My Top 6 MG and YA Books!
As I prepare for the upcoming publication of my debut novel, If You're Gone , (June 20th!!!!) I've been reflecting on the books I read countless times as a child and/or teen that inspired me to create stories of my own. One of my favorite pastimes was (and still is) to wander the shelves at used bookstores, libraries, or yard sales to discover unknown books I could make into films one day. I found some real winners and still keep a shelf in my office of a dozen film-worthy books, some more unknown than others, but all screaming for a film adaption! So without further adieu, here is my list of my favorite MG or YA novels, and reasons why I love them!
#1 The Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia DeFelice
I stumbled upon this book at my local library when I was about twelve years old and absolutely fell in love with the story. It combines all of my favorite things- a female protagonist who isn't necessarily the coolest and prettiest girl in school, a ghostly mystery, and a villainous antagonist you can't help but hate. I loved the book so much I typed the entire novel, word for word, into a script and actually received permission from Ms. DeFelice herself to perform it as a play! (Why she agreed to let me do that I will never know, but she probably realized I was barely a teenager and it wouldn't become a Tony-Award winner.) I got so far as to have a table read with the group of friends I cast in the roles, but we never made it to Broadway. Almost like a female version of The Goonies , this is my #1 on the list of books I love AND books that must become films!
#2 Magic Elizabeth by Norma Kassirer
Oh where to I start about this beautiful book originally published in 1966. This story pulled me in and transported me into a magical world the first time I read it (I'm not sure where I found it, but it is a very tired paperback I still own). You will find a theme in some of these favorite books of mine, which is dolls and mysteries, and this book has it all.
#3 If I Die Before I Wake (the Frightening Four Mini-Series) by Francine Pascal
This is the conclusion in the four book mini-series which I picked because I love the cover art and the title, but you must read all four in order starting with Too Scared to Sleep . I was at least fourteen when I discovered these books and they scared the crap out of me and kept me up at night! I had never been a huge fan of the Sweet Valley series, they just seemed too blonde and perfect for my blood (although I always wished I had a twin when I read them), but something about these four books just drew me in. They don't revolve only around Elizabeth and Jessica but instead focus on several of their friends, and weave a terrifying tale of a monstrous creature you aren't sure is real or fake. I never owned these books, however I constantly checked them out at the library, and I recently ordered them from Thriftbooks.com because I have been dying to read them again. I recommend to anyone who loves creepy teen mysteries with a twist you won't see coming.
#4 The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
This is another book that isn't unknown, and actually has already been made into a deliciously terrifying low-budget film called Secrets in the Attic that is screaming for a remake. But if you like dolls, mysteries, and creepy old houses like I do, this is the book for you. I already loved the book when I discovered the film version and it terrified me even in my late teens (and dare I say, today in my late twenties). Want some real suspense in your life? Read the book and then seek out the hard-to-find film. (I own the VHS if anyone wants to borrow!)
#5 The Ghost in the Garden by Carol H Behrman
Another fascinating book about a creepy old house and the young girl who moves in and discovers a mystery (and a ghost!). I will admit, I encouraged my parents to purchase an old mansion on the outskirts of town because of books like this (they didn't bite, much to my dismay). It's a quick, easy read with a bone-chilling twist that will leave you guessing!
#6 Mandy by Julie Andrews.
This is the odd-ball of the list, as it doesn't deal with ghosts or mysteries, but it does revolve around a young orphan who finds an abandoned house and makes it her own. I loved this book so much as a child that I chose it for an 8th grade essay about my favorite book/author. Too bad Google wasn't around then, because my teacher docked my grade insisting that the Julie Andrews who wrote Mandy couldn't possibly the same Julie Andrews who starred in The Sound of Music but boy was she wrong. This is a beautiful, heartwarming story I highly recommend.
So that's my list of somewhat random books that I loved as a child and still think about (and read!) to this day! While the focus of the blog is mainly on individual books and not series, I can't complete a list of childhood favorites without including The Boxcar Children, The Babysitters Club, and the Mandie series. It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite from each book series, but maybe one day I will try!
#1 The Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia DeFelice
I stumbled upon this book at my local library when I was about twelve years old and absolutely fell in love with the story. It combines all of my favorite things- a female protagonist who isn't necessarily the coolest and prettiest girl in school, a ghostly mystery, and a villainous antagonist you can't help but hate. I loved the book so much I typed the entire novel, word for word, into a script and actually received permission from Ms. DeFelice herself to perform it as a play! (Why she agreed to let me do that I will never know, but she probably realized I was barely a teenager and it wouldn't become a Tony-Award winner.) I got so far as to have a table read with the group of friends I cast in the roles, but we never made it to Broadway. Almost like a female version of The Goonies , this is my #1 on the list of books I love AND books that must become films!
#2 Magic Elizabeth by Norma Kassirer
Oh where to I start about this beautiful book originally published in 1966. This story pulled me in and transported me into a magical world the first time I read it (I'm not sure where I found it, but it is a very tired paperback I still own). You will find a theme in some of these favorite books of mine, which is dolls and mysteries, and this book has it all.
#3 If I Die Before I Wake (the Frightening Four Mini-Series) by Francine Pascal
This is the conclusion in the four book mini-series which I picked because I love the cover art and the title, but you must read all four in order starting with Too Scared to Sleep . I was at least fourteen when I discovered these books and they scared the crap out of me and kept me up at night! I had never been a huge fan of the Sweet Valley series, they just seemed too blonde and perfect for my blood (although I always wished I had a twin when I read them), but something about these four books just drew me in. They don't revolve only around Elizabeth and Jessica but instead focus on several of their friends, and weave a terrifying tale of a monstrous creature you aren't sure is real or fake. I never owned these books, however I constantly checked them out at the library, and I recently ordered them from Thriftbooks.com because I have been dying to read them again. I recommend to anyone who loves creepy teen mysteries with a twist you won't see coming.
#4 The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
This is another book that isn't unknown, and actually has already been made into a deliciously terrifying low-budget film called Secrets in the Attic that is screaming for a remake. But if you like dolls, mysteries, and creepy old houses like I do, this is the book for you. I already loved the book when I discovered the film version and it terrified me even in my late teens (and dare I say, today in my late twenties). Want some real suspense in your life? Read the book and then seek out the hard-to-find film. (I own the VHS if anyone wants to borrow!)
#5 The Ghost in the Garden by Carol H Behrman
Another fascinating book about a creepy old house and the young girl who moves in and discovers a mystery (and a ghost!). I will admit, I encouraged my parents to purchase an old mansion on the outskirts of town because of books like this (they didn't bite, much to my dismay). It's a quick, easy read with a bone-chilling twist that will leave you guessing!
#6 Mandy by Julie Andrews.
This is the odd-ball of the list, as it doesn't deal with ghosts or mysteries, but it does revolve around a young orphan who finds an abandoned house and makes it her own. I loved this book so much as a child that I chose it for an 8th grade essay about my favorite book/author. Too bad Google wasn't around then, because my teacher docked my grade insisting that the Julie Andrews who wrote Mandy couldn't possibly the same Julie Andrews who starred in The Sound of Music but boy was she wrong. This is a beautiful, heartwarming story I highly recommend.
So that's my list of somewhat random books that I loved as a child and still think about (and read!) to this day! While the focus of the blog is mainly on individual books and not series, I can't complete a list of childhood favorites without including The Boxcar Children, The Babysitters Club, and the Mandie series. It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite from each book series, but maybe one day I will try!
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