Book Lists

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This page lists some of the books we read that might be suitable for students in high school and beyond and for parents too

Book links were accurate at the time of posting but may change or become misdirected over time. If needed, please use the book title and author name to locate the correct Goodreads page.

Good news for all young readers and writers! Grace has enjoyed reading since she was little, and her dream at 12 years old was to publish her own book. Her dream came true! While being a medical student at Stanford, her debut novel, Portrait of a Thief, was also published and became New York Times’ instant bestseller and international #1 bestseller! The story was inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums, about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identity centered around five Chinese American college students. For more information, please visit Grace’s website https://gracedli.com/

Fiction/Novel

  • Fiction & Contemporary Literature: Identity, Society, and Human Experience
    * Book links may change or become mislinked over time. Please use the book title and author name to locate the correct Goodreads page if needed.
    Portrait of a Thief — by Grace D. Li
    A novel about art theft, cultural identity, and reclaiming history among a group of Chinese American students.
    Yellowface — by Rebecca F. Kuang
    A satirical novel examining race, authorship, and power within the contemporary publishing world.
    Lessons in Chemistry — by Bonnie Garmus
    A novel about a female chemist navigating science, sexism, and personal ambition in the 1960s.
    Our Missing Hearts — by Celeste Ng
    A dystopian novel exploring family separation, censorship, and resistance in a near-future America.
    Dark Matter — by Blake Crouch
    A science-fiction thriller exploring quantum physics, identity, and alternate realities.
    Every Version of You — by Grace Chan
    A speculative novel about memory, grief, and identity shaped by medical technology.
    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — by Gabrielle Zevin
    A novel about friendship, creativity, and the emotional costs of collaboration.
    The Song of Achilles — by Madeline Miller
    A retelling of the Trojan War focused on love, destiny, and heroism.
    The Verifiers — by Jane Pek
    A mystery novel centered on data, truth, and identity in modern digital culture.
    Chemistry — by Weike Wang
    A novel about a graduate student grappling with scientific pressure and personal expectations.
    Picture Us in the Light — by Kelly Loy Gilbert
    A coming-of-age story about art, family secrets, and cultural identity.
    When We Were Infinite — by Kelly Loy Gilbert
    A novel about friendship, music, and finding one’s voice amid family challenges.
    How We Fall Apart — by Katie Zhao
    A mystery exploring privilege, ambition, and the pressures faced by high-achieving students.
    Parachutes — by Kelly Yang
    A novel addressing race, power, and inequality through the lives of immigrant teenagers.
    The School for Good Mothers — by Jessamine Chan
    A dystopian novel examining motherhood, surveillance, and state control.
    Yellow — by Don Lee
    A satirical novel about race, art, and ambition in contemporary America.
    My Good Son — by Yang Huang
    A psychological novel exploring family, morality, and hidden truths.
    The Fault in Our Stars — by John Green
    A love story between two teenagers confronting illness and mortality.
    Gold Boy, Emerald Girl — by Yiyun Li
    A collection of short stories exploring quiet struggles and emotional complexity.
    Everything I Never Told You — by Celeste Ng
    A family drama uncovering secrets, expectations, and cultural tensions.
    Little Fires Everywhere — by Celeste Ng
    A novel about motherhood, privilege, and the consequences of hidden choices.
    The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories — by Ken Liu
    A collection of speculative stories blending science fiction, fantasy, and cultural heritage.
    Impostor Syndrome — by Kathy Wang
    A novel about ambition, identity, and belonging in corporate and social spaces.
    The Memory Police — by Yōko Ogawa
    A dystopian novel about memory, loss, and quiet resistance.
    The Giver — by Lois Lowry
    A classic dystopian novel about conformity, memory, and moral choice.
    Brave New World — by Aldous Huxley
    A dystopian novel exploring technology, control, and engineered happiness.
    The Kite Runner — by Khaled Hosseini
    A story of friendship, guilt, and redemption set against Afghanistan’s history.
    1984 — by George Orwell
    A dystopian novel about surveillance, authoritarianism, and truth.
    Animal Farm — by George Orwell
    An allegorical novella examining power and political corruption.
    Fahrenheit 451 — by Ray Bradbury
    A dystopian novel about censorship, knowledge, and intellectual freedom.
    Atlas Shrugged — by Ayn Rand
    A philosophical novel exploring individualism, capitalism, and societal collapse.
    Katabasis — by Rebecca F. Kuang
    A work drawing on classical myth and descent narratives to explore ambition, failure, and intellectual obsession.
    Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence — by Rebecca F. Kuang
    A dark academic fantasy exploring language, colonialism, and revolutionary resistance.
    The Poppy War — by Rebecca F. Kuang
    A grim fantasy inspired by twentieth-century Chinese history, centered on war, trauma, and power.
    Lies We Sing to the Sea — by Sarah Underwood
    A mythological retelling that centers female agency, sacrifice, and power.
    Gentlest of Wild Things — by Sarah Underwood
    A dark, magical reimagining of The Great Gatsby focused on obsession and ambition.
    The Ones We Burn — by Becca Mix
    A dark fantasy novel exploring magic, vengeance, and moral ambiguity.

