.png?w=1000&h=756)
While overseas fiction has always enjoyed exceptional popularity among young student readers in Singapore, works by Singaporean authors often fly under the radar. Reading Singapore fiction is beneficial to local students, as it can help us understand the society and culture we live in on a deeper level, beyond our everyday lived experiences. Here’s our list of some of the best fiction books written by Singaporean authors that students are guaranteed to enjoy!
True Singapore Ghost Stories by Russell Lee
Since the first book was published in 1989, this series has become one of the most successful and recognisable works of Singapore literature. Many of us remember being avid readers of this series in our youth, eagerly anticipating the release of every issue. With its iconic black cover design, this bestselling book series remains beloved by students of all ages in Singapore. Each book contains a collection of spooky short stories imbued with the history, mythology and cultural beliefs of Singapore as well as other Asian nations. These stories hit close to home, making their horror much more terrifying. If you appreciate a good scare or are looking for a gateway into horror fiction, this series is for you!
A Bit of Earth by Suchen Christine Lim
This is a work of historical fiction set in Malaya (present day Malaysia), following the journey of three families of different cultural backgrounds and motivations in life. The story spans a time period of over 40 years, deftly portraying the changing socio-political landscape of the region as well as how individual actions and decisions can have lasting effects across the generations. This book will definitely interest students who are passionate about Malaysian and Singaporean culture and history.
Big Tree in a Small Pot by Josephine Chia
A teenage boy in Singapore discovers a family secret and sets off on a search for the truth. Along the way, he meets another boy from a vastly different background, and the two unlikely friends embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth. Exploring themes of friendship, identity and family, teenage readers would find the themes of this young adult fiction book especially relatable. The heartwarming yet poignant story of Big Tree in a Small Pot will linger in students’ minds and hearts long after the last page has been turned.
Trafalgar Sunrise by Danielle Lim
The story of Trafalgar Sunrise centers on the SARS epidemic in 2003, of which Singapore was one of the worst-hit countries globally. Told through the perspective of a healthcare worker during the height of the SARS epidemic in Singapore, this book weaves together two separate timelines of the protagonist’s life — the present-day SARS epidemic, and her childhood growing up amongst leprosy patients. This is a touching story of the resilience of the human spirit through times of crisis and hardship, as well as an homage to healthcare workers who battled alongside patients to save lives and protect others. As a work of historical fiction, the story of Trafalgar Sunrise will resonate with current students who have lived through the chaos and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Broaden your reading horizons with the best Singapore fiction books
Fiction authors in Singapore have a lot to offer student readers who are seeking out stories that showcase local Singaporean perspectives that we can easily relate to. This list is but a small sample of some of the best books out there in the Singapore fiction scene. We hope that the books on this list motivate students to explore the diverse works of local authors and support them in sharing Singaporean stories to the world.