Children's Books discussion

Hi everybody! One of my favorite things about children's fiction is its capacity to inspire young readers and give us a boost of magic or motivation as adults. What book have you read as a child or adult that has inspired you the most? Comforted you? Helped you through a rough patch?

For my part, it's Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. As a timid 10-year-old, I identified with Ella's struggle against her "obedience curse". I've re-read this book through my teens and adult years whenever I needed some comfort. What about you?

That's a hard question, and I basically don't think I could actually say that there is one book that fits the bill, but I can and will say that there is one author who fits the bill for me, Lucy Maud Montgoery (especially her Anne of Green Gables series and Emily of New moon series, but basically almost all of her work). I have read these series repeatedly, and whenever I feel down, I tend to reread them (but I also reread them for no apparent reason). And while I love Anne Shirley, I think I identify more with Emily Bird Starr (and of course, Jane from Jane of Lantern Hill for a stand-alone book that is not part of a series).

I agree with Gundula--I think it's more the author than the books. I like Madeleine L'Engle (the Wrinkle in Time series) and C.S. Lewis (Narnia).

I seem to identify with Meg Wallace--plain but smart. And then there's Charles Wallace....

I agree with Anne of Green Gables, even though I never self-identified with any of the characters. Perhaps, if I were a boy, I would have self-identified with Gilbert.

For a bit older children, one of my most inspiring books has been Ender's Game. Not only do I re-read it on occasion, I sometimes hear from former students that that was the one book that really turned them on to reading.

Interesting thought. I would really like to read A Wrinkle in Time. I've yet to find a fiction author who inspires me across several books; I find that not every story is written in the same spirit, even if it is by the same author. And then there are those stories that are wonderful inspite of the author, like in Roald Dahl's case. Lovely books, shocking personality.

I love Matilda (Roald Dahl). I disagree with the authors' personal views (Ender's Game's author, too), but I still like their books.

Matilda is a really lovely book, the movie was also my favorite as a child. Did you like it as well, Laura?

I remember seeing part of the movie, but for some reason, I don't think I watched the whole thing. I am overly sensitive about violence in movies and it could be, I simply didn't want to watch the whole thing.

Interestingly, I have just finished listening to the audiobook of it and the only way I could get through the abusive parts is that I knew how it ended.

I, too, enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and Matilda.

The book that I have found most inspiring in recent years is Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt. I highly recommend it.

The transformative power of kindness and community is an integral concept in the book, and it inspires without being preachy.

Hi Aimee! I've heard many good things about Okay for Now but haven't gotten around to reading yet.
Firmament by Tim Bowler is also a wonderful book with an uplifting spirit. It helped me through a rough patch once but I forgot the name and author until I found it yesterday through google books. It's about a musically-gifted boy with clairaudience coping with the death of his father. I think that's the very essence of an inspiring story, it doesn't need to preach - it just moves you.

I'll have to check out Firmament. Thanks for mentioning it.

I suspect you won't be disappointed by Okay For Now. The prequel, The Wednesday Wars, is well done too.

I've taken workshops with Gary and heard him speak at writers' conferences, and I found his talks inspirational as well. I enjoy all his books.

Sounds like my kind of author! Thank you for recommending him, I'll definitely look him up.
You must've been thrilled to take workshops with him. I'd love to have that kind of opportunity, but for now I live in a small city where almost nobody reads...and important authors never visit. :P

:) Yes, it was great to listen to Gary. I should clarify that I did travel to go to the conference. It's a children's writers' conference for an organization I belong to (SCBWI) that I've attended a couple of times. When I heard Gary, though, I had just finished reading his books, so I was even more pleased to meet him.

It's wonderful to have experiences like that! I would love to join SCBWI one day, but I'm still on a work in progress for now. :) Do you illustrate your own books?

I don't. The publisher searches out an illustrator that suits the work.

When I was in eighth grade, I discovered Robert Heinlein's Have Space Suit—Will Travel, which inspired me to search out more SF books. I started reading a lot of Heinlein, Clarke and Asimov, and in high school, I discovered A Wrinkle in Time, which I loved so much, I re-read it numerous times.

Tolkein, Lord of the Rings, when I was in grade school, after that the Donald Covenant series. Garth Nix's Sabriel was great, and Pullman's Golden Compass.

Hi Geoffrey and Beverly, thank you for sharing these titles. I also love The Lord of the Rings and how inspiring the films are as well. Beverly, would you say sci-fi is your favourite genre?

Inspiring and uplifting makes me think of two classic favorites about brave children: The Secret Garden and The Princess and the Goblin.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Inspiring and uplifting makes me think of two classic favorites about brave children: The Secret Garden and The Princess and the Goblin."

Definitely, and perhaps also A Little Princess, but I've always liked The Secret Garden better.

Darya wrote: "Hi Geoffrey and Beverly, thank you for sharing these titles. I also love The Lord of the Rings and how inspiring the films are as well. Beverly, would you say sci-fi is your favourite genre?"

I read a lot more SF when I was younger, though I still read it. But my favorite genre right now is mysteries. Which means I also love SF mysteries!

I liked Five Little Peppers and How They Grew and Little Women. I don't know whether I found them inspirational or life changing but I reread them every summer. The characters seemed to be having a lot of fun.

Little Women inspired me to write.

Being an old hippie lite, I must admit that I connected with The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf way back around 1950.

Ah, Ferdinand, love it. Actually found a near-mint copy in a thrift store last week and will be rereading soon!

Gundula wrote: "Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Inspiring and uplifting makes me think of two classic favorites about brave children: The Secret Garden and The Princess and the Goblin."

Defin..."

The Secret Garden and A Little Princess without a doubt. Glad to know others feel the same way.