The Secret Raft by Hazel Krantz. Youth make a raft and explore the mysteries of a nearby swamp. Going from self-doubt to realizing one's potential.

Also, the Tom Swift series of science fiction books. Just liked all the cool stuff they invented.

Anonymous wrote:From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsberg. About age 10 or 11. Kid-powered adventure, independence, excitement, mystery. And even then, I loved museums, but I had only experienced the Smithsonian, so reading about the Met was a dream.

Another +1 here. Also Harriet the Spy. Loved that book.

Little House series (7)
Little Women (9)
Witch of Blackbird Pond (9)
The Hobbit/Fellowship of the Ring (12-14)
The Once and Future King (14)

Anonymous wrote:From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsberg. About age 10 or 11. Kid-powered adventure, independence, excitement, mystery. And even then, I loved museums, but I had only experienced the Smithsonian, so reading about the Met was a dream.

+1 for this.

Also The Chronicles of Narnia (8-10 yo)
Mrs Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH (about 7-8?)
The Chronicles of Prydain (about 10)
The Dark is Rising series (11-12)
Various books of Greek mythology (8-10)

Little Women
Luther's Catechism
Tom Sawyer
Age 12

My side of the mountain.

A boy spends a year surviving outdoors. Learns to feed himself, befriends animals , goes thru seasons and occasional human interaction.

Roll of thunder, hear my cry
A wrinkle in time
Bridge to terabithia

All had powerful impacts on me as a kid

Anonymous wrote:
Charlotte's Webb (10 y.o.?) The unlikely friendship between a pig and a spider. The part at the beginning, where the girl's dad wants to kill the pig but the girl, through her force of will, saves the pig, stuck with me.

Interesting. I would've thought it was Charlotte's selfless sacrifice of her life that would leave the lasting impression. That made a profound impact on me when I was a kid.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsberg. About age 10 or 11. Kid-powered adventure, independence, excitement, mystery. And even then, I loved museums, but I had only experienced the Smithsonian, so reading about the Met was a dream.

As a young child being read to - "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"
A comical story demonstrating how offering one thing can set you up to be expected to continue offering. Very universal, I find myself quoting it all the time as an adult.

As an older child reading stories to myself, Cronicles of Narnia was excellent.

A tree grows in Brooklyn - 11
Cheaper by the dozen -11

I read a shit-ton before that but disliked all the classics and was just eh about the Blume and cleary and nancy drew stuff.

and

"The Brothers Lionheart" by Astrid Lindgren

OMG. An incredible book. The images/drawings in the book are unforgettable as the story....

I think I was 9 or 10 when I read it..

"The Black Brothers" by Lisa Tetzner

Unfortunately I'm not sure, the full version is available in English (original is German)
It is the 'true' (the historical part is true) story of mid 19th century Swiss boys being sold as work slaves to Chimney Sweepers in Milan, Italy.
It is gripping, and a story of survival, friendship and perseverance of the human spirit in the worst of conditions.
It's been many decades since I read it, and the characters and their ordeal and triumph are still vivid in my mind's eye.
I think I read it at age 12 or 13, same age as the main character.

Little House Series (Little House In The Big Woods and The Long Winter are the two that stand out the most in my memory). 7 years old. Semi-autobiographical young girl's experience growing up in pioneer towns in the mid 1800's. Something about the books really captured my attention and started a lifelong interest in history.

Anne of Green Gables. About 8-9 years old. Orphan girl who looks for beauty in her world finds a home on Prince Edward Island. Wonderfully descriptive books that really transport the reader to early 1900's Canada.

The Golden Compass. 10? years old. Fantasy story set in a world where the equivalent to your is external and takes on animal form. There is a bit of mystery, suspense and action set in a vivid alternate world.

So what books do you remember from your childhood that made an impact (or just books that you loved)?
And if you could put your age (about what age, just to separate the 4 y.o. books from the 14 y.o. books)
And feel free to offer a sentence about what it was and why it was important

And to make it easy, let's assume the books are for both boys and girls unless otherwise specified.

E.g.

Hope for the Flowers (8 y.o. about).
A cartoon story about quitting the rat race in order to have balance in life, told through the experiences of two caterpillars named Yellow and Stripe.

Charlotte's Webb (10 y.o.?) The unlikely friendship between a pig and a spider. The part at the beginning, where the girl's dad wants to kill the pig but the girl, through her force of will, saves the pig, stuck with me.