Thoughtful Books To Gift High School Graduates

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I graduated high school over a decade ago, and though I’ve purged my bookshelves several times since then, I’ve never given up the book my mom gifted me for graduation — The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch — with a very dear inscription. (Parents, take note! Inscriptions are key!)

Now, I have 12 years before I must choose the book that I’ll bestow on my oldest niece when she graduates, which means 12 years to decide the type of graduation gift-giver I am. Will I go the sentimental route? The concerned about her nutrition/finances/study habits route? Will I just want to pump her up before she heads off to change the world, like the incredibly gifted and kindhearted young woman she’s already poised to be? (I’m not crying; you’re crying!)

Most likely, I’ll give her a stack of books that check off all of the above. If you’re still deciding what type of graduation gift-giver you are, we’ve rounded up some possibilities, paired with their ideal matches. Good luck, and congrats to your graduate!

  • If you’re worried they’ll get too many copies of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!:

  • If you’re excited for the lifelong friendships they’ll make in college:

  • If you want them to fully embrace their awesome self — flaws and all:

  • If you want to inspire them to make their mark on the world:

  • If you’re learning to let go, but can’t resist imparting some last-minute advice:

  • When you want to offer a fresh (and quirky) new perspective on life’s many ups and downs:

  • If you have a nagging feeling they’ll live on ramen for the next four years:

  • If you want to send them off with their head held high:

  • If you’re the sneaky sentimental type who loves a good pep talk:

  • When you want them to have the skills to survive literally anything:

  • If you still have a collection of their childhood artwork and want to encourage more:

  • If you love to ask the age-old hypothetical, “If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?”:

  • If you just remembered how you handled money at their age:

  • If you can’t stop bragging about how brilliant they are:

  • If you’re tempted to send them a steady stream of motivational memes:

  • If you want to inspire a future Girlboss with stories of accomplished women in history:

  • When you want them to see the beauty and hope in life’s transitions:

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