Children offer very fresh perspectives in literature – they bring nuance, innocence and imagination to the story. Because a child’s world is so different from an adult’s, it’s fascinating to read about. Here’s a list of 11 best books told from a child’s perspective.
Books Told From a Child’s Perspective | Story Written From Kid’s POV:
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Lily Owens, the child-protagonist of this story is haunted by the memory of the afternoon in which her mom died. Eventually, circumstances force her into the house of three black sisters, and a new world opens up for Lily.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book tells the story of racism in America, from the perspective of a young daughter of a lawyer. The lawyer takes up the case of a black man on trial. for the rape of a white woman, but he is actually innocent. This story not only has socio-political implications, but is also a wonder of storytelling.
Lanny by Max Porter
Set in a bucolic village some hours away from London, this magical realist story brings to life a mythical character, Papa Toothwort. With an eerie, magical setting, this book tells the perspective of a young boy called Lanny who feels an absurd connection with nature.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
This Man Booker Prize winner is the story of a young adolescent with behavioural problems, presumably autism. The protagonist of the story is a compulsively lovable character full of purity of heart. You will inevitably be invested in his story as he runs away from home in search of a lost dog.
The Ice Candy Man by Bapsi Sidhwa
This is the story of the Partition of India, from the perspective of a young Parsee girl with polio, Lenny who lives in Lahore with her Ayah. When someone abducts her Ayah, her carefully crafted world falls apart and she is thrust into the havoc of Partition.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The wonder of this tender yet eccentric novel is the miniature children’s world Roy creates. Since the story is told from the perspective of two twin kids, Estha and Rahel, the descriptions are full of childlike imagination and wonder. As a tragedy shatters the family, we follow the evolution of the children into adults, at a young age.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This historical fiction recounts the lives of two children on opposite sides of the war – blind Marie Lu in Paris and orphaned tech savvy Werner in Germany. As their loves collide and they go beyond themselves to help each other, a beautifully poignant story of children’s ability to love and sacrifice emerges.
Once Upon A Monsoon Time by Ruskin Bond
Bond’s moving story places at its centre a young boy separated from his army-man father. He lives with his grandmother at Dehradun, and ventures into an idyllic life of friends, nature and fascination there. But when his father passes away, his world turns upside down, and what follows is a heartbreaking yet beautiful story of loss and love.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The narrator of this novel is the eleven year Pecola Breedlove. She is a Ohio dwelling girl who prays for her eyes to be blue, so she can compete with the beautiful blue eyed white girls. With moving explorations of race, family, beauty and love, this is an evocative story in Morrison’s characteristic style.
The Kept by James Scott
In this wonderful book, a young boy and his mother set out to avenge the perpetrators of a devastating family tragedy. Melding historical fiction and thriller with literary fiction in a tender story of motherhood and sonhood, this is a must read for everyone.
Room by Emma Donoghue
This psychological thriller does what very few manage to do – it moves you to tears. Indeed, this is not just a disturbing story, it is a poignant tale of a mother’s love for her son, from his perspective. But it’s also a powerful thriller, and ensnares you in its pages as it talks about Ma and Jack’s story. This story is that of the captivity of Ma by Old Nick. She devises an escape plan, that is both extremely dangerous and extremely fragile. Together, the tenacious mother and brave son navigate the journey to freedom, tackling as many psychological obstacles as physical.
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