Life-changing books!

This week is something a little different; it’s the three books or series that changed my life (with the big flashy lights).

The Harry Potter Series
By JK Rowling

I don’t really think it needs a summary.

The Harry Potters were pretty much the first “proper” books I’d ever read. My mom read the first three to me when I was four. They terrified me, but I loved them, I would hide under the duvet, all the way down at the end of the bed, hugging my teddy bear and yelling “Don’t stop reading!”

By the time I was eight I had read all the books and seen all the movies that were out.  It was, and still is one of my favourite series, and every book I read after that was either Almost as good as Harry Potter or Nowhere near as good as Harry Potter.

But Harry Potter wasn’t just a book that I loved. It started off my reading experience with one important thing that has stayed with me this whole time: Hermione. Basically, I wanted to be Hermione. She was incredibly smart, strong, and brave and she looked like me, or at least I imagined she did, with the same hair, and eyes. And from the age of four, Harry Potter showed me that it’s okay to be smart, and it’s okay to show it, but also that it’s okay to mess up sometimes.

Plus, who doesn't want a wand?

Feisty chick-o-meter: 10/10
Age rating: 9+
Rating: 10/10
Stand alone or series: Series
Book or audiobook: Book

The Rowan of Rin Series
By Emily Rodda

This next series was a collection of books that I really identified with at the time. It’s about a boy who doesn't think he’ll ever be brave but then the village’s water supply dries up and he is sent on a quest along with six others to confront the dragon who presumably had something to do with the problem (as dragons usually do).

The Rowan of Rin series were really good for me at a time when I didn't feel like I had any friends or that I fit in, and the characters were very relatable. Also there’s a super awesome girl called Zeel who saves the day and is generally just awesome.




Feisty chick-o-meter: 7/10
Age rating: 8+
Rating: 10/10
Stand alone or series: Series
Book or audiobook: Book



The Percy Jackson Series
By Rick Riordan

Finally, The Percy Jackson series. This is on the Books Everyone Must Read list, and it’s written, of course, by the fabulous Rick Riordan.

I read the Percy Jacksons before and while my family and I were travelling  and although I had taken an interest before, this series was really the climax of my Greek mythology obsession (and I mean OBSESSION).

The other part was the whole friendless kid meets a bunch of other freaky and awesome people and gets to save the day. And there is the awesome character, Annabeth who is incredibly smart and without whom every quest would fail. If Hermione was taken, I'd be pretty happy with being her.


Feisty chick-o-meter: 10/10
Age rating: 12+
Rating: 10/10
Stand alone or series: Series
Book or audiobook: Book