Calling all 90s babies, you might be at the tail end of the millennials but the books you read growing up are more highly defined by the 2000s and even early 2010s.
This was an exciting time to be a young reader, not just for the classics that everyone read in school but the cultural moments: Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, the list goes on for famous book to movie series that went viral before going viral was even possible.
Take a trip down memory lane with these books that are a stark reminder that you grew up in the 2000s. Books can define a generation, and while not all these books were necessarily written in the 2000s, what makes this list of reads so special is that they were popular during that period and marked the coming-of-age for so many young readers. Check out 10 books you read if you grew up in the 2000s.
10. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
If you asked any kid in the 2000s what their favorite book was, they would likely have said The Outsiders. This novel was widely read in schools in the 2000s, although it was first published in 1967 and has since become a classic.
Ponyboy is the youngest of a family that is trying its best to get on in life, despite their activity in a gang. One day Ponyboy and his friend are attacked by another gang, and forced on the run. The book follows their journey both physically and most importantly emotionally.
9. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
A list of books that are nostalgic of the 2000s would not be complete without giving Harry Potter the cultural standing it deserves. With the first film coming out in 2001, and the final in 2011, this is the series that defined the era.
If you have yet to do so as an adult, take Harry Potter off the shelf for a skim – or indulge in a full re-read if you are committed – to rediscover the magic of your childhood. These books are timeless and have no age limit.
8. The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers
For something with a little more teenager angst, the Twilight Saga is a reminder of what the 2000s were about both culturally and taking a look at modern YA fiction. With YA fiction today being a bit more sensitive to emotions and situations, YA fiction from the 2000s was chaotic and unhinged, aka Twilight.
The vampire series that made fantasy YA literature and paranormal literature mainstream, not to mention becoming a culturally iconic marker of the times, may not hold up as timelessly as Harry Potter but it is representative of a moment and generation.
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7. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Speak is one of those incredible books aimed at YA, but can be loved and appreciated by all. It was not just a best-seller in its time but widely read in schools around North America.
The book marks an era where sexual assault was becoming more widely spoken about with young adults, and awareness of SA and consent caused what looked like an epidemic of cases – but was a moment where victims began to come forward. The novel follows a high school girl who is recovering from the trauma of her SA, and the book recounts her day-to-day life as she remembers what happened and learns to find her voice again.
6. Forever by Judy Blume
Forever by Judy Blume is a classic, and while it was not written in the 2000s, it continued to be widely read by this generation and largely shaped people’s ideas of love, romance, and forever.
Our protagonist Katherine is 18 and discovering herself as any teen would, including sex and intimacy with her first love Michael. The novel follows their love story, and their decisions leading up to college where they are forced to face the truth about forever.
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief takes a compassionate look at growing up during WWII in Germany, from the perspective of a child. Liesel witnesses the Nazis burning books, but she does her best to steal them, read them, and escape into them.
Her family protects a Jewish boy named Max who becomes her friend and companion as the two do their best to survive childhood during war and dangerous times.
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4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
If you have not read The Alchemist, did you grow up in the 2000s? This book was another favorite for most schools across North America and is a coming-of-age book that can be read no matter what stage of life you are in.
The protagonist is a shepherd in Moorish Spain, content with his life until one day a wizard visits him and tells him about a treasure in a faraway land. He embarks on a treasure hunt through Northern Africa, stopping in different places to learn new life skills and most importantly he learns the power of believing in yourself.
3. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult deserves her own cultural moment for her contributions to literature in the 2000s, specifically in the genre of emotional novels about family.
My Sister’s Keeper follows the journey of a young girl who is seeking medical emancipation from her parents. Her sister has a rare form of leukemia, and the protagonist has been subjected to various bone marrow transplants and medical procedures to help her sister. The novel challenges family dynamics, love, and limits.
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2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Last but not least in terms of the most iconic series of the 2000s is The Hunger Games. This epic dystopian series for YA has passed the test of time and jumped generations in terms of fandom.
Follow Katniss on a deadly journey down a path chosen for her: to fight to the death against other young people from opposing districts, and face her own humanity in this epic tale of survival.
1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Another dystopian novel for all ages, The Giver brings up all the right questions about society both in the power and impact of individuality.
Jonas lives in a world where everything is the same, although it has not always been that way. One person in their community, The Giver, contains the memories of the old ways. When Jonas is selected to become the next Giver, he begins to receive these memories and through the portal of another way of life, he begins to face debate and dilemmas with himself and society.
