My Top 5 Favorite Books to Share

Books have the power to open up our worlds and connect them with others as we share stories with strangers, siblings, and closest friends.

Here are five of my absolute favorite books to require everyone in sight to read share. Who knows, maybe this will help you with your Christmas shopping, whether that’s for yourself or someone else.

(*whispers* Buy two copies and make it a buddy read.)

1. Beautiful Blue World by Suzanne Lefleur (and sequel Threads of Blue) is one you’ve likely seen me recommend before. Set in something of a fantasy world World War II, the situations and friendships ring as true as real history. In the midst of that, an intense hope and childlike resilience shine on every page through the main character and the most poetic writing style.

This is your warning to have tissues on hand. I like to say this duology broke my heart and put it back together all in one.

Age recommendation: upper middle grade, though even more appreciated by adults.

CW: implied violence, familial loss, a fire, intense danger.

Who I shared it with: siblings, Mikayla.

2. Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer is one of the few prairie romances I will tolerate and even love to pieces (I truly do) because it’s so much more than that. It’s kind of a coming of age story, a spiritual journey, and a tragically fascinating history lesson on the 1918/19 flu pandemic.

It’s the perfect balance of serious and sweet for me (with just enough moments that are slightly swoony ).

Age recommendation: teen and up.

CW: plague descriptions, death, loss and emotions surrounding it, kissing.

Who I shared it with: Mikayla gifted me a copy, I read it aloud to a sister right after finishing it.

3. Empowered by Catherine Parks is a newer find from this summer, and oh my, is it soooo good. Each chapter highlighted a woman of faith, some familiar (Joni Eareckson Tada, Fanny Crosby, the ten Boom sisters) and some previously unknown to me (Esther Ahn Kim, Charlotte Grimke, Phyllis Wheatley Peters), and brought out the amazing ways God empowered and worked through them.

Definitely pick it up.

Age recommendation: all ages. (Would be a great read-aloud!)

CW: racism, the Holocaust, and slavery.

Who I shared it with: a younger sister, though I’m still trying to convince others to read.

4. Kate’s Innocence by Sarah Holman is one of the coolest indies ever. It’s the first in a series that reminds me of a cleaner version of my favorite detective shows. The main character isn’t a Christian, but many in her team are, so there’s plenty of opportunity to discuss interesting topics while solving some pretty crazy cases.

I just bought paperbacks of the next two books so I can finally welcome them to my shelves.

Age recommendation: teen and up.

CW: bombing, death threats/danger.

Who I shared it with: my brother. He binge read them.

5. Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder… Don’t even get me started. It has the haunting yet childlike feel of Peter Pan or The Giver, and it exploded my mind with the poetic writing and exploration of growing up. The whole cast of characters is delightful, and the world building is perfection.

Seriously, seriously beautiful.

Age recommendation: older middle-grade and up, again possibly understood more by adults.

CW: implied danger, anger, a girl experiences her first period and is frightened.

Who I shared it with: all my siblings.

So there you go! What are your favorite books to share? Have you read of these?