I started reading these books in late-first grade (I have always read above my age/grade.) Heck, I was reading my parents Stephen King books by 4th Grade - the first being Pet Semetary (and it not really phase me with the exception of the bike rider hit by a car (I think because of the blood and gore and I just had a friend badly injured in a bike vs car accident) and the cat (c’mon, cat!) - Gabe not as much because I don’t think a child passing away registered in my brain as being possible. It was the only thing my brain was capable of saying “nahnahnahnah - I can’t see you, you don’t exist. As I got older, it bothered me more and after the loss of my son, I actually threw the book across the room when I got to his death.
But I digress. I thought I’d do something different this summer and read a beloved childhood series as a “summer project.” As much as I was fascinated as a young 1st grader at the prospect of starting my own BSC (like fascinated so much to the point that I roped my local friends into holding fake club meetings based on the story (sorry, if you’re reading this now! I had/have a very creative imagination and had an immediate NEED to relive the books as much as possible. My intention wasn’t to hold you hostage, make you read these books with me and enact the meetings!!) and counting the years until I was -finally- old enough to babysit. (Real quick - who is your favorite? Young Allyson would have to be a cross between Stacy and Claudia’s sense of fashion and art. This Allyson would probably say Stacy.) However, reading it as an adult just wasn’t the same. At. All. Not even close. I question young Allyson’s choices as a reader. Sure, they’re great for a 1st and 2nd grader (although check my reasoning skills as I quickly advanced to books most kids didn’t touch for yeeeaaaars after I did). So, we’ll chalk this up as a failed attempt of a summer project and bad trip down memory lane. *sigh* I can still appreciate them for what they were and meant to me, along with many other fans of the BSC. I just don’t think I can force myself through more.