Favorite Childhood Books

For my first official blog post, I’ll take it back to the beginning – my childhood.

There was never a time I was without a book as a child.  They were my best friends and I always had one (more like two or three actually) on hand. It was an escape for me, and still is to this day. 

As you’ll see below, much of what I read consisted of book series, not necessarily individual novels. I enjoyed having multiple books to fly through, and it just so happened many popular series were at my fingertips in nearby libraries, book stores, and school classrooms. You’ll find a variety of books, all key in growing my love for reading. 

Junie B Jones series by Barbara Park

This series was one of the first I really enjoyed. I mean, I think I started reading these while I was still learning how to. The books follow Junie B Jones, a six year old with attitude to spare, and her journey through kindergarten and first grade. I did not always agree with her antics, given that she was sassy and it wasn’t uncommon for her to misbehave and get into trouble, but it was still enjoyable for me to go on those adventures with her. I specifically remember have a Junie B Jones journal that I could fill out myself. I loved that thing! It was so creative and fun, both in the design and the journal prompts. Kinda wish I could find it again, just to see what I wrote!

Magic Treehouse series 

The Magic Treehouse books was another series that sticks out from early on in my childhood. I remember getting in trouble for reading in class one time, and a book from this series was involved. The amount of books included in the series is extensive, and I did not get through all of them. It was nice though, to be able to pick up a book out of the normal order and still have an idea of what’s happening. The stories, about older brother Jack and younger sister Annie, take you through various historical and geographical settings. To get there though, they have to read books found in a magic treehouse which transport them to those times and areas. I loved the magical elements – which included Camelot, Morgan Le Fay, and Merlin the magician, who were all part of an underlying storyline. They were short books, easy to get through, with low stakes and interesting adventures. 

Percy Jackson series and, by extension, the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson was and still is one of my all-time favorite series. My love and interest in Greek mythology stems almost exclusively from reading these books. The characters are well developed and written, the humor is *chef’s kiss*, and the books are easy reads – but still captivating with high stakes attached. Percy Jackson, as the main character, does not take himself too seriously. He grows up through the books of the first series, from age 12 to age 16, and I basically aged with him. Throughout this time, despite all the great battles he fights and incredible feats he accomplishes, he stays humble – as much as a teenage boy can. He’s a loyal friend, a great leader when called on, and a good kid all around. As for Grover and Annabeth, his two best friends, I really enjoyed their presence as well. Grover gives some comedic levity in most situations while also being kind and caring. His character is underrated in my opinion – not only is he Percy’s protector and best friend, but he’s authentic and unapologetically himself. He takes on tasks he is unsure he can succeed at, yet accomplishes them in his own ways. Annabeth, a character after my own heart, is a tough young girl who’s been through a lot, but uses that to push her further. She is smart, curious, and analytical. I thought she was so cool! Still do honestly. I loved her intelligence and studiousness, while also still being a good friend and an asset in difficult situations. 

As for Heroes of Olympus, I remember attending school the day one of the books in the series was released. I had waited for it with bated breath, rereading the previous book(s) and theorizing what would happen. On the day one of the books was released – forgive me for not remembering which one – I was picked up by my mother. Awaiting me in the car was a brand new copy of the book I thought I’d have to wait for! I immediately began to read on the ride home. There are far too many main characters for me to describe in one go, but they all create a ragtag group of kids doing their best while still being young and learning their place in the world. The humor and feel from the first series follows into this one, maturing slightly in some ways along with the characters. It has even bigger challenges to face and even more dire consequences if things are not handled in a timely and correct manner. But, there was always hope at the end of every book and situation – especially with support of those who matter most. 

Harry Potter series

I will not be writing very much about this particular series due to the transphobic beliefs of its author, of whom I do not want to give a larger platform than she already has. I adored these books growing up, and they got me through a lot of hard times – that cannot be denied. But, as I’ve gotten older, it’s been harder to enjoy the books without first taking a look at the woman behind them. In my opinion, the series is about supporting those around you, seeing the good in everything, and connecting with others through common ground. Her views, being so far from what I took from the book, deeply sadden and disappoint me. 

Honorable mentions

• Dear America series 
• Nancy Drew series 
• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket