Books About Change and Growth—For All Ages
- Christine Iverson
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Spring is the perfect season for taking stock of where we are and starting something new. The warm sunshine is just beginning to beckon us back outside, tiny green leaves are bursting to life by the thousands, and there’s a general sense of awakening in the air that begs us to come along for the ride.
Still, no matter how excited we may be about the idea of change, it’s hard. Beginning something new takes courage. And a roadmap. But once we catch a tiny breeze—just enough to gather an upward spiral—we’re well on our way to trying something new, growing a little more adventurous, or becoming the person we truly want to be.
I’d like to share a few of my favorite books* that offer courage, inspiration, or a roadmap for change and growth.
*As always, since I am a Bookshop affiliate, I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you click through and purchase a book through the Bookshop links below.
Recommended Books About Change and Growth:
Adult:
This month, my selection for adults is a book that speaks to my heart in the most research-based-yet-also-fascinating-to-read way possible: Atomic Habits.
It’s all about setting ourselves up to make changes in our lives—and not just end-state changes, but changes in our daily habits that make for an overall improvement in quality of life along the way.
Young adult:
Young adults are already living in a time of perpetual change and discovery. Often, what they need just as much as a roadmap for changing habits and behaviors is an instruction manual for the skills that will give them the independence they crave. They are already changing, and they seek direction and capability.
That's why I love Life Skills for Teens: How to Cook, Clean, Manage Money, Fix Your Car, Perform First Aid, and Just About Everything in Between, by Karen Harris. Maybe they've already heard about these things. Maybe you've tried to teach them. Still, they want independence. Having their own guide grants them the autonomy they crave.
Middle Grade:
For middle grade readers, one hulking obstacle on their path to self discovery is their own screen time. And although a part of them knows this—they've overheard the conversations, they know about screen time limits—most of them haven't been put in the driver's seat to understand exactly how screens affect their brains and what they can do about it.
The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price is written in their language--graphic novel--and addresses screen time by giving them understanding and agency.
Picture book:
Taking that first step into the pursuit of wellness can feel like a giant leap. Any change, as a matter of fact, can feel like a giant leap—no matter how small that first step. In Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall, Jabari was ready to jump off the high dive. “I’m not scared at all!” He told his dad. And, truthfully, he was ready.
He’d finished his swim lessons. He’d passed his swim test. There was nothing to hold him back. Until he stood at the bottom of the ladder. That’s where the fear set in—that final hurdle to beginning something great. And then… Jabari jumps.
What can you begin this week? What small step can you take today?
