Harriet the Spy: Louise Fitzhugh

Yet again...a book I had to read for my Children's Literature class. I knew there would be books that I liked and others...not so much...but I'm about ready to beg for one that I'll like!

This book wasn't one that was poorly written (there were aspects that you can appreciate more the older you are), but the problem for me was the fact that I didn't really care. I didn't like reading about Harriet. She actually annoyed me. The writing was too monotonous and there was a way about it that it was too complex for the reading age it was aimed for (with the subtleties of mental illness and regression) and--when you surpass this age group, it isn't even interesting any longer. It's like a catch 22. If you enjoy the story, more power to you; but I personally could not stand this book and barely finished it in time for my quiz.

The Crystal Cave (The Arthurian Saga, Book One): Mary Stewart

"Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys--or as he would later be known, Merlin--leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon...and the conception of Arthur--king for once and always."

This was my aunt's favorite series when she was a teenager--so much so that she reread it in college and has gotten the entire series for her eleven-year-old daughter. Naturally (being the Arthurian freak that I am) I stole the books before my cousin could even get her hands on them and decided that I would read them :) (Don't feel too bad for her...she was reading another book and had to finish that one first anyway.) I ended up falling in LOVE with this book!!! It was beautiful! The writing captured me and held me fast.

As for Merlin...there are hardly words to describe how much I love his character. There is this hunting mystery about him. The author was wise enough to reveal enough about him, but not too much so you're kept absolutely fascinated. I just wanted more, more, more! The ending was so enthralling that I was relieved I had the second book sitting right next to me. I don't know what I would have done had I been forced to wait to read it!

Each character--no matter how small--was complex. I'm truly so impressed that Stewart was able to do so without becoming long-winded. It was brilliant to take this story from Merlin's point of view. It added twists and complexity that I believe only a few authors would have been able to handle. Keeping true to history was a marvelous decision on Stewart's part. It made everything come alive rather than simply relying on fantasy and magic. Everything seemed more real.

Overall, I adore Stewart's work. Her writing is as timeless and magical as the black hills of Wales and the story of a wizard who would make an orphan into the greatest king of all.

The Great Gilly Hopkins: Katherine Paterson

Unfortunately, because I've been reading so much for school (between my reading-intensive Children's Literature and Russian History classes...among other things) I haven't had much time to read anything else. I really miss reading for pleasure and hope to get back to it as soon as possible (not to mention I promised to read some books and review them...haven't had enough time to finish those either. That's what you get when you move halfway across the country for school and have to get several jobs in order to pay for everything--including a car!!!)

Anyway, as you probably guessed, this was another of the books that was forced upon me for my children's literature class. It certainly wasn't one of my favorites, but it was a quick read. The characters were well-written, but the story didn't capture me as much as I would have liked. It was actually pretty sad. I know I'm looking into the book more deeply than an elementary student would, but I think it would still be confusing and a little depressing for anyone. I've not read any of this author's other works, but I've heard they're all similar in this manner. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it to a child? Probably not. Did I like this book? No...and yes. Parts of this book were decent, but I didn't end up being a fan. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bud, Not Buddy: Christopher Paul Curtis

This is yet another of the books I had to read for my Children's Literature class. My younger cousin had to read it last year for her fifth-grade class and she kept telling me how much she hated it. Naturally, this made me not look forward to reading it.

As I read it, however, I kept waiting for it to get "awful", but it never really did. I actually kind of enjoyed it! The writing was brilliant and it really made me feel as if I was inside the mind of Bud. The descriptions were well-done and did a great job of sucking me into the time period. Bud, himself, was interesting and you couldn't help but root for the little lonely, driven boy. His story is sad while remaining hopeful. It was obviously a story from the heart and that is what really made it enjoyable for me to read. Though my cousin disliked it (why, exactly, she couldn't ever explain to me), I still recommend this book for the fifth-sixth-grade age group because this is a book where fiction and reality blend together to make for a pleasant read.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Mark Twain

"Tom Sawyer is Mark Twain's hymn to the secure and fantastic world of boyhood and adventure. From the famous episodes of the whitewashed fence and the ordeal in the cave to the trial of Injun Joe, the story is redolent of life in the Mississippi River towns which Twain spent his own youth. A somber undercurrent flows through the high humor and unabashed nostalgia of the novel, however, for beneath the innocence of childhood lie the inequities of adult reality--base emotions and superstitions, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery."

I read Huckleberry Finn back in my Junior year of high school and Mark Twain's writing is just as I remember it. His satire can be interesting, but his novels (at least to me, personally) are like pulling teeth to read. I genuinely didn't care for this book. There's just so much unnecessary information in it that it became not fun to read at all. One prime example of this was the scene where the students are making their end of the year presentations. What person--let alone a child--wants to read word-for-word what the students recited? It drove me crazy! I really do want to like Twain. His writings are classics. However, I just cannot seem to get into any of it. To be brutally honest, he--along with several other choice authors--is the reason that I decided not to teach American literature. Sure there are a couple eloquent lines, but Twain's novels are really not my cup of tea. Sorry to all of the Twain fanatics out there.

James and the Giant Peach: Roald Dahl

"A little magic can take you a long way...

"When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start happening. The peach at the very top of the tree starts growing, and growing, and growing...until it's as big as a house! When James crawls inside, he meets a houseful of oversized friends--Grasshopper, Centipede, Earthworm, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the adventure begins!"

This was another film adaptation that I loved when I was growing up. There was just something about the whimsy and wonder that comes with a giant peach and enormous friendly bugs that made for an awesome movie. Around the same time, I read my favorite Dahl book--The BFG (which I fully plan on re-reading now). So, Dahl made a huge impact on the kids in my class because he was so out there and fun. You just weren't considered "well read" in my elementary school until you'd read some of his books.

It took me a while, but I finally got to read this book! It was very good: short but it made an impact. I'm actually reading it with my younger cousin and she adores it. Like I said, there's just something about Dahl that transcends the decades and connects with children of all ages :)

The Secret Garden: Frances Hodgson Burnett

"Unlock the Magic of the Secret Garden

"When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all--a secret garden, walled and locked, which had been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the garden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?"

Growing up, the film adaptation of this classic book was one of my absolute favorites. I had tried picking the original book up over the years, but it didn't grab me immediately and I never got more than a few chapters into it. Now, however, I am enrolled in a Children's Literature class and this book was on our extensive reading list. It was the first one I finished and I must say that I enjoyed it.

Though it was not as good as I remember the movie being (which is usually the case when you go back to read things that were wonderful and mystifying back in childhood), it was decent nonetheless. The characters were still fascinating--especially Dickon--and I believe it was worth the read.

I've heard pretty mixed reviews from other readers about this book. Some were completely repelled by it, while others enjoyed it. I'm a little bit on the fence, but leaning a little more toward enjoying it. It was a bit long-winded at points and I can't imagine a child picking up this book and finishing it on her own; but the film adaptation will always remain near and dear to my heart.