December posting meme #3

[elvenjaneite]

 ilip13 asked: What are some books that have stayed with you? Why?

 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: A part of me is always unflyable, stuck in the climb. I actually was a hipster E. Wein fan, but CNV hit me harder than anything since my first read of A Tale of Two Cities at age 13. The way the story unfurls, the narrative structure, and above all the characters are just amazing. 

 

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery: The Blue Castle is a delightful zinger of a book that definitely rewards rereading as an adult! I first read it as a teenager and it quietly made me aware of a certain kind of longing for freedom. As a bonus: rereading The Blue Castle together was the impetus for the formation of my beloved librarian book club! <3 

 

All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor: This is the first book I remember reading about characters whose cultural background was very different from mine. I loved the everyday details of the sisters’ lives (the library! The button game! The broken cookies!) and the warmth and affection that shine out from the story. 

Comments

[jo_lasalle]

I don't read a lot of YA, but Code Name Verity also left a lasting impression on me. The structure and the reveals were so clever. (And "what to do for your fingers if you're lost at sea" has carved a very deep groove in my brain...)

[elvenjaneite]

Very fair!