#144. "Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea" by Dav Pilkey

A lot has happened since Dav Pilkey last visited the world of Dog Man. As the most successful spin-off of the Captain Underpants series, it has developed its own spin-off that encourages kids to create their own stories as well as a stage musical and rumors of a movie. For a hero who's half dog, half man, he hasn't done all that bad. The question ultimately was if he'd ever return. After a hiatus, Dog Man has returned with "Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea," which finds our favorite hero once again getting into wacky hijinks and delivering some of the most enjoyable madcap children's literature of recent years. It's a reliably silly tale that also finds Pilky once again turning to deeper morals as the story goes on. It's a story that covers the entire spectrum of feeling, and the final one is thankfully satisfaction.

#143. "A Passage to India" by E.M. Forster

There have been few English writers who have felt empathetic to global politics quite like E.M. Forster. Over his short career, he explored the different ways that cultures interact and nowhere is that more prevalent than in "A Passage to India." It's a story that goes back centuries but focuses on a moment where England and India struggle to offer each other freedoms. There's racial undertones at every turn, making the reader aware at the discomfort that each character faces. It's hard to believe that anyone will end the story on a happy note, but Forster finds something even more profound emerging along the way. There is a study of discomfort caused by stereotypes, but what also emerges are friendships that cause the reader to long for sympathy from their own lives. The book is ultimately a call for a better world without relying on bad tropes. Instead it mixes reason with emotion in such a way that the results create their own spiritual DNA. It's a powerful novel and one of the essential British novels of the early 20th century.

#142. "Loveless" by Alice Oseman

It's a story as old as time. Most coming of age stories are about a search for identity, and it usually comes with the feeling of being alone. For the most part, nothing about "Loveless" is that revolutionary, becoming a story about trying to understand the struggles to fall in love and find a deeper connection. However, Oseman provides an interesting twist that ends up making it an essential text within youth queer literature. The protagonist is not someone who winds up falling in love by the end but learns to love herself for what she has achieved. There are the familiar stumbles along the way, but most of all "Loveless" gives readers a unique read on what it means to be young and confused. It's a story of identity that hasn't been explored as often, and the attention to detail makes it essential for anyone questioning who they are and what they want out of life.

#141. "A Room With a View" by E.M. Forster

Throughout "A Room With a View," there is one question that E.M. Forster seeks to answer. What's the importance of being open-minded? The titular room is at a hotel that overlooks the city, allowing its inhabitants to witness the wonders of the world. For some in the wealthier division, a view isn't as important, though for the protagonist it's a chance to find their own dependence on those around her. It's a chance to experience the world and take in art and culture that is there but feels cut off. It's not because of any exclusionary practice, but because she's been taught to not pay attention to it. When she allows herself to open up and embrace the world, her identity forms and makes the view something worth investing in.