Yakapin

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Reading books has an incredible ability to bring us to different worlds. We meet different characters, witness inspiring moments, and appreciate various perspectives.

The following books, each distinct in its style and story, had the power to spark a passion for reading in my once young and carefree self. They even inspired me to pursue a career in the creative field. Now, I want to share them with you.

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

This book had me in tears!

Chinese Cinderella is a touching memoir by Adeline Yen Mah. She recounts her childhood experiences in a traditional Chinese family. Reading her stories touched me so deeply that I couldn’t fully explain it at that time. I never knew that a piece of literature could bring such intense emotions.

Imagine being a 13- or 14-year-old reading this book for an English non-fiction book report—what a surprise! It was the first time a book hit me right in the heart. As the writer describes her experiences despite the neglect and even emotional abuse, she shows her resilience, reminding us of the human spirit’s strength. It sparked a passion in me to write my stories and connect with people.

Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix

As a teenager, I associated sci-fi only with the movies. But everything changed when I discovered Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Her book was the first I bought with my own savings, and it captivated my 14-year-old nerdy heart. Growing up without the privilege of access to books, choosing the one to buy was a big challenge. The book Turnabout didn’t disappoint, though. It offers an interesting exploration of time and identity. The story challenged me to think more about living life to its fullest and even made me wonder about the allure of reversing age. Even the unexpected twists had me so engrossed in the story and made me more curious about the different books from this writer. This book also sparked my further interest in speculative fiction at present.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

For this book, let me paint you a picture. Have you ever thought you were diving into the real deal, only to discover it was just the simplified version?

When I was younger, I didn’t realize it, but I absolutely loved reading about the March sisters and fell head over heels for Jo. Jo March served as my inspiration when I was only a teenager trying to figure out whether I was going to venture into the creative field or stay in my science-filled educational background. I never knew that the original story of Little Women would further attract me to a long-term fascination with literature.

In one of the many book reports I had to do in school, this book by Louisa May Alcott was one of the first that I truly enjoyed and even tried to search for more of in later years (in movie form, short stories, and the like). Even though I read the simplified version of the book from our school library, Little Women remains a timeless tale of personal growth, love, and family that continues to resonate with me.

Honorable Mention

To those Filipinos my age, who remember those exciting days when booksellers would pop into our classrooms with stacks of books?

I sure do! It was a mix of excitement and a bit of anxiety, especially if you didn’t have much to spend. But I am so grateful to my amazing parents who made sure I got a few gems, like one of Dr. Gatmaitan’s unforgettable stories. I read it so much that the pages were practically falling apart.

The book Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop (The Ambitious Stethoscope) made me wish I could write my own children’s story when I reread it as an adult.

This book by Luis P. Gatmaitan surprised my little heart. The vibrant illustrations and engaging lines captured me so effectively.

One other surprising fact for me, and one that I am thankful for, is that we have dual-language children’s books like this one available back home. As I got older, I realized I was lucky to have read these types of books. Moreover, it shows such a fascinating realization that I grew up in a bilingual environment—not only practiced within my family but also by most, if not all, of the Filipinos.