1. Twilight Stephenie Meyer, 2005
I think Twilight is almost a “right of passage” kind of book. Everyone has heard of it, but the movies don't do it justice. So many little details and feelings are left out or even changed for the sake of the movie's length. The series isn’t absurdly original but it's a fun read. I think everyone should read it before graduating because it covers how eternal youth actually feels. Apart from being a vampire, being young forever has its drawbacks.
2. Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling, 1999
Although there's some controversy around J.K Rowling and her works, I believe everyone should read the Harry Potter series before graduating. It’s suspenseful yet it includes that coming-of-age feel to it which makes it somewhat relatable. The mystical setting and creatures invoke imagination and open-ended thinking. The main character coming from an abusive home can either make someone sympathize with him or relate to him and make the journey of reading the books in this series even more intense. I chose this particular book to represent the series because it gives me an escape and I've always liked the werewolves.
3. Torn Rowenna Miller, 2010
This book is about a military medic in Afghanistan who encounters the spirit of a child. People should read it for its emotional impact, and because it paints a picture of what it’s like for children growing up in the Middle East.
4. Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil John Berendt, 1994
This slow-burning book is interesting for everyone because it covers so many aspects and can make any reader feel connected to any character. The setting is in deep south Savannah, Georgia in 1969. The themes revolve around money, crime, and the idea of good vs. evil but the story includes so much more. There is lust, sex, and murder along with the emotion each character invokes. The story has turns in almost every chapter and constantly brings up new little pieces of information that slowly pull the story together. It's almost a mind-bender. Between all the chaos it loses a true moral, but I believe the story itself is about liberation.
5. The Things They Carried Tim O'brien, 1990
This book is about a group of men who go to war and change their lives forever, but the most important aspect is how it changes their lives. There is one specific chapter that is unforgettable because of how drastic the change is. The book is intense and a little disheartening but that's what makes it unforgettable. Now, this doesn’t have anything in direct relation to graduating but it's eye-opening about how certain events can reshape the way someone thinks. It makes me think about what future events could send me spiraling for the worst.