Studying in one of the best international schools in Manila or in any of the progressive schools can be an extremely gratifying experience for your teens. They advocate holistic learning, wherein students are encouraged to go beyond the confines of the traditional classroom set-up and to constantly acquire knowledge – even when they are not in school.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is by letting them read books. It is essential that you cultivate a love for reading in your children as early as possible — after all, there is no age requirement for learning.
However, make sure that they are reading the appropriate materials. More than being suitable for their age bracket, these books should also instill values in your teenagers and help them be motivated to go through their everyday life; and for them to constantly strive further in everything they do.
Here are some young adult novels that can help inspire your teen:
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda chronicles the life of young Matilda, a five-year-old who seems too remarkable to be true. She can easily solve multiplication problems and she has already breezed through Dickens and tons of other classics.
However, Matilda’s world is far from perfect. For one, her parents are horribly selfish and narrow-minded. Additionally, her school is a far cry from some of the progressive schools in Manila. After all, Mrs. Trunchbull, the school principal, has no sympathy whatsoever towards the students.
Matilda, however, won’t let them bring her down. She starts hurling practical jokes at her nonplussed parents. Eventually, she will need her ingenuity to save Miss Honey, her teacher, from the formidable Mrs. Trunchbull.
Matilda is a very heartwarming tale — about a little girl who doesn’t let her age hamper her from learning and fighting for what she believes in. The plot also progresses very imaginatively, and you’ll soon encounter story elements you probably didn’t expect.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is a much-beloved classic that is often included in school curriculums. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and has since then touched the hearts of many.
It’s a poignant novel that examines the human psyche, spiraling the readers on a journey that tackles innocence, compassion, cruelty, justice, and love — all in the perspective of the young girl, Scout.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This novel features ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen as its protagonist. It depicts the quickly deteriorating state of Copenhagen, Denmark during the World War II. That is, food begins to be scarce, Nazi soldiers are everywhere, and the Jews are ordered to be relocated.
The story also involves Ellen, Annemarie’s Jewish best friend, that moves in with the Johansens, pretending to be Annemarie’s sister. Soon, our protagonist has to embark on a perilous quest to save Ellen’s life.
Number the Stars is a tale that illustrates stunning and admirable courage, how far a girl is willing to go just to save other people’s lives, and the breadth of what she can accomplish.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Diary of a Young Girl is a true account of the Second World War. As the name suggests, this comes in a diary format — as recorded by Anne Frank, a teenage girl living in Amsterdam when the war broke out.
This will provide the readers a vivid picture of how their families led their lives with the Nazis constantly in their midst. Your children will thereby see the war beyond what is being taught in the classroom.
More than giving them an accurate depiction of the war, however, this book will also offer your children an intimate glimpse of a teenager’s mind.
Holes by Louis Sachar
Holes revolves around Stanley Yelnats, a boy who believes that he is fraught with a curse, which began with his great, great grandfather and has haunted their family ever since.
Now Stanley has been unfairly sent to Camp Green Lake, a boys’ detention center that doesn’t seem to be more than just “building their characters.” Every day, they are ordered to dig holes in the ground. Stanley, however, eventually surmises that something else is happening at Camp Green Lake.
Soon after, he vows to unravel the truth in a series of adventures.
Holes is a humorous and a highly imaginative book that spans across generations.
Key Takeaway
The best international schools in Manila place prime importance on constant learning, especially beyond the typical educational set-up. One of the most effective ways to do this is by reading books that will impart them with values and shed more illumination in the day-to-day living, as well as inspire them to always strive forward.
