Top 10 Books to Gift a High School Graduate

You can hardly believe that the time has come. That very special young adult in your life will soon be walking across the stage and accepting their high school diploma. Bursting with pride, you want to find the absolute perfect gift to not only tell them how proud you are but to also make sure that the gift itself is of use to them now that they are entering the next chapter of their lives. What better a gift than that of a book? One that with every turn of the page they are reminded of just how much you believe in them and their success. Knowing that no two books are created equally and wanting to save you the time in your book search, I have created a list of what I have found to be the “Top 10 Books to Gift a High School Graduate”.

Perfect as stand-alone gift ideas or paired with a gift of cash, you can’t go wrong with any of these helpful and often times inspiring finds! Better yet, all books on my “Top 10” list can be purchased for less than $15! For quick, easy and competitively low-cost shopping, click on the picture of the book below to be taken directly to check out. Amazon Prime member? Enjoy free shipping as well!

* Affiliate links are included in this post. All this means, is that if you click on one of those links and purchase something, I may receive a small commission. However, you will not pay a penny more- promise!

1. Oh the Places You will Go

While this book suggestion may sound a bit cliche, I couldn’t possibly create a list of the best possible books for high school graduates without recommending it. Incorporating children’s book visuals with the rhyming and inspiring techniques of Dr. Seuss, this book addressing the ups and downs that a new graduate will likely face in their lifetime all while inspiring them along the way. (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

2. 150 Things You Need to Know Now That You’re A Grownup

The title of this book pretty accurately sums up its content. Focusing on advice for the “real world”, within this book you will find 150 tips pertaining to the non-academic side of life (i.e. 401K, buying a house, when your car breaks down, etc.) (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

3. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School?: 99 Personal Money Management Principles to Live By

This super helpful book touches upon why core subjects are taught in high school as college prep, yet often times little financial education is provided. Aiming to fill in the blanks, this book focuses on the practical side of money management throughout young adulthood. (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

4. Stuff Every Graduate Should Know: A Handbook for the Real World

I love that this book is pocket sized and succinct enough for your graduate to read on the go. Filled with helpful everyday tips from renting your first apartment, to writing the perfect resume, this book dives head first into the “real world”. (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

5. Whatever You Are Be a Good One: 100 Inspiration Quotations

This book is the perfect way to inspire your new graduate. Filled with beautiful colors and hand-lettering, this book is a motivational gift ideal for reading again and again. If your graduate’s first apartment or dorm room allows for it (speaking from experience, my dorm room could barely fit a bed), this would make for a perfect coffee table book. (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

6. The Freshman Survival Guide: Soulful Advice for Studying, Socializing, and Everything In Between

Is your high school graduate off to college? If so, this book is the ideal gift. Perfect for helping them to tackle that very important first year of college, this book claims to speak to incoming college students in their own language. (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

7. The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond

This book aims to help eliminate the “freshman 15” where freshmen tend to gain weight due to cooking and consuming unhealthy, quick and easy food. (Oh how I wish I had this prior to my freshman year, perhaps I would have consumed one or two fewer packets of Easy Mac along the way. ;)) (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

8. 1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know: (Like Buying Your Books Before Exams Start)

Using humor to incorporate practical advice, this books lists 1,001 things that your graduate/soon to be college student needs to know. A perfect mix of both practical “real world” advice along with academic advising as well. Note: some claim this book is geared more for females than males. (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

9. Q&A a Day for College: 4-Year Journal

Provide your high school graduate with a gift that requires a little bit of work but will be worth a lifetime of memories. Featuring hundreds of journal questions, this book provides prompts that allow your soon to be college student to jot down their current thoughts and memories throughout their college career, in turn creating the ultimate time capsule to enjoy for years to come. (Click hereor on the book below to purchase.)

10. Humble & Kind

Above all else, the perfect message for your high school graduate is to always stay “humble and kind”. Inspired by Tim McGraw’s #1 single, this beautiful keepsake book incorporates visuals and quotes from the song to inspire again and again. Another ideal coffee table book! (Click here or on the book below to purchase.)

I hope you have enjoyed this list of what I found to be the “Top 10 Books to Gift a High School Graduate”! Congrats to your graduate! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness and success!

Love gifting books?

Make sure and check out my ultimate list of “Mama Approved Books to Gift a New Baby”. This list was created after a large number of moms were polled to list their favorite children’s book! Check out the list HERE!