So, there is a Facebook trend going on right now that asks users to list the 10 most influential books in that have stayed with them in some way. Thousands of people have completed the task and have tagged others in their post to do the same. And although I have been tagged twice, I still haven’t gotten around to doing it.

So here are the 10 most influential books that have stayed with me. If you are reading this, then I challenge you to do the same.

1. I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier

The twists, turns and nature in this book broadened my writing ability in elementary school. This is what turned my writing about blue skies and butterflies into writing about both the dark and light sides of everyday life.

2. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

This narrative non-fiction novel has influenced my style of writing that encouraged me to marry my love of short-story writing with the fact-telling skills of journalism.

3. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech 

This fictional narrative book is the novel that influenced me to start writing in the first place.

4. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

This is on everyone’s list for good reason. It’s a fantastically written series that encompasses everything that you could almost ever want in a series. Millions of individuals fell in love with reading again because of this great story.

5. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

This was recommended to me to read in high school when I joined the school’s “We The People Team.” It’s an incredibly moving and inspiring story that challenges the reader to live life differently.

6. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This was a favorite book of mine growing up, and it was a great introduction to Sci-Fi novels for me. There are a few books that I just kept reading over and over again, and this was definitely one of them.

7. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

I feel like every poet, creative, and free-writing person should have this on their list. The Beat-poets and writers were cool.

8. What Can Spot See? by Eric Hill

This was the first book I ever read by myself. I totally thought I was the shit at 4-years-old, and I can remember running around the classroom in kindergarten reading to people… the other kids didn’t really catch on to my enthusiasm though.

9. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

I’ve read this a billion times and I’ve memorized a few soliloquies. Just don’t ask me to recite any though.

10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

I’ve never balled so hard over a book in my life. In fact, this was the first book that I have ever cried over. I thought it was so odd at the time that I felt so emotional over a collection of arranged words.

This book really moved me, and I was inspired to try moving people or influencing them with my writing as well.

Past Writers of Kern Blog Challenge Posts