Monday, August 29, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday - School Freebie!



Why hello again! This week is a school themed freebie. The books I've been blogging about have been increasingly serious in content. I feel the need to kick up my heels a bit and talk fun. So, this week's theme is 'Top Ten Throwback Books I Read for Fun in School". Books that trended in my library, books that I read over and over again, books that I'm amazed I got into, books that were my THING, etc.

Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene



I am entirely incapable of starting this list on any other note. Nancy Drew was my homegirl, my spirit animal, my secret weapon for all things boring/frustrating/insertchildhoodangsthere. I would like to say that I never got into the newer series/versions of Nancy Drew. Technically Carolyn Keene was many authors. But, I was incredibly partial to the originals. As in those yellow bound, vintage illustrations, and all lined in a row at any library you went to books. ;) 

The Royal Diaries Series by Various Authors


Before there was the likes of Phillipa Gregory and such - there was...The Royal Diaries. They spanned all the cultures, all the eras, all the time periods. AND THEY WERE ALL ABOUT THE LADIES. I learned so much about history, strong female leaders/figures, and world history in general from the pages of these books. I had a special affinity with Queen Elizabeth. Her Dad got married alot, as did mine. lol. 

Heartland Series by Lauren Brooke


HORSES. I went through a huge horse series phase and Heartland was the star of this fascinating, diverse (coughs) phase of my literary ventures. I was about twelve, wanted an ARABIAN horse, and was like so sad that my parents didn't see why this was the best thing that could ever happen to me. Shout-out to the TV show up in Canada (love it) for adapting this series wonderfully. The location might have changed by the characters remain as awesome as ever.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli


Stargirl! Everyone ever needs to read this book at least once. Especially when they're in school. It's a must-read. 


The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy by Clare B. Dunkle


I am sure that I've mentioned this one before. If you're a fan of Labyrinth, Beauty and the Beast, and/or maybe The Neverending Story - this is a good pick. Not many people have heard of it so I like to pull it out when I have a chance. Two sisters kidnapped by Goblins! One to be a Queen and the other because she's the sister and doesn't want to part with her sibling. lol. It's charming.


Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn


I FORGOT ABOUT SUMMERS AT CASTLE AUBURN! HOW DID I FORGET ABOUT THE BOOK I CHECKED OUT LIKE A DOZEN TIMES?  It was one of my comfort reads in...middle school? Yea, it would have been middle school for sure. 

Rowan Hood by Nancy Springer


Rowan Hood - daughter of Robin that he didn't know because he thought her Mom was a dream - strikes out on her own to find her Dad and starts her own little band while dressed up as a boy. I love, looking back, how her conception was so glossed over. As an adult I'd be like SO HOW DID YOU FORGET HER MAMA, MAN? Well, there's some elven forest-people blood involved or something. lol. 


Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing


Daughters of the Moon trended SO HARD in my HS library. It's no joke. There were like twelve in the series, I think, and if you wanted to read you're way through you better be at the same reading pace as the person before you or you'd be stuck waiting for the next book for a while. I was fast reader. I was pretty much screwed. lol. 




Meg Cabot - sang the song of tween/teens in YA back in the day. I do believe she still has a full grasp but I've been mostly invested in her adult books as of late. As I am an adult. Or like to think I am.... Oh! Notice that I didn't put The Princess Diaries cover up there. TPD were and are obviously her most notorious work. I, however, had a fondness for her paranormal fiction. Liza, sister of mine, loved her Mediator series. I was particularily fond of her 1-800-Where-R-U series. And not just because the main character and I shared the same name...


Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume


Yea, I just can't have a list of books from my schoolhood days and not have a Judy Blume shoutout. So this is me. Shouting out. TIGER EYES WAS MY JUDY BLUME NOVEL. If you've read Blume then you have at least one that's 'yours'. Tiger Eyes is mine. 


Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe


This is hilarious. I got into it because Meg Cabot (I was an avid follower of her blog as a teen) was friendly with the author and did some posts with her or something. Anyway, got the book - died of laughter. And wanted to bedazzle everything. Thankfully I didn't have one - or my wheelchair back then would have had a serious make-over...and probably not as good as I would like to think my bedazzling skills would have provided. lol. 


And that's a wrap! Honorable mention to the Redwall Series by Brian Jacques (with special attention towards Mariel of Redwall, Salamandastron, Triss, and The Long Patrol!) and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

Until next week!

Jess

16 comments :

Rissi August 29, 2016 at 10:00 PM  

I read a TON of those Royal Diary novels and still have them all to this day. As I remember they were really fun reads. And back in the day, my family bought a crazy amount of Nancy Drew novels for my cousin who read them like they were going out of style. :)

Jessica Henry August 29, 2016 at 10:21 PM  

The Royal Diaries were my favorite diary books. I was majorly into that particular nook of children's literature back in the day. lol. You're cousin has excellent taste in books, I can tell. Anyone who loved Nancy Drew possesses a keen sense of awesomeness. ;) Thanks for visiting!

Anonymous August 30, 2016 at 12:32 AM  

I love the Nancy Drew collection. I adored reading it when I was younger! :-) Lovely list.

Anonymous August 30, 2016 at 12:39 AM  

Nancy Drew -- of course someone must have ND on their list. I never read any, of course, being a guy and guys didn't dare read them back when I was in school. My TTT lists some sci-fi cat books to read instead of doing homework.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz August 30, 2016 at 3:40 AM  

I secretly want to be Stargirl. Thanks for your list!

Here's my Top Ten: Ten Books I'd Have Every Elementary Student Read*!

Unknown August 30, 2016 at 6:26 AM  

I read so many Royal Diaries back in the day! I love everything by Cabot, but I still haven't gotten around to her paranormal series. I'll have to check it out! Great list :)

Jessica Henry August 30, 2016 at 7:52 AM  

Nancy Drew for the win! :) Thank you!

Jessica Henry August 30, 2016 at 8:15 AM  

Of course! :) And, it was my Dad who suggested Nancy Drew when I was a kid. He bought me the first two books (back-to-back bound edition) on a road trip. HE never read it. He remembered his sister reading them when they were kids. He read The Hardy Boys. I, however, would never ever read (at that time) a book about BOYS...not when when there was a girl alternative. lol.

Jessica Henry August 30, 2016 at 8:16 AM  

So. Do. I. I think everyone secretly wishes to be Stargirl. She's everyone's spirit animal, guru, and shiny sparkly all rolled in one. ;) Thanks for visiting!

Jessica Henry August 30, 2016 at 8:21 AM  

Oh, her paranormals are awesome. But, I love paranormal so I might be biased. If you want a small taste without the commitment of a series I'd go with Jinx! Or Avalon High. :) Thank you for visiting!

Petra August 30, 2016 at 10:49 AM  

I love Nancy Drew. I still have my collection, and I read them all a few years back. So good. :)
Great list. Thanks for sharing, and for stopping by my TTT earlier. :)

Jessica Henry August 30, 2016 at 11:11 AM  

I borrowed most of them from the library. But, I have a few favorites on my kindle. :) Thanks for visiting too! <3

iloveheartlandX August 31, 2016 at 12:15 PM  

Ah I loved Heartland when I was around 11 or 12 and currently love the TV series!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/top-ten-tuesday-72/

Jessica Henry August 31, 2016 at 6:18 PM  

11 and 12 is the age for the love of horse-themed fiction. lol. Thanks for stopping by! :)

Anonymous September 6, 2016 at 2:03 AM  

I used to read so much Meg Cabot - Thanks for the reminder!

Jessica Henry September 6, 2016 at 7:59 AM  

Glad to be of help! Meg Cabot is vital to a well-balanced literary diet!