Non-Fiction & Life Reading

  • Nonfiction & Life Reading: Science, Medicine, Society, and Personal Growth
    Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High — by Kerry Patterson
    A practical guide to communicating effectively during high-stakes, emotionally charged conversations.
    The Defining Decade — by Meg Jay
    A research-based look at why early adulthood matters and how young people can make intentional life choices.
    The Gene: An Intimate History — by Siddhartha Mukherjee
    A sweeping history of genetics that blends scientific discovery with human stories and ethical questions.
    The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer — by Siddhartha Mukherjee
    A comprehensive narrative of cancer research, treatment, and patient experience.
    The Song of the Cell — by Siddhartha Mukherjee
    A history of cell biology showing how cells shape health, disease, and identity.
    The Last Lecture — by Randy Pausch
    A reflection on life, learning, and perseverance written by a professor facing terminal illness.
    Educated — by Tara Westover
    A memoir about the transformative power of education and self-determination.
    A Gift to My Children — by Jim Rogers
    Life and investing lessons from a father to his children, emphasizing independence and curiosity.
    Maybe You Should Talk to Someone — by Lori Gottlieb
    A therapist’s memoir offering insight into mental health, vulnerability, and human connection.
    Dreams from My Father — by Barack Obama
    A memoir exploring identity, race, and personal history.
    The Selfish Gene — by Richard Dawkins
    A foundational science book explaining evolution through a gene-centered perspective.
    When Breath Becomes Air — by Paul Kalanithi
    A neurosurgeon’s memoir reflecting on life, illness, and meaning.
    Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind — by Yuval Noah Harari
    A broad history of humanity examining biology, culture, and society.
    Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City — by Matthew Desmond
    An in-depth examination of housing insecurity and poverty in the United States.
    Half the Sky — by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
    A global look at women’s rights and efforts to combat oppression worldwide.
    The World Is Flat — by Thomas L. Friedman
    An analysis of globalization and its impact on economics and culture.
    Tuesdays with Morrie — by Mitch Albom
    A memoir about life lessons learned through weekly conversations with a dying professor.
    Girl in Glass — by Deanna Fei
    A mother’s account of premature birth, medical uncertainty, and resilience.
    No Visible Bruises — by Rachel Louise Snyder
    An investigative work on domestic violence and systemic failure.
    Bad Blood — by John Carreyrou
    An investigation into the rise and collapse of the Theranos biotech startup.
    The Bright Hour — by Nina Riggs
    A memoir about living fully while facing terminal illness.
    Freakonomics — by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
    An exploration of hidden patterns behind everyday economic and social behavior.
    The Bigamist — by Mary Turner-Thomson
    A true story examining deception, trust, and emotional manipulation.

Parenting books read over the years

Partial book list that we remember reading.

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