Beverly Cleary is most well known for her middle grade books featuring Henry Higgins and Romona Quimby but she's also written several books for teens. I recently finished one, Jean and Johnny. It brought back fun memories of being a young teen and daydreaming about running into my celebrity crush, the excitement of having a school crush, enlisting the help of friends to find out everything we can about him (this was pre social media days, so much harder than now), lingering just a bit too long somewhere in hopes of running into him, the anxiety of waiting for a call, etc.
The weather's been gloomy (haven't seen the sun in over a week), work has been stressful, and it was just fun to reminisce about a time when my biggest concern was what a boy thought of me.
What books spark that nostalgic joy for you?
by Anxious-Fun8829
4 Comments
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
I was obsessed with both of these books, in the way I feel like you only can be as a kid. Like I loved nothing more than these stories, they were so important to me. I love re-reading them as an adult. It’s like wrapping myself up in a blanket of nostalgia.
I read them all in the 1960s to early 1970s. Jean and Johnny was a masterpiece in my young mind.
Henry and Ramona and their dog were my best friends! Oh to be back!
Silver Woven in My Hair by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Lovely Cinderella retelling that is simple and beautiful. I have thought of this book for many years.
Likewise, Ella Enchanted was the book I read that reignited my love for reading as a kid. I have fond memories of both books and still remember the first time I read them.
The Little House on the Prairie books
Ella Enchanted
Harry Potter
Holes
Sideways stories from Wayside School
Heartland