Speaking Volumes

I’ve always loved reading. When I was a kid I’d go to the library and check out a HUGE stack of books then spend the day curled up somewhere devouring one after another. I loved Roald Dahl, the Narnia books, Lois Lowry, and Judy Blume.  I went through a ‘horror’ phase and read books like Wait Till Helen Comes and The Dollhouse Murders over and over. Then, around 5^th grade I got really into fantasy and read everything I could get my hands on.

So, why am telling you all this? Well, for one the big awards in Children’s Lit were announced last week and the big-daddy Newbury Award was given to Rebecca Stead for her book When You Reach Me:

I loved this book and it SO reminded me of my childhood favorites. Not only that, but in the book the main character, Miranda, is never without her favorite book A Wrinkle in Time, another one of my old faves. By coincidence, When You Reach Me was also our bookclub book for this month, and next our club decided to read A Wrinkle in Time.

I remember loving A Wrinkle in Time as a kid, so it will be an interesting experience re-reading it as an adult. Although I don’t remember much of the plot, I do remember a part where they visit a planet where all the kids come out of their houses and bounce a ball in exact rhythm with each other. Creepy. This image has stuck with me and I always think of it when I am driving through a new neighborhood or housing development where all the houses look the same and there are no full grown trees.

I guess I’m kinda of rambling this week, but When You Reach Me made me very nostalgic. What about you? What were your favorites as a kid? What do you remember from them? Have you re-read them as an adult? Let me know!