Each day, the decisions get harder. Thank goodness we're already to day 21–but then again, how did that HAPPEN?
Growing up, my mom and grandma had magic boxes and shelves of books that seemed to multiply–in attics, garages and living rooms. Mom would go into the attic and return with a handful of books from her childhood. Over the summer, I would work my way through them. Then, the next summer should would do the same.
Many of my favorite books come from these places (from original Nancy Drew to the Mitford Series). My sister is now working her way through many of them as well, & they've become a part of our family. One, Saturday Night, was given to me & my sister for Easter. They'll go on to see several more generations of our family.
When it came time to pick my favorite childhood read, I wasn't sure where to go. I had to limit myself to chapter books, because I feel like I'm neglecting books when I don't list them as favorites. I feel like chapter books–novels–I'm not sure why I was saying chapter books... I feel like novels can handle the neglect better than picture books. After a few minutes of listing, "Jane-Emily" popped to the top & nothing could replace it.
As I've mentioned several times, what I longed for most as a child was a feeling of adventure. When my dad built our garage, I used it as a setting to reenact "The Secret Garden" or various jungle scenes. When I got "Adventures of Yellow Dog" for Christmas, I spent the next year acting it out, constantly carrying around my uncle's old mess kit from Boy Scouts.
I was also, by an early age, thoroughly addicted to horror movies. My cousins & I would stay over at Grandma's; our aunt would take us to the movie store (so we could have someone to buy the R movies); we would make snacks (pizza rolls, popcorn, Fritos & cheese dip). We would spend the night watching three or four horror movies, with my uncle, only a few years older than us four girls, adding sarcastic commentary & dialogue along the way. We were never scared. We were one step ahead. We were young, invincible & laughing at the stupid girls allowing themselves to get slaughtered. My favorite story line: anything with ghosts.
These two things (a summer adventure & the supernatural) come together in "Jane-Emily." Look at what this synopsis:
Jane is nine years old and an orphan when she and her young Aunt Louisa come to spend the summer at Jane’s grandmother’s house, a large, mysterious mansion in Massachusetts. Then one day . . . Jane stares into a reflecting ball in the garden—and the face that looks back at her is not her own.
Many years earlier, a child of rage and malevolence lived in this place. And she never left. Now Emily has dark plans for little Jane—a blood-chilling purpose that Louisa, just a girl herself, must battle with all her heart, soul, and spirit . . . or she will lose her innocent, helpless niece forever.Nothing could top this as a summer read, especially if you're laying outside in the tent your dad set up in the backyard. No matter what age you are, if you missed this one it's time to get your hands on it!
What books did you love as a child? Who introduced you to them?
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