We know that reading is a big part of discovering, researching, and learning more for anyone exploring their career options.
It’s why we keep this blog up to date and aim to bring you the best content we can!
All the practical reading you do around careers will be helpful, but what about reading fiction books?
What do these stories offer, and how can they help you with your career? We decide to find out!
What is Book Week Australia?
Since 1945 the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week.
During the week, schools and public libraries dedicate time to celebrating books and Australian children’s authors and illustrators.
This year the week runs from the 20th to the 26th of August, and we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to celebrate books and reading – with an Explore Careers twist!
How Can Reading Help With Careers?
Reading fiction books might not give you all the ins and outs of careers, but they can help spark an idea or two!
Maybe a great narrative can help highlight a career path you hadn’t thought of before; how a character tackles finding work or handling workplace challenges can offer insight on how to handle these things yourself.
And, let’s face it, getting stuck into a good book is always an excellent way to pass some time.
5 Books to Help You Explore Careers
There are plenty of young adult books where the characters have part-time jobs as babysitters or working in cafes – we love those books, but we wanted to use this list to highlight a few others that offer something a bit different.
In these books, the characters’ jobs help provide a rich sense of plot and setting and, we think, some great insights into different career areas.
Enjoy!
1. Up To This Pointe by Jennifer Longo
Career Explored: Dancing / Antarctic Researcher
Harper and her best friend, Kate, have one goal: becoming professional ballerinas. Harper won’t let anything get in the way of ‘The Plan’ – especially not the boy she and Kate are both interested in.
But Harper is a Scott – she’s related to Robert Falcon Scott, the explorer who died racing to the South Pole. When Harper’s life takes an unexpected turn, she wrangles her way to the icy dark of the McMurdo Research Station deep in Antarctica. Using the knowledge gleaned from her heritage, Harper realises she has always been in the dark, dancing on ice this whole time.
2. The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
Career Explored: Funeral Home Assistant
Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom died—although she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than the Cluck Bucket, the local chicken shop. He needs the income since his dad can’t handle the bills on his own.
Then Matt meets Lovey, and as rough as Matt thinks he has it, Lovey has been through crazier times than he can imagine. Yet Lovey’s tough in the way Matt wishes he could be, which is maybe why he’s drawn to her and definitely why he can’t seem to shake her.
3. Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale
Career Explored: Theatre (and more!)
Josie Pie was born to be a star. She was so convinced of this she dropped out of high school to pursue her Broadway dreams. But after months of failed auditions, she finds herself broke, beaten down and nannying to get by. Lonely and directionless, Josie checks out the local bookstore, looking for the ultimate escape.
And it is escape that she finds – more than she bargained for – as she falls into the plots of her books that whisk her away to multiple locations, plots, love stories, friendships and more! But as her reality begins to unravel, what starts as a welcome break begins to feel like a nightmare. Is it too late for Josie to get back to the real world?
4. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
Career Explored: Entrepreneurship
When Doug’s family moves, he is forced to work to help support his family and anything he might want himself. Taking it all in his stride, Doug gets entrepreneurial: He works for the local deli delivering groceries with the help of a little red wagon, takes up babysitting, and even gets a paid part acting in a play. Nothing is off-limits if it will help Doug get to where he wants to be!
Actions from his brother and his father often wreak havoc with the trust his boss and customers have in him, but he does not let that get him down. Doug works hard to prove his worth and shows that he is much more than they know.
5. Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour
Career Explored: Set Designer
Emi has already started to find her way into the competitive Hollywood film world as a wunderkind young set designer.
But Emi’s love of film has also given her some pretty unrealistic expectations of love. A true romantic through and through, Emi is always looking for a partner that will live up to her romantic expectations. So far, no one has. That is until Emi meets Ava. Far from meeting Emi’s expectations, Ava helps her to learn just what real love looks like and helps her to better understand the true meaning of family and relationships. A love story wrapped up in the fast-paced and demanding world of a set designer in Hollywood!
Any We’ve Missed?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we created a careers book list filled with any and all the books we can find that feature stories about anything and everything to do with careers?
We think so! And that’s why we want to hear from you; what’s the best book you’ve read that showcased a great career?
