5 Fictional Books that Teach You Valuable Life Lessons
Stories are escapades I always go to when I am in need of inspiration and a home away from reality. And with the variety of books being published every year, you will surely find something that will tickle your heart and imagination.
Being fond of fantasy, it’s always a breath of fresh air when I come across other book genres that give me a different sense of enjoyment other than just a taste of fun and adventure. On that note, I want to share with you a few fictional books that have greatly impacted my life. These are books that take you on a journey and leave you with so many things to think and ponder about.
These kinds of books have become a personal favorite because not only does it take you on an adventure, they also open up your mind and give you valuable life lessons to take with you as you grow older and wiser.
5 Fictional Books that Teach You Valuable Life Lessons
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Between life and death, there is a library.
When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.
The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.
Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live? x
This book came to me unexpectedly but I’d like to think it came at the right moment of time. The premise was intriguing and I was naturally curious as to how the library worked. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live lives that you didn’t even imagine you could have? All those what-could-have-been’s and what-if’s, don’t you think it’s interesting to get a glimpse of those lives you just used to think about and imagine?
This book is about Nora and her adventure in the in-between of life and death. This book has a couple of trigger warnings and you should check them out first before diving into it so that you’ll be prepared about the content of the book.
Overall, this novel is thought-provoking and there were so many lessons that I’ve taken from it about life. The main character was depressed and suicidal and this book talked about how she slowly took the time to understand herself and find something worth fighting for her to keep on living.
Almond by Won-pyung Sohn
Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends — the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that — but his devoted mother and grandmother aren’t fazed by his condition. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say “thank you,” and when to laugh. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space.
Then on Christmas Eve — Yunjae’s sixteenth birthday — everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school and begins to bully Yunjae.
Against all odds, tormentor and victim learn they have more in common than they realized. Gon is stumped by Yunjae’s impassive calm, while Yunjae thinks if he gets to know the hotheaded Gon, he might learn how to experience true feelings. Drawn by curiosity, the two strike up a surprising friendship. As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people — including a girl at school — something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life in danger, it is Yunjae who will step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become a most unlikely hero.
The Emissary meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime in this poignant and triumphant story about how love, friendship, and persistence can change a life forever. x
Almond is a contemporary young adult book about a boy who has Alexithymia. It tells about how he lives his daily life as he goes through his struggle in fitting in with the norm. Just like the previous book, it also tackles mental health and it’s a wonderful, poignant story that touches your heart.
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting — things don’t just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory — even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy’s achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe…and the potential for love and hope right next door. x
This book is a fun and light read as it is intended for middle-grade readers. It’s a coming-of-age novel and reading through the eyes of a grieving twelve-year-old girl opens your eyes to how grief can manifest differently in each person. We get to see how Suzy processes her thoughts and emotions, and how she stays true to herself even though she feels like she’s different from her peers.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place — and realizing that family is yours. x
This is a fantasy young adult novel that represents LGBT characters. It’s such a highly raved book that I had my doubts when I picked it up. Whenever there’s a new book that grew highly popular so fast, I tend to keep my reservations because I don’t want to have high expectations. I don’t usually like overhyped books but this one was a beautiful story. The world-building was beautiful and it’s a really unique take on a fantasy novel. It’s unlike any other I’ve read and I enjoyed it a lot. It tackles racism, child abuse, confinement/forced isolation, xenophobia, and others.
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.
Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.
Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.
Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.
When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can’t just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man. x
This was such an important story to tell and although this is just fiction, it can help so many teens out there if they are also going through the same thing. I can’t imagine being a parent at 17 and Maverick’s character development was amazing. You’ll see how he matured quickly and how he didn’t let other people affect how he sees the right and the wrong. He had struggles and made bad choices but he didn’t let his past mistakes overcome him. Instead, he pushed himself to become better and work hard for his children. It’s a great book, lots of useful insights can be taken from it.
Final Thoughts
There are so many good stories out there and if you want to read something poignant, inspiring and thought-provoking, these books are what I can recommend.
I’ll be recommending more soon!
