Philip Hall and other loves

Judy Blume holds a place of honor in my childhood. She was far and away my favorite author, and if I didn’t read all of her books growing up, it wasn’t from lack of effort.

Although she was firmly number one, I loved many books by many writers. Philip Hall Likes Me. I Reckon Maybe. Danny, the Champion of the World and Cheaper by the Dozen, were among the novels I read countless times. Some of my favorites still grace my bookshelves even now – either the original copies I read growing up, or new copies I bought as an elementary school teacher.

My most cherished memories of teaching 4th grade include reading great books aloud to my students, engaging them in novel studies, or helping them make their way through their first truly satisfying reads. I just love young adult and juvenile literature.

After I stopped teaching, I became a full-time graduate student. My days and nights were filled with nonfiction. The required readings never grabbed me like a good novel, and I often lamented the lack of time to read one. I had to squeeze in novels during semester breaks as treats (I’m looking at YOU Harry Potter books).

Although adult fiction is sometimes hilarious, delicious or otherwise moving (32 Candles, I Wish I Had a Red Dress, The Bluest Eye, Their Eyes Were Watching God), I don’t think there’s anything quite like good children’s literature.

Earlier today I finished Make Lemonade, a poignant, free verse novel by Virginia Euwer Wolff. My work often demands I read volumes of informational text, but I’ve been determined to explore more young adult novels and children’s books. 

I’d like to read all the award-winning books from 2014 for starters, and (eventually) make my way through the Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King and Lee & Low New Voices lists.

But some great books don’t win awards, and here’s where you come in… What’s on your list of must-reads? Novels and picture books welcomed!

6 Replies to “Philip Hall and other loves”

  1. these are fabulous! thanks! please come back whenever. lol. I remember trying to read AWIT, but I wasn’t feeling it. there were lots of books I really wasn’t ready to read as a tween or teen that I’m coming around to revisiting.

  2. Okay, one last comment for today: Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time” Quintet. I still have my original copy of AWIT somewhere…I didn’t read the other books until high school. I liked “Many Waters” a lot. Now I have to re-visit these, too. As if I don’t have enough to read already, lol.

  3. Oh, Cynthia Voigt’s Tillerman series kept me pretty spellbound circa 7th grade. I should re-visit those books. “Izzy, Willy-Nilly” was good, too.

  4. One of my favorites as a tween was “Plain City” by Virginia Hamilton. I also re-read “Among Friends” by Caroline B. Cooney every year. Have you read any Jacqueline Woodson? I picked up “If You Come Softly” a few years ago and enjoyed it. Oh, and you should definitely read “Angel De La Luna and the 5th Glorious Mystery” by M. Evelina Galang. I’ll come back if I think of any more!

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