On 15 January Frances Osborne hosted a reception at number 11 Downing Street to celebrate the 49% rise in young people volunteering with our Summer Reading Challenge during the last year.
During the reception volunteers Hannah, Kenya and Tom (shown here) spoke about how much they had gained from volunteering in their local libraries and our director, Miranda McKearney OBE, shared some impressive statistics showing the growth volunteering in libraries. Nick Hurd, minister for Civil Society also congratulated us on our Reading Activists work which has partly been funded by the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund.
As the event took place at one of the most powerful addresses in the nation, all guests were asked to share their ‘book to change the world’.
Books to change the world recommended by our Reading Activists
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. “This book demonstrates how love and loyalty are key factors in our everyday lives. Not only does it help you to overcome hardships but it promotes unity which is an important life skill.” Ndi, Reading Activist from Towerhamlets.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio. “This book teaches the value of not judging a book by its cover or people for the way they look.” Catherine, Reading Activist from Gateshead
The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. “The reason I have chosen this book is because it taught me that we make choices which we later regret; therefore it is important to think twice.” Sofina, Reading Activist from Tower Hamlets.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. “I chose this book because it is a bout the big American dream and great depression. This book will change the world because it’s about segregation and people use to be split up.” Bilkiss, Reading Activist from Towerhamlets.
Wither (Chemical Garden) by Lauren DeStefano. “This book inspires you to make the most of your life!” Reef, Reading Activist from Gateshead.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. “I think it brings out important issues, such as questioning whether science has gone too far and to bring awareness to things like stem cell research.” Hannah, Reading Activist from Hackney.
Envy by Gregg Olsen. “It has a really great message: together, you can do anything.” Tom, Reading Activist from Warrington.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. “I think this book could change the world because, if we look a bit more into history we see patterns so we might not make the same mistakes in the future.” Kenya, Reading Activist from Hackney.
Barack Obama: Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. Aramide, Reading Activist from Westminster.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire. James,Reading Activist from Warrington.
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness. Imogen, Reading Activist from Westminster.
Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter by Sidney Poitier. Morenike, Reading Activist from Westminster.
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. Zosia, Reading Activist from Gateshead.
Watch the Reading Activists explain their choices below!
Books to change the world recommended by other guests
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.
Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism by Muhammad Yunus.
A Winter Book: Selected Stories by Tove Jansson.
Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelock.
Nineteen Eight-four by George Orwell.
Sophie’s Choice by William Styron.
Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy.
Change the World for a Fiver: We are What We Do by Anon.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Summer readings: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.
Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and with (Almost) No Money by Dolly Freed and David Gates.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
If This Is a Man by Primo Levi.
Small Is Beautiful by E. F. Schumacher
Sad Book by Michael Rosen.
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.
One World by Michael Foreman.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.
h2. Books to change the world recommended by our twitter followers
Wonder by RJ Palacio.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Yes We Can Read by L Coleman & N Ainley.
Random Acts of Kindness by Danny Wallace.
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Hiroshima by John Hersey
The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh
The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
If This Is a Man by Primo Levi.
Seagull by Jonathan Livingston.
Of Marriageable Age by Sharon Maas.
Down and out in London & Paris by George Orwell.
Any and every book ever given as a gift!
Zoom in on the full map below:
Get involved
Please tell us your book to change the world on twitter using the hashtag #booktochangetheworld or by leaving a comment below.
You can read more about the event at number 11 Downing Street and see photos on The Reading Agency website.
Looking for a young people’s reading group to join? Find one here. If you run a young people’s reading group do join us and add to it to the site.
