You read these things at 5 and 7?
Fine. I read Caunterbury Tales in the 6th grade. *hairflip*
Seriously-- you must've been a pretty advanced kid. I was a remarkable reader but I was still on Little House and Nancy Drew at 7.
As for the thread topic, I've been changed by many books. Many have already been mentioned in this thread. The bible, yes. Maybe not for the reasons people might think. Frederick Douglass's autobiography helped me to shake off the vestiges of racism I was brought up with. And
A Wrinkle In Time and
Ender's Game introduced me to sci-fi, NF style.
Also, I read a book a few years ago that I've carried with me since:
Children of the Self-Absorbed, which helped me in the way that cafe said her boundaries book helped her. My parents and in-laws can be difficult to get along with and it has helped to know where I end and they begin.