What a fun conversation!! I wish I had Buffistas around to recommend books for me when I was Kara's age; I had to go with what I discovered out of the library myself.
Like Sophia, I was a pioneer book girl (although I don't remember reading Carrie Woodlawn, strangely enough!). Two others in that genre I can rec are Island of the Blue Dolphins and My Side of the Mountain, both about young people who live by themselves in the wild and who must cope with isolation and survival.
I do have to say that my mother recently told me that she just realized that I probably should not have been reading Erica Jong and The Clan of the Cave Bear Series in 5th and 6th grade.
Heh. I was reading Roots in fifth grade and Rosemary Rogers' bodice rippers in sixth, and I'm not damaged! (Much.)
E. Nesbit! The Enchanted Castle! Five Children and It!
My Side of the Mountain
--I was always sad when the kid was found and taken back to people. Was I supposed to be happy that he was going to live with a family again?
Speaking of children's books, there's one I read when I was around 9 or 10, and I can't remember the author or title.
It's about a relative of Eleanor D'Aquitaine, a grand-niece or suchlike. She gets sent to Queen Eleanor's court by her less fortunate parents. I remember the girl had green eyes, and her sister said they made her look like a witch. (This stuck, because I have green eyes and . . . hmmmm, maybe sis had a point.) Anyway, it helped ignite my interest in Eleanor. I don't suppose anyone recognizes this book, do they?
It's about a relative of Eleanor D'Aquitaine, a grand-niece or suchlike. She gets sent to Queen Eleanor's court by her less fortunate parents. I remember the girl had green eyes, and her sister said they made her look like a witch. (This stuck, because I have green eyes and . . . hmmmm, maybe sis had a point.) Anyway, it helped ignite my interest in Eleanor. I don't suppose anyone recognizes this book, do they?
I remember it, but I can't remember what it's called.
I remember it, but I can't remember what it's called.
At least I'm not the only one who read it, then. That's reassuring. Thanks!
My Side of the Mountain --I was always sad when the kid was found and taken back to people.
But it's not so much that he gets taken back to people as that people decide to come to him--his family decides to abandon the city and come live in the woods with him. Which I think is a perfectly fine ending.
come live in the woods with him
They do? I must be mis-remembering, the last I remember is him sitting in a car with the sheriff or somebody and being taken out of hte woods.
My Side of the Mountain was D's favorite book growing up. I can't recall if he said there was more than one sequel but there is at least one.
If you guys aren't familiar with A String in the Harp you should really check it out. It was my sister's favorite book but I didn't read it until I moved out here and I loved it.
My favorite book when I was a youth was probably Watership Down.
I also read all the Black Stallion and Marguerite Henry books.
