I always find myself drawn to old comforts. Whether that be aching for a warm mug of hot cocoa filled to the rim with marshmallows or the smell of the desert after a rainstorm. These old comforts provide a sense of safety and familiarity, drawing me back to childhood. Almost nothing can beat the feeling, apart from finding a new comfort. Such as discovering a new favorite song or finding a new coffee shop that makes an even better vanilla latte than the one in your hometown.
I think old comforts are what keeps us returning to old books. We reach for the books of our childhood hoping to relive that same feeling, a hint of nostalgia hanging on the last page. I recently had a conversation with Marissa in regards to the plot twists we experienced in some of our old favorite series. The most notable being the ending of the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Spoiler alert, none of us saw Tris’ death coming and I’ve never experienced that level of shock since. Perhaps that is a piece of growing up or maybe the stories we read have changed.
But what if we could find books that make us relive those same feelings. Those feelings of wonder, happiness, shock, and so much more could very well be packed away in books we’ve yet to open. I