Books have the power to change minds, and bookstores are where readers meet the titles of their time. Young Post spoke to indie bookshops across Hong Kong for a list of recommendations for secondary school students.
Each title on this list was chosen by a bookshop owner, who shared their thoughts on their picks.
Shuuudim
Singer-songwriter Serrini Leung’s talented lyricism extends to this cosy bookstore in Shek Tong Tsui. It offers a thoughtful selection of books on mental well-being and relationships, curated by the artist herself.
“These are the books I wish I had read during my teenage years. They could have solved so many of my problems and confusions, but that wouldn’t have been great for my character building,” she said.
“Life is tough; be tougher. Read a lot.”
-
Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Mariel Buque: This book weaves together scientific research with practical exercises and stories from the therapy room. The author is a trauma-informed psychologist and practitioner of holistic healing.
-
Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C Gibson: Growing up with emotionally immature parents can leave people feeling lonely and neglected. They may have difficulties setting boundaries and expressing feelings. This book offers tools to help them start their healing journey.
Monster Books & Gifts
Tucked away in Quarry Bay’s “Monster Building”, this quirky shop offers popular literary fiction and a collection of Hong Kong-related books. Below are recommendations from its owner, who goes by Vivimic.
-
Orbital by Samantha Harvey: This 2024 Booker Prize winner uses the perspectives of six astronauts observing Earth from space to guide readers in contemplating our existence from a distance. The novel blends science fiction and philosophical drama.
-
Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg: Written by one of the creators of Netflix’s hit series BoJack Horseman, this book is a collection of whimsical short stories, such as the fantastical journey of a sports team’s mascot getting promoted. My favourite story is about an introvert who struggles to find the courage to speak to a girl on the subway and spends many years waiting on the tracks.
-
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami: This 2009 novel follows two bullied students who find solace as they understand themselves through the eyes of another. In just over 100 pages, the story takes us on a journey from self-harm to self-love.
Hunter Bookstore
If you’re lacking ideas for what to read next, Hunter Bookstore will inspire you with its thoughtful collection. Its owner, Leticia Wong, shared with us the best books she has recently read.
-
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: It is engaging, contemporary and inspirational. The story is about two game designers who first met in their youth. Over the decades, their paths diverge time and again, only for them to be drawn back together. Games hold infinite possibilities. Life, on the other hand, is finite, but within it, we are constantly learning what it means to love.
-
不是博物館指南 This is Not a Bling Bling Museum Guidebook: This non-fiction collection offers different approaches to experiencing museums through the eyes of eight aficionados. The book features travelogues of museums with diverse themes and teaches readers how to notice or overlook certain details.
Book Punch
Hidden on the third floor of a building in Sham Shui Po, Book Punch feels like a hidden creative nook. With offbeat book categories and shelves that celebrate local brands, it welcomes every kind of reader. Below are recommendations from the store’s owner, Pong Yat-ming.
-
Looking at Women Looking at War by Victoria Amelina: The author was a novelist, but when Russia started its full-scale war against Ukraine, she decided to begin researching war crimes. This book holds the stories she collected before she was killed in a Russian missile attack.
-
騙網囚奴:電騙園豬仔血淚獨白 by Yu Tak-po and Fung Kin-fai: In recent years, many people have been lured with job offers in Southeast Asia, where they are then forced to work in scam factories in Myanmar. This book interviews some victims from Hong Kong who reveal how they were treated at the scam centres and how they were eventually rescued by authorities.
