Finally Old Enough for the Good Stuff
by Melissa Bell
I've known ten-year-old Sammy her entire life. There aren't too many people I can say that about. She's a truly great kid. And smart. And – joy of joys – she loves to read. And this Christmas I get to indulge her with some of the books I loved – or would have loved - when I was ten.
The books I ordered arrived at my house yesterday, and it took just about everything I had not to curl up on the couch and start reading them myself.
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller – hard to believe this was written when Ms. Keller was only twenty-two – but then again, once you read the book, it's not really that hard to believe at all.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – a gorgeous classic – was Mary Shelley really nineteen when she wrote this?
The Valley of Adventure by Enid Blyton. I haven't actually read this one myself, but I'm pretty sure it will involve the usual group of young Blyton-esque adventurers packing up some sandwiches in wax paper and taking off to discover and solve a mystery. No parents allowed.
There are still a few days to add some more to her gift bag (I don't see Sammy until New Year's). All of the above were just over $6.00 each. If you've got any recommendations of your own – books that you loved as a precocious pre-teen - please let me know in the comments section.
Thanks everyone, and have a wonderful safe holiday!
I've known ten-year-old Sammy her entire life. There aren't too many people I can say that about. She's a truly great kid. And smart. And – joy of joys – she loves to read. And this Christmas I get to indulge her with some of the books I loved – or would have loved - when I was ten.
The books I ordered arrived at my house yesterday, and it took just about everything I had not to curl up on the couch and start reading them myself.
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller – hard to believe this was written when Ms. Keller was only twenty-two – but then again, once you read the book, it's not really that hard to believe at all.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – a gorgeous classic – was Mary Shelley really nineteen when she wrote this?
The Valley of Adventure by Enid Blyton. I haven't actually read this one myself, but I'm pretty sure it will involve the usual group of young Blyton-esque adventurers packing up some sandwiches in wax paper and taking off to discover and solve a mystery. No parents allowed.
There are still a few days to add some more to her gift bag (I don't see Sammy until New Year's). All of the above were just over $6.00 each. If you've got any recommendations of your own – books that you loved as a precocious pre-teen - please let me know in the comments section.
Thanks everyone, and have a wonderful safe holiday!
posted by MelBell | 10:14 am
4 Comments:
The Arm of the Starfish and The Young Unicorns would go well together.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was my absolute favourite as a kid.
I love Enid Blyton! I read those aloud to my kids. And I always would tease them about having waxpaper sandwiches afterwards.
Ah, the age I discovered Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Worlds of the imagination seem so much larger at that age.
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