10 books every high school graduate must read

High school graduation is a time of excitement, change, challenges, new beginnings and of course, lots of advice. Why not give the graduate it your life a book that will not only be meaningful to them now, but one that they might refer to many times over?

We asked Sharon Roth, director of public relations for Books & Co. at the Greene Shopping Center in Beavercreek, to recommend 10 books that every high school graduate should read:

1. "Oh the Place You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss, $25 special anniversary edition. Through his trademark use of humorous verse and illustrations, America's favorite doctor addresses the ups-and-downs of life, while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within it all.

2. "U Chic: The College Girl's Guide to Everything" by Christie Garton, $14.99. Sure, college is about getting good grades, but it's also about having a great social experience. This book covers topics ranging from birth control and eating disorders to choosing the right major and maintaining a great GPA.

3. "Daily Inspiration for the Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, $5.99. This is a wonderful reference book for graduates featuring 1,000 Scriptures outlining each day of the 40 Days of Purpose.

4. "Knock 'em Dead: Secrets and Strategies for First-Time Job Seekers" by Martin Yate, $15.95. This book tackles the task of teaching how to get what you want out of life – from developing a life plan to completing the job search in record time to starting out on the right foot and winning promotions.

5. "How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, $15. One of the most popular self-help books ever written, this books covers myriad topics that will help a graduate throughout his or her life. Topics range from getting out of a mental rut to increasing your popularity to making you a better speaker and conversationalist.

6. "How to Survive Your Freshman Year" by Hundreds of College Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors Who Did (Hundreds of Heads Survival Guides), $15.95. This book is full of tips from people who have been there, done that successfully.

7. "Be Kind: Peanuts' Wisdom to Carry You Through" by Charles M. Schulz, $7.95. A pocket-sized collection of inspirational values illustrated with the beloved characters of the Peanuts gang.

8. "The Maxwell Daily Reader" by John Maxwell, $25.99. This is a book of 365 daily messages to help inspire and unlock your inner leader.

9. "Launch Your Life: A Guide to Growing Up for the Almost Grown Up" by Kenny Silva, $25.99. This book is a practical guide for successfully navigating life's twists and turns, written specifically for the "almost grown up" population.

10. "I Believe in You" by Sandy Gingras, $9.95. Through whimsical illustrations and a few choice words, this book celebrates the many ways we support and encourage those we love.

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