Growing up, I lived my adventures through the flipping white pages of library novels-- the bigger the better. When life seemed boring-- when reality was merely humdrum, literature promised the impossible, a crisp dive into a universe that was refreshingly different.
Books have unique powers when we are young; they leave impressions on us like marks on drying clay, which, once hardened to adulthood, is no longer so malleable. There is a certain magic to books you read as a kid, so when the folks over at the broke and the bookish listed this week's top ten tuesday as a throwback freebie, I knew I had to talk about a couple books I read and loved as a child.
Harry Potter by JK RowlingWhen I was a kid, I was browsing books at a local grocery store while my parents were checking out. Out of boredom mainly, I picked up the second book in the HP series, read the first page-- and was hooked. My parents tried to convince me to start by reading the first book but, as I had already seen the movie, I started with the Chamber of Secrets, and only years later went back and read the first one.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
I kept track of how many times I had read this book by making marks on my second grade desk. ((11 times by my recollection, apparently I hadn't developed my aversion to rereading books by this age!)) It was a beautiful heartbreaking book that made me want to go buy two bloodhounds.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I actually don't remember much about this book, other than how much I loved reading it and the following books.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
This book, about a boy who is stranded in the wilderness and learns how to fend for himself, fascinated me. I dreamed of living off the land like he did, deliberately ignoring the fact that I hate bugs and love indoor plumbing.
What about you? What books stole your imagination growing up? Which ones do you still remember?
