Some books really capture the potential of human beings to overcome difficulties and reach their goals. Tara Westover’s powerful memoir Educated does exactly that, offering us hope in even the most challenging of times.
The good news is, we have many more books that tell amazing stories of transformation and growth in the midst of painful experiences, such as abuse and dysfunctional families.
10 Books Like Educated
Here are some books you can add to your TBR (To Be Read) pile for more inspiring true stories of beating the odds:
1. Heartland by Sarah Smarsh
Sarah Smarsh is a fifth generation wheat farmer in Kansas, who grew up during the 1980s and 90s with a free, country childhood despite the extreme poverty surrounding her family. The book is a powerful look at the problem of class divides.
2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
This memoir explores powerful themes of redemption and resilience within a dysfunctional family. Mr. Walls is a brilliant father who eagerly teaches his children everything they need to know. But when he’s drunk, he gets destructive. His wife cringes at the thought of household responsibilities of the household, leaving the children to fend or themselves.
3. Southern Discomfort by Tena Clark
This raw and honest story is a coming-of-age story of a white girl raised by a black nanny in Mississippi during the Civil Rights movement. Take a look at the social and racial tensions that Tena Clark experienced living as the daughter of one of the richest men in town, but whose nanny offered unconditional love to anchor her.
4. The Only Girl in the World by Maude Julien
Raised by fanatical Mason parents, Maude’s childhood was one of order, hard labor, and relentless drills meant to get rid of any weakness in her. But in the midst of this psychological control inflicted by her parents, Maude learned to befriend animals and characters from books, nurturing a compassion for others that was forbidden by her parents.
5. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
This novel features a family desperate to survive in the Alaskan wilderness. Vietnam War veteran Ernt Allbright impulsively moves his family off the grid, but his war trauma has made him a changed man, and not for the better. His wife and 13-year-old daughter try everything to accommodate him.
6. Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot
Terese Marie Mailhot is an indigenous woman coming of age on the Pacific Northwest Seabird Island band. Raised by a social worker activist mother and losing her alcoholic artist father to murder, Terese turns to writing to make sense of her life after being diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar II disorder.
7. The Escape Artist by Helen Fremont
Raised by parents who had horrific experiences during the Holocaust, Helen Fremont’s family is committed to keeping secrets if it keeps them safe from the outside world. She recounts some of the many secrets they kept, beginning with her parents’ pretending to be Catholic during the Nazi occupation, even when they were really Jews.
8. The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok
Mira Bartok grew up with a vibrant pianist mother who loved Mira and her sister. But over time, her mother’s condition deteriorated into schizophrenia, becoming an obsessive stalker, paranoid about harm coming to her daughters.
9. North of Normal: A Memoir of My Wilderness Chidhood, My Unusual Family, and How I Survived Both by Cea Sunrise Person
Cea Sunrise Person’s childhood with a dysfunctional family reeks of struggle in terms of emotional, psychological, and physical survival. Having moved to the Canadian wilderness during the counterculture movement of the 1960s, Cea’s family yearned to escape civilization and society in general.
10. Estranged by Jessica Berger Gross
Jessica Berger Gross seemed to have the perfect childhood with her nice, middle class Jewish family. But unbeknownst to outsiders, her father’s mood swings resulted in emotional and physical abuse. When Jessica was 28 years old, she made the heartbreaking decision to cut all ties with her family, a choice she believed saved her life.
Reading Books Like Educated
Memoirs and novels about overcoming the odds are a great choice to add to your reading pile. They are especially helpful in times when you feel like you’re in a rut and need a poke to get moving. These stories show us just how much people can do when we set our minds to it!
Or, if you simply like to read about other people’s experiences, these books can also be a good choice!
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 12 Books for Graduates: Inspiring Reads to Guide Your Next Steps
- 10 Books About Courage to Inspire You
- 12 Best Travel Books to Inspire Your Next Adventure
- The 16 Best Memoirs to Read Right Now
Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
