Reminiscing Childhood Reads

As a kid my summers involved reading books, frolicking with cousins, watching M.A.D on Pogo or Finger Tips on TinyTV, and of course, beach evenings! The books that I read as a child influenced my personality to a great extent. They teleported me to exciting worlds. The characters became my friends and, together we solved many mysteries. 
The lazy summer afternoons spent with fictional characters bring back so many fond memories. Maybe it is time to take a short trip down the memory lane! Here is an account of my favorites, off the top of my head.

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Undoubtedly, the Harry Potter series remains the most loved one. I was the same age as Harry Potter when I first started reading the books. Along with several magic spells and potions, the wizarding world taught me great values of friendship. A few lines cannot do justice to this great piece of literature. A dedicated post on HP coming soon!

Mystery Series: The Five Find-Outers - Enid Blyton

The gang consists of Larry, Fatty, Daisy, Pip, Bets (all aged between 8-13 yrs), and Fatty's pet, Buster. They stumble upon mysteries in their small town during summer vacations and outwit the local police force in solving them. Enid Blyton's engrossing writing compelled me to read all 15 books in this series. It is not surprising that to this date, they remain popular among kids.

Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene 

Absolute girl power! One of those books that portrayed a bold, female protagonist. Nancy Drew is a high school graduate and detective who solves cases with her best friends. Her dad is an attorney and she at times picks his cases too. I was awed by Nancy's character as a kid. The series portrays her as a high spirited, super talented girl who is nothing short of a prodigy. The revised versions of the book updated the character to match the present times. Although I never solved thrilling crimes, on several occasions, I recollect trying to imitate Nancy in real life. *sheepish grin*.

The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank 

A 14-year-old girl's diary, written during the Nazi period is one of its kind. A part of my journaling journey was inspired by this book. Anne addressed all her entries to "Kitty", giving life to her black journal. The book captures Anne's days in the secret annex with her family. Despite the hardships of living in a confined space with the constant fear of being exposed to the Gestapo, Anne wrote with positivity and humor on many occasions. It isn't one of the binge-worthy books but it sure left its mark on me.

Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon

Frank and Joe Hardy cannot be easily forgotten. The action-packed cases that the daring brothers solved together made them world-famous. I liked the later versions that were titled "Undercover Brothers" a lot more as the characters were revamped to match the present times. Dressed in style, they were a part of American Teens Against Crime, solving serious cases that sometimes involved murder or violence too.

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

The first classic I ever read. The book describes transformation through the eyes of a 10-year-old girl named Mary. The plot includes compassion, friendship, mystery, and transformation, all interwoven in a picturesque way. As winter fades away to spring and summer, the secret locked away garden rejuvenates and the lives of all the characters change with it. This specific book appeals to both kids and adults alike.

When friends/family seek book recommendations for children, all the above top my list. As a teen, I could relate easily to books with protagonists of my age group. I think it is key to a memorable reading experience.

Looking back at my list, I am genuinely surprised that I did not pursue private detective as a career option. These were a few of the many books that defined my childhood. What were yours?

Happy Reading! 😁