Out of all the books in the world, from all of history, what are your top five favorite books?

Here are mine (edited on 7/5/2024 to remove a few problematic authors):

	#1: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas This is an excellent story about what it’s like growing up a young woman of color. It delves into systemic racism, particularly by the police in the United States, and should be a required read in all high schools. The storytelling is spectacular as well.
	#2:  Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis These two novels are sci-fi time-traveling books that are mostly set in England during the Blitz of World War II. While it is sci-fi, it often reads like historical fiction. Connie Willis did her homework on this era, and the suspense in this is so tight that I stayed up into the wee hours devouring these two books.
	#3: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee This book gives an excellent view of prejudice and racism in our country’s past, but from the point of view of a child. The loss of innocence that comes with growing up and realizing that people can be very cruel and hateful, makes for an excellent story, excellent read, and excellent lesson.
	#4: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury I loved teaching this novel as much as I love reading it. It’s the ultimate lesson in censorship and fast-living. I love technology, but even I understand the importance of stopping to smell the roses. Bradbury does an excellent job of covering just that topic.
	#5: Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle While written as a horror novel, there’s a truth to it that makes it much scarier than maybe intended. The story deals with a character who grows up in a super-religious town. She discovers a dark secret about this town and herself, which leads back to camp and what’s being done there. It deals with religious abuse, LGBTQ+ rights, and at times, is a heavy book. My upbringing made it easy to identify with the main character immensely and I can’t speak highly enough about this book.