Jane Austen’s brand of sharp social commentary infuses this wonderful classic. No character escapes her highly sensitive ear for dialogue and mannerism. Elizabeth Bennett (not yet 21) is the central character, and Mr. Darcy is her unlikely (and therefore likely) suitor. Although set in Victorian-era England, this book covers something timeless: vulnerability, fear, and courage in the face of romance, family, and humankind.

Recommended by Jeeyeon