Back to School Reading Retrospective
By Daniel
Bookseller, Birdie Books
Aug 4, 2026
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A decade ago, around this time of year, I would be a nervous wreck. Three words brought me more anxiety than any others: Back to School. insert ominous organ music here
Along with the stress of school, sports, student council, and every club the geeks in a John Hughes movie were in, back to school meant a few very specific things in our house.
The days of hours-long Netflix binges were suspended until winter break.
The sugary cereal and toaster pastries that passed for breakfast in the summer were replaced with oatmeal and nutrient-dense options (eeewww and also yuck).
Worst of all, I had to read the books assigned in class. Not just the Wattpad and Tumblr fanfics I’d become engrossed in.
Tragic, I know!
I’ve always loved reading, but most of the books we read in class just didn't capture me the same way alternate universe Sailor Moon fics did. With a few exceptions, of course. There were a handful of books, sprinkled throughout my school days, that eventually broadened my horizons. They wore me down and showed me that traditionally published books can be enjoyable.
Gathering Blue: Lois Lowry is a juggernaut not only in children’s literature, but dystopian literature at large. I believe you would struggle to find a science or speculative fiction author today who wouldn’t list the Giver Quartet among their inspirations. This installment in the series, however, is the more literary, grounded sister to the popular phenomenon that is The Giver. I remember being hooked on my teacher’s every word as he read aloud. When I reread it for myself a couple of years ago, I had that same feeling.
Esperanza Rising: A unique and engaging structure, following the harvest seasons in the year of a young girl’s life after fleeing her home in Mexico and becoming a day laborer in California. Pam Muñoz Ryan breaks the usual form I had grown tired of with this historical riches-to-rags fictionalized version of her own grandmother’s childhood. This was also the first time in my education I was assigned a book featuring a character of color.
The Lightning Thief: A modern classic for a VERY good reason, and the book that kicked off my life-long obsession with fantasy. For a book about an eleven-year-old finding out his dad is a Greek god, this book tackles some surprisingly heavy things. Percy Jackson and his friends struggle with belonging, learning disabilities, abuse, but Rick Riordan, the author, infuses humor and love to help young readers learn difficult lessons.
Redwall: This book was assigned to me in seventh grade, and frankly, I thought it sounded stupid. To be fair to myself, an English monastery run by mice is a bit silly. However, as my classmates began to read it, they kept me informed on the plot’s progression. When I heard Constance the badger was threatening to wallop any creature trying to invade the monks’ home, I knew I had to give it a try. Curiosity eventually won its battle with teenage apathy, and I was not disappointed.
Much Ado About Nothing: When it comes to Shakespeare, I’ve got some one-sided beef! I think we do a great disservice to young readers by including his most boring and tragic works on the curriculum. Ditch Romeo & Juliet for Much Ado About Nothing. Cut Julius Caesar (pun intended) and bring in Richard III. Leave Macbeth; that one can stay! Much Ado About Nothing wasn’t technically assigned for class, but we did have to write an essay during our Romeo & Juliet unit comparing it to any of Shakespeare’s other romances. Our textbook included an excerpt, and it was salacious! The Bard is at his best when he’s writing plays that seem more like a crazy bit of gossip you’d tell your friend over a stiff drink and fried appetizers.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the teachers who put these books, and many others, in my hands. They did include a few flops over the years; I’m looking at you, Canterbury Tales, but even the books I didn’t enjoy helped me develop my sense of taste.
Furthermore, my teachers challenged me to think past the teenager’s favorite critique: “it's boring.” They pushed me to communicate to them and myself what I did want from the literature I enjoyed. My teachers pushed me in a way the comment section on Wattpad never could.
