Favorite Books From my Childhood

We all have that one book that stuck out the most and made us readers. The whole reason I write, and you read, is because we love stories. My childhood was absolutely filled with books. I used to build forts out of blankets and pillows and then sit in them all day reading. Whenever I got into trouble my mother would take away my TV privileges and my toys and tell me to go to my room. But she NEVER took away my books. I was usually happy to just go sit in my room alone and read. Not long later she realized that grounding me wasn’t really a punishment. So she stopped. Because all I did was read and write stories.

So here I am, MANY years later and a published author. So, here is a small list of my favorite books from my childhood that I remember loving. To be clear, I was born in the late 80’s and discovered my love of reading in the mid 90’s, so most of these were published before 2005 (when I graduated HS). See my other posts about my favorite books for more recent reads! (Some repeats here).

I have linked the Amazon.com buy link just in case you’d like to check them out, but for many of the series I name I only linked the first book in series. You can do the research yourself! There also may be some spoilers!

Let’s start with the younger age groups:

Love you Forever by Robert Munsch

This book ALWAYS makes me cry. To this day. And it has such a lovely sentiment. This is the perfect gift for any new parent in your life!

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

I Loved this book as a child. Pretty sure it’s the reason I love bunnies so much. Such a sweet example of motherly love and childhood rebellion.

The Maggie B. by Irene Haas

This book. Man. This book sparked my imagination like no other book ever before. It is a huge reason I wanted to become an author. I especially loved the description of all the food and her love for her little brother.

Next come the chapter books.

Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren

I’ve talked about this book before. I’ll talk about it again. I LOVE this story. It inspired me to write my first book. It has continued to inspire me since. Filled with innocence and adventure.

Island of The Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

This book always got me. I loved her spirit, her survival, her compassion. I loved the adventure. Great starter chapter book and a classic.

The Hatchet Series by Gary Paulsen

I recently went to a bunch of second hand stores and tracked down this entire series and then re-read it. This book made me fall in love with the outdoors. It made me fall in love with winter and snow. It made me fall in love with adventure and survival. I can’t say enough good things about this series.

My Side of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George

I always wanted to be the main character in this book. I wanted to live in a hallowed out log on a mountain away from everyone else and make my own things. I wanted to tame a hawk and go hunting and build things. This book was perfect for a little tomboy in love with the mountains.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

A classic. Such great imagery and a great commentary on our world and emotions. This was probably the first dystopian I ever read and it certainly made me have a hunger for it.

And finally, the books that got me through middle school and high school.

Pit Dragon Chronicles by Jane Yolen

This series was one of the first trilogies about dragons I ever read. I loved the idea of the main character stealing a dragon and raising it on his own. It also touches on indentured servitude and a small romance. Very interesting world as well. I believe this might be a sci-fi/fantasy combo since it’s a colony of earth.

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

I was there when it all began. I read it when book two came out. I was 10 when I started reading. I desperately wanted my Hogwarts letter when I was 11. I am still a huge Potter head.

Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix

I’ve talked about this underrated series before. I will continue to. So great. First fantasy of its kind that bring YA and necromancy/demons/death together. LOVE this series with all of my heart.

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

I am beyond excited about the TV series. I have loved these books since the beginning. I began reading it when The Subtle Knife came out and was there for the release of The Amber Spyglass. I just bought the Book of Dust and can’t wait to read it. It combines complex ideas about modern science and other worlds/alternate realities and morality in with a delightfully complex fantasy world.

Tortall Series (multiple) by Tamora Pierce

If you haven’t read Tamora Pierce, can you even call yourself a fantasy fan? Seriously, these books. I will say I’ve never read her Circle Opens series but I LOVE all the Tortall books with every ounce of my being. They are similar to the Harry Potter books in that they feel like coming home. Her Song of the Lioness Quartet was also part of what made me want to be an author. I wanted to write books with so much adventure, with strong female characters, and just a smidgen of romance.

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

I’ve talked about this book before. I love anything written by Sherwood Smith, but her Crown Duel book (originally two books) is what got me into her books. It made me fall in love with court intrigue and medieval fantasy with just a little magic.

Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini

And of course, Dragons. I was with this series from the beginning. I loved the scope and complexity of this world and the magic system. And of course, I loved the dragons. This series did help to influence my own Valdir Chronicles.

Happy reading!

Finding the Perfect Writerly and Bookish Gifts for That Person in Your Life

As both a writer and a reader I would love and appreciate every single one of these gifts. I have a running Amazon wish list FULL of these kinds of things that I make sure to keep public *wink wink, nudge, nudge* in case someone wants to buy it for me.

As a reader I might appreciate a fun comfy pillow, or comfy socks, or a book sleeve. But as a writer I need all the notebooks and pens (even though I have a million) and anything typewriter related. Pop figures of my favorite characters are always a plus to decorate my shelves, and candles seem to be increasingly popular among avid readers. Plus, who doesn’t love a bookmark that you’ll never end up using because a receipt is handier?

I’m not getting paid to suggest any of these gifts by the way, I just genuinely enjoy them!

Amazon is a great place to start, and it’s where all these gifts come from. But also check out Etsy and Redbubble. They have awesome nerdy/bookish/writerly items as well.

1. Reading Log

Click the photo for a link to buy this wonderful reading log.

Who doesn’t need an awesome reading log notebook for all your reading log needs?

2. Bookmarks

Look at these clever bookmarks? I love to inspirational messages but they also have these on the right that you can color yourself! I love that because I also love coloring. Plus, you could color them and then give them away to friends and family for a personalized gift. Click here to buy these.

3. Signage

I mean, who doesn’t need one of these? Click here to buy!

Inappropriate but also, who doesn’t just want to be left alone with a good book? I know I do.

4. Drinks

Clever cocktail recipes! Click here to buy!

I feel like this book is super clever. I’m not a huge drinker but I’m totally a big enough nerd to want my drink to be from a book!!

5. Private Library

Super handy if you have tons of books and loan them out!

So I actually had this gifted to me a few years back! But at the time my personal library was super small. So I recently re-gifted it to my best friend who has a much larger library and lends books all the time! She loves it.

6. Character Development

Perfect for getting started!

This is so great, especially if you are struggling with character motivation or you are just starting out as a writer!

7. Typewriter Pen Holder

Typewriter pencil holder? Genius.

This is definitely already on my wish list and I fully plan on buying it for myself. I love all things typewriter themed!!

8. Emotion Thesaurus

Perfect gift for any writer.

So I already own this. My husband gave it to me the first year we were together. What can I say, the man really gets me. This is perfect for all writers of all stages. Seriously. If you have a writer in your life, buy them this, even if you never get them anything else.

9. Typewriter Coasters

Typewriter themed coasters!!!

Since I love all things typewriter themed…..this is also on my wish list. I need it in my life. For placing cider on while I’m writing.

10. Perfect Candle

The perfect candle.

And finally, the perfect candle to burn while reading or writing to get you in the comfy, cozy mood. There are tons of candles from this shop and others that are perfect for your bookish/writerly friends. This is also on my wish list.

I hope this short list helps you find the perfect gift! I know pretty much all of these are things I would be stoked to get as a gift. Anything that makes me feel comfy/cozy or speaks to me of rainy days and hours spent reading or writing the perfect scene/characters I will love. Also, honestly, any gift cards to a local book store or stationary shop would appeal to us. Maybe later I’ll make another post about the perfect gifts but include other kinds.

Happy reading and writing!