Things Fall Apart: I found myself deeply connected to the story and the surrounding culture and felt the pain of it all when inevitably things changed. I'm not going to spoil the book and what did change, but it's one book that kind of sits in my mind and heart.

Walden: I know many have found this one to be a bit boring. It was the first time I had ever read a critique on my own culture and consumerism. I found it refreshing to see that it was ok to say no to the "way things are" so to speak. It gave me a sense of freedom that I could disagree with dominant values or narratives. I developed a sense of simplicity from this. Also my copy had his essay "Civil Disobedience" which gave me insight that one could pursue justice beyond what a government said was right or wrong. Again these themes might seem a bit common sense to an adult, but reading as a child it was mindblowing.