I'm a total book nerd, and I'm proud of it.
It can all be traced back to one summer. My dad would take my brother and me on walks to the local library once a week, and after browsing for a half hour or so, we'd get to check out a couple of books. The rest of the week would involve me laying out on our front porch, rapidly turning the pages of my latest adventure with one hand and clenching a juicebox with the other.
Over the years, I went through so many authors and so many characters: Amelia Bedelia, Fudge, Babysitters Club, Ramona Quimby, RL Stine, Roald Dahl, Choose Your Own Adventure, Sideways Stories From Wayside School, Sweet Valley High. Heck, I even transitioned with Sweet Valley's Elizabeth and Jessica as they graduated and became Sweet Valley University.
Over the years, I went through so many authors and so many characters: Amelia Bedelia, Fudge, Babysitters Club, Ramona Quimby, RL Stine, Roald Dahl, Choose Your Own Adventure, Sideways Stories From Wayside School, Sweet Valley High. Heck, I even transitioned with Sweet Valley's Elizabeth and Jessica as they graduated and became Sweet Valley University.
Though my reading tastes have matured, I look back at my fictional summer friends from 15 years ago and realize they're one of the reasons I love writing. Today, through my stories, I'm still responsible for finding and profiling people (though now, they're real people) but I enjoy finding out what's interesting about them and telling their story in a way that might engage new readers.
Unlike some of my friends, I'm light-years away from having kids, but I know I'll pass along my love of literature to them someday. This past week I went with my mom to the AAUW used book sale, an event that sells gently used and new books for ridiculously cheap donations of anywhere from 25 cents to $3.
After browsing the bestseller section, I gravitated over to the kids collection, where I poured over countless editions of Goosebumps and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. They had tons of iconic children's books too-Runaway Bunny, Guess How Much I Love You, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day-it was like a goldmine! I think I spotted the best part of the sale though as I made my way out of the kids section: two tween siblings crouched in a corner, completely engrossed in a fantasy hardcover series, completely unaware of the adults rummaging around them and instead lost in the magic of Frodo, Sam and that frustratingly special ring.
After browsing the bestseller section, I gravitated over to the kids collection, where I poured over countless editions of Goosebumps and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. They had tons of iconic children's books too-Runaway Bunny, Guess How Much I Love You, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day-it was like a goldmine! I think I spotted the best part of the sale though as I made my way out of the kids section: two tween siblings crouched in a corner, completely engrossed in a fantasy hardcover series, completely unaware of the adults rummaging around them and instead lost in the magic of Frodo, Sam and that frustratingly special ring.
Which favorite childhood book or series will you recommend to future generations?
-- Molly Hirschbeck
-- Molly Hirschbeck
