Top 100: 41-50

And the countdown goes on:

50. The Borrows by Mary Norton
Another oldie, but, hey, classics are classics because they are good and stand the test of time. At least most of the time. There are those horrible classics that you had to read for school that you always wonder why someone even published them (i.e. The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, No self-flagellation and visions of Hell for me thank you very much).

So back to The Borrowers by Mary Norton. I do not remember a book capturing my imagination the way the story of Pod, Homily, and Arietty did.  I went so far as to creating little furniture out of matchboxes, thimbles, etc. and putting them in a shoebox. It was actually my love of the cartoon Here Come the Littles that made me first want to read The Borrowers.


Incidentally the cartoon was based on a series of books written in the 6os and 70s by American author, James Peterson. The Littles books were inspired by English author, Mary Norton, who published The Borrowers in 1952, The Borrowers Afield in 1955, The Borrowers Afloat in 1959, The Borrowers Aloft in 1961, and, finally, The Borrowers Avenged in 1982. If you are interested in reading The Borrowers series it was just re-released in paperback and I ordered it for ourlibrary. We also have many of The Littles books, which are much shorter and simpler chapter books.

The Borrowers has been adapted into several film versions, both live action and animated. I haven't watched any of them (I usually avoid movies based on books that I like) so if you particularly enjoyed a version let me know.

49. Stuart Little by E.B. White

From a mute swan who plays the trumpet to a sweet and sensitive mouse born to a human family.  As I mentioned in my previous post, part of White's genius is the way he creates such a believable cast of human and animal creatures. In Stuart Little it never seems strange that this New York couple's second son is a mouse, the reader just goes along for the adventure.

Stuart Little also has a great message for all of us overprotective parents who want to encase our children in bubble wrap. Mr. and Mrs. Little love their mouse son and only want him to be safe, but they don't allow him to experience anything for himself. Granted the situation is slightly different since most of us do not have to worry about the family cat eating our child.

The movie version of Stuart Little is pretty darn cute. Not only does Michael J. Fox perform the voice of Stuart, Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie (pre-House) play his parents. To blow the top off of the cuteness meter, the movie has Jonathan Lipnicki, the Jerry Maguire kid.


48. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

I really wish that this book had a different title, because "Princess Academy" sounds so prissy and girly and this book is anything but those things. As with all of Hale's books, Princess Academy features a strong female lead and explores the themes of feminism, prejudice, and gender roles.

When the priests of Danland determine that the crown prince's future bride must come from isolated Mount Eskel, the princess academy is established. The academy is meant to educate the girls so that they may be suitable potential brides, but the impact of the school is much more profound. I love how Miri uses her  brain to dramatically improve the lives of everyone in her village.





47. Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

"All children, except one, grow up." Whether or not you have read the original book by J.M. Barrie you are more than likely familiar with the story of Peter, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and Tinkerbell. After all, there have been how many movies about Peter Pan? Not to mention, that there have been continuous performances of the play or variations of it since it first premiered in 1904.

 Speaking of the play, specifically the Broadway musical, I first read the book Peter Pan after my family saw it performed at DeVos Hall. Peter was played by former gymnast, Kathy Rigby, and I remember thinking how cool it was when she flew out over the audience. I must admit that I still think it is strange that the character of Peter is always played by an adult woman. I understand that an adult has a bigger voice for the songs and an adult woman is going to look and sound more like a boy than an adult man, but it is still a little creepy.

Barrie is such a magical storyteller; reading the book just makes you feel like you are covered in pixie dust and flying above London. I always imagined myself as Tigerlily, but if I were Wendy I would have stayed in Neverland.


46. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

I am a Michigan girl so, of course, Bud, Not Buddy is on my top 100 list. All joking aside (even though I am very proud to claim that Christopher Paul Curtis is from my home state) Bud, Not Buddy is a truly exceptional book about one boys quest across Michigan to find his father during the Great Depression. An orphan during the Depression may sound, well, depressing but Bud , Not Buddy is a heart-warming, sincere, and funny book.

Bud, Not Buddy has been adapted into a very successful stage play, that  I would love to see one day.  I think that the story would translate magnificently to the stage, since Bud's father is a musician. Whenever music plays a significant role in a book it always adds to the story to be able to listen to it being performed.











45. Homecoming by Cynthia Voight

Once upon a time I was a bratty, self-centered, know-it-all tween and Homecoming was the book that made me realize how blessed and just plain lucky I was.

Life with their unstable, mentally ill mother has never been easy for Dicey Tillerman and her three younger siblings. Nothing could prepare them, though, for being abandoned in a shopping center parking lot. Fear of foster care and being separated from one another prompts Dicey to lead her siblings on a trek from Connecticut to Maine in search of an unknown relative.

As someone who was raised in a safe and secure home by two loving parents, it was difficult for me to even imagine the fortitude Dicey needed to keep her siblings together and moving. Forget Hermione Granger, Jo March, or Lizzie Bennet; Dicey Tillerman is a true literary heroine.



44. Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Lisa Shurtliff

Twisted fairy tales seem to be a current, popular trend in children's chapter books. Most of these, however, seem to be geared more towards girls and feature princesses, fairies, etc. For example: The Everafter High series by Shannon Hale; the Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski; or the Tales of the Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker.

 

 These are all great books and series, but what I love about Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin is that it is NOT about a princess. Who knew that Rumpelstiltskin wasn't some evil baby-stealing troll, but just a young boy cursed by magic and searching for his true destiny. Rump is clever and unique and pee-your-pants hilarious. Love, love, love, loved it!! What more can I say!





43. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

I know that the title makes it sound like a horror novel, but Hatchet is the captivating survival story of a boy alone in the Canadian wilderness.

Hatchet is a book that even the most reluctant boy readers love. It is almost like magic. A mom or dad will come in with their son who "hates reading" and after they read Hatchet they cannot wait to read Paulsen's other books. Paulsen just seems to be the tween/teen boy whisperer.

Don't think that girls cannot enjoy Hatchet, though, because I am a girl and I loved it. Hatchet is a simple yet extremely powerful and gutsy story.




 
42. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

If you have only watched the movie Hugo, then I insist that you go to a library or bookstore immediately to get a copy of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. There is no possible way for a film to capture how stunningly beautiful this book is. It is simply not the same story unless it is accompanied by Selznick's mesmerizing illustrations. I know some people think that it is just the pictures that make The Invention of Hugo Cabret a wonderful book. After all, it won the Caldecott not the Newbery.  I think that the text and illustrations work perfectly in tandem, though, to create a story that is pure magic.

41. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Aagghhhhhh! Why do there have to be so many gut-wrenching books about animals? Why do they have to be so good, but completely horrible at the same time. I promise that this is the last "dog" book on my list, but Where the Red Fern Grows is no doubt the best one (even though I sobbed buckets).

Billy is just so sweet and he is totally devoted to his coonhounds, Little Ann and Ol' Dan. They in turn are completely devoted to their young master as well as each other. 

Ok, I am tearing up just thinking about this book so I am happy to finish off this post. I will go grab a box of tissues now.