odenigbo and Richard. Odenigbo is a passionate university professor railing against the injustices of colonialism, and Richard is an expatriate Englishman in thrall to Nigerian culture. The novel deals with the ways in which the war threatens all of their livelihoods, setting individual against collective narratives to ask questions about identity in a postcolonial world.
Who should read it?
History curriculums at school do not cover conflicts such as the Biafran War, and it is therefore easy to miss out on the history of non-Western countries. It is crucial that we include non-European narratives in our understanding of the world. This book addresses these issues through a story which is gripping and dramatic. It is therefore the ideal read for anyone who thinks they ‘don’t like reading’ – I challenge you not to enjoy this story! In addition, it is illuminating for anyone seeking to widen their understanding of twentieth-century history and to understand how identities are constructed.
Skills it will teach you
Reading ‘postcolonial’ literature educates you about the ways in which colonialism shaped and continues to shape the course of history throughout the world. It focuses on issues of race and nation, and the connections between these two concepts; these are issues at the forefront of the world’s attention today and reading Adichie’s book will teach you the danger of representing anything from a single perspective. The importance of multiple perspectives applies to almost all the information you will encounter, be it news articles or ethical debates. If this is something which particularly interests you, watch Adichie’s TED talk entitled ‘The Danger of a Single Story’ for further discussion of postcolonial perspectives.
Books to read for all ages …
If you liked the above recommendations, check out our reading lists for 14 & 18 year-olds!
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