Books that Shaped me: Childhood Edition
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21st August 2018
books that were my childhood
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The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was my favourite author as a child. I adored her Malory Towers series, and all the collections of stories she wrote. However, my ultimate favourite was (and still is) The Faraway Tree. My mother gave this book to me when I was 6 years old (she’s had her copy of the book for over 25 years) and I had loved it all through primary school. I even used it when I was being interviewed for new schools at the 11+ exams, as my favourite book and as a book that shaped me.
I think that ‘The Faraway Tree’ is where I got my sense of excitement and adventure, and it’s where my imagination got to grow. It’s the book that shoved me face-first into the world of reading, and I’ve been happy ever since.
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Little Lord Fauntleroy – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Burnett was also one of my favourite authors as a child. I reread ‘The Secret Garden’ countless amounts of times (I still reread it today) and I was obsessed with ‘The Little Princess’ for a good couple of months. However, my favourite story from her has always been Little Lord Fauntleroy.
I borrowed the book from the library, not expecting much as I was already very impressed by ‘The Secret Garden’. But when I read the book, I realised how much I loved the story and the characters within the story. I was extremely sad to return it to the library, and when I couldn’t find another copy of the book in bookstores, I got very upset. I’m still sad that I don’t have a copy today, it needs a reread. The only memory I have of it is feeling extremely satisfied when finishing it, which is the most important criteria for me when judging whether I like a book or not.
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Kensuke’s Kingdom – Michael Morpurgo
DESCRIPTION:
When Michael is washed up on an island in the Pacific after falling from his parent’s yacht, the Peggy Sue, he struggles to survive on his own. But he soon realises there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive. Following a close-run battle between life and death after being stung by a poisonous jelly fish, the mysterious someone–Kensuke–allows Michael into his world and they become friends, teaching and learning from each other, until the day of separation becomes inevitable.
MY OPINION:
In my opinion, this book is the one that has shaped me most. I read this book early, just when I was starting to get into reading. The reason why this book is so important to me is because it was the first book I had properly cried at. Even though my favourite Michael Morpurgo book is ‘Running Wild’, Kensuke’s Kingdom holds a place in my heart that no other book could take.
I even hated this book at first because it made me cry, but then I realised how important that was – I had finally cried at a book. It increased my love for reading tenfold, which was something I didn’t think would happen. I enjoy crying at books, because books rarely make me cry, and when that swell of emotion builds up, I feel satisfied.
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Goodnight Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian
DESCRIPTION:
London is poised on the brink of World War II. Timid, scrawny Willie Beech — the abused child of a single mother — is evacuated to the English countryside. At first, he is terrified of everything, of the country sounds and sights, even of Mr. Tom, the gruff, kindly old man who has taken him in. But gradually Willie forgets the hate and despair of his past. He learns to love a world he never knew existed, a world of friendship and affection in which harsh words and daily beatings have no place. Then a telegram comes. Willie must return to his mother in London. When weeks pass by with no word from Willie, Mr. Tom sets out for London to look for the young boy he has come to love as a son.
MY OPINION:
This books is my favourite of the World War Two books that I read as a child. I found it the most interesting out of all of them, I enjoyed the long storyline and the emotions hidden within. This book is a bit of a rollercoaster as well, and I loved the way Magorian wrote the characters and the experiences that the protagonist had. I thought she portrayed his character extremely well, and even though this book didn’t make me cry, I still found it very moving.
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some recommendations
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When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit – Judith Kerr
DESCRIPTION:
Anna is not sure who Hitler is, but she sees his face on posters all over Berlin. Then one morning, Anna and her brother awake to find her father gone! Her mother explains that their father has had to leave and soon they will secretly join him. Anna just doesn’t understand. Why do their parents keep insisting that Germany is no longer safe for Jews like them? Because of Hitler, Anna must leave everything behind.
Why do I recommend this book?
It’s an interesting book for children, and it has a simple story and plotline. It encourages thinking, and the language poses exactly the right amount of challenge for those who aren’t avid readers. It is engaging, well-written and relatable for children, since the protagonist of the story is also a child. It was one of my favourite World War Two books as a child too, so I definitely recommend you read it, if you haven’t already.
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Skellig – David Almond
DESCRIPTION:
Unhappy about his baby sister’s illness and the chaos of moving into a dilapidated old house, Michael retreats to the garage and finds a mysterious stranger who is something like a bird and something like an angel…
This book is beautifully written and extremely thought provoking – I push this book onto anyone who hasn’t read it already. It’s a book that really makes you try to read between the lines, and it really helps you develop skills as a reader. It has a beautiful story and plot within it, and even though the book is short, it’ll leave you with the best feeling of satisfaction. Well, that’s what it did for me.
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The Witches – Roald Dahl
DESCRIPTION:
This is not a fairy-tale. This is about real witches. Real witches don’t ride around on broomsticks. They don’t even wear black cloaks and hats. They are vile, cunning, detestable creatures who disguise themselves as nice, ordinary ladies. So how can you tell when you’re face to face with one? Well, if you don’t know yet you’d better find out quickly-because there’s nothing a witch loathes quite as much as children and she’ll wield all kinds of terrifying powers to get rid of them.
Why do I recommend this book?
I’ll always recommend Roald Dahl, especially to children – his books are funny and simple. This book is simply my favourite Roald Dahl story. I know it’s not as popular as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the BFG, but I still think that this book was the most enjoyable to read out of all of the stories. I found it witty and exciting, it really possessed that feel of mystery and adventure that I enjoy the most.
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The Railway Children – E. Nesbit
DESCRIPTION:
In this much-loved children’s classic first published in 1906, the comfortable lives of three well-mannered siblings are greatly altered when, one evening, two men arrive at the house and take their father away. With the family’s fortunes considerably reduced in his absence, the children and their mother are forced to live in a simple country cottage near a railway station. There the young trio — Roberta, Peter, and young Phyllis — befriend the porter and station master.
The youngsters’ days are filled with adventure and excitement, including their successful attempt to avert a horrible train disaster; but the mysterious disappearance of their father continues to haunt them.
Why do I recommend this book?
I love this book, and all of E. Nesbit’s work, because for a girl like me (growing up in England) these books were describing my home and my country. They’re still classics too, and her books are a must-read for everyone. Some of her best include ‘Five Children and It’ and ‘The Phoenix and the Carpet’. But the reason why I picked ‘The Railway Children’ over them is because it was the first E. Nesbit I read, and also because I thought the writing was best here. I enjoyed this story the most, and I found the whole book enchanting and wonderful.
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So, that’s the list of books that captivated me as a child – I’ll make sure to make a classics list too, of all the classic literature I love and why, plus some more recommendations!
Happy reading!