I still reread the Melendys and Gone-Away Lake every few years. I was grateful to Harry Potter's success, which got the Edward Eager books reprinted.

Also, there's Caddie Woodlawn, Blue Willow and Lois Lenski's books. I love Roller Skates, but she may be a bit young.

One of my first chapter books, and I still re-read it, was The Boxcar Children. I recently read some of the sequals, where they solved mysteries, but they are not as good. I would, probably enjoy them still if I were a child.

Amy- I loved Jane-Emily but it scared me! The cover was freaky.

Sam the bat? I think that is short enough for you and great for pretty damn young on up.

HKF picked out a Judy Moody, another Ivy & Bean and a Junie B. Jones at the library. She was eying the magic tree house books too but I told her to start with what she could carry. I'm such a killjoy.

OMG, Lenny Kravitz cast as Cinna in The Hunger Games.

I actually really like that!

Someone's left a copy of Leon Uris's Trinity in the living room. I've always wanted to read that. I pick it up and flip to chapter one. Wait a minute... this is so familiar. I have read it. And ordinarily no big deal, I forgot a book. But I retained Nothing! Of centuries of Irish history. And I know if I reread it, I will remember it, only about a chapter in advance. I'm so mad at my brain right now.

In DFW news, I just finished the part with Tony Krause withdrawing on the subway. I remember way back when we met Orrin and the cockroaches thinking at least it's not ants. Silly girl. So, are we about done with the ant imagery or can I get a heads up for future bits to skim?

Great, now I have "This land is mine, God gave this land to me..." stuck in my head.

Pat Boone lyrics!

Isn't that Exodus? Here's a happy Irish love song to chase your earworm. Grace

It is Exodus, but still Leon Uris.