Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week I’m talking about some of the more diverse books I have read–books that celebrate diversity through characters, plot, and themes.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio // This is one of my recent favorite reads. Seriously, if you haven’t read it, check it out! It follows the experiences of August Pullman–a boy with an extreme facial deformity–as he attends public school for the first time. I love the multiple narrators and the lessons about friendship and accepting yourself.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett // One of my favorite all time reads. This popular novel teaches the importance of treating all people, regardless of color, as people and as equals. I love that.
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale // This fantasy novel is a delightful read! It follows the experiences of Ani as she leaves her homeland and travels to a distance kingdom to marry their crown prince. Along the way, she learns the importance of friendship and language–no matter where you come from.
The Heart of Midlothian by Sir Walter Scott // One of my favorite reads in my college coursework. Scott is the master of the Scottish novel. This one explores the relationships between Scotland and England, sisters and their father, and love and lose. It’s a big novel but also a beautiful one.
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev // I’ve come to love Russian literature over the years. This was my first exposure to it. This novel explores the ways education and growing up change the way we relate to our parents. Of course, it is set in Russia and explores some of the political changes happening during that time. A very intriguing read.
The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgsen Burnett // I love that this story shows the importance of friendship for everyone, especially for children (no matter their backgrounds, ability, or health). I also love that it also teaches that friendship can cure the pains that ail us most.
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick // I’ve referenced this book before. It follows two friends (both with a disability that could define them) and shows how they chose to see the world in a different way.
And a few diverse books on my list to read:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
greenish bookshelf 
Interesting pick of Walter Scott. I’ve been thinking I should read him at some point, this sounds like a good choice!
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Thanks! He isn’t an “easy” read but I think he’s worth the effort!
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The only one I’ve read it The Secret Garden and it’s such a sweet story. I saw the movies for The Help and Life of Pi, but that’s it. Thanks for the list 🙂
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I loved the movie versions of both The Help and Life of Pi. I still need to read Life of Pi. Thanks for stopping by!
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I still need to read The Help but I am planning to sometime this year! The Secret Garden is one of my all time favourites 🙂 Lovely picks Jane! Emma @ Emma’s Bookery
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Thanks for stopping by! The Help is one of my favorites so I’m excited to hear what you think!
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Great list! I have Wonder in my TTT for this week too. I haven’t read any of the others though, so I’ll have to add a bunch to my TBR pile. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad to hear you have Wonder on your list. It’s such a fantastic read. I think more people should check it out.
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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is SO VERY VERY GOOD!! I hope you get a chance to read it because afjdklsa it’s so fantastic and moving. OH. And I loved Wonder and The Help. How could I forget them in my own lists?! GAH. *facepalm*
Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
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I reserved it at the library this week so its high on my list! Excited ti read it soon. And I’m so glad to hear you’ve read Wonder!! Its one of my recent favorites and I’m surprised its not better known. Haha there are always more books to be added, right!? 🙂
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The Secret Garden!!! I haven’t read that book in years! And now I want to re-read it since you’ve mentioned it. Love your list for this week! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier 🙂
Obsessive Compulsive Reader
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Thanks so much! I hope you get a chance to reread it soon. It really is lovely 🙂
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I haven’t read any of these except for The Help, but they all sound like good choices. If you love Russian literature, then you should definitely read The Bronze Horseman trilogy by Paullina Simons. A wonderful love story set in Russia during WWII. I think it’s been optioned for a movie, but no one has been cast yet, I don’t think.
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Thanks so much! And thanks for that recommendation! Sounds like something I would definitely like. I will have to check it out!
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Great list of books! The Life of Pi is one of my favourite books ever, hope you will enjoy it when you read it 🙂
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Awesome! I actually just reserved it at the library so I hope to get to it soon (of course, I reserve books 5-10 at a time, but it’s definitely high on my list!)
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The Secret Garden was one of my favorite books as a child!
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It’s so fantastic! I only discovered it this year and loved it. Thanks for stopping by!
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Great list. I read Life Of Pi a long time ago and really liked it. The movie was good, too.
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I liked the movie as well. It’s not often I see the movie before reading the book but that movie really got me excited about the book. Thanks for stopping by!
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You have such great books on your list. I’ve read most of them, but really like the sound of The Heart of Midlothian. I’ll definitely check it out. My TTT
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Thanks! That’s a beautiful book. You have to get used to the Scottish language used in the book (I had to read it out loud for a while to understand it) but the story is deep and vibrant. I hope you like it!
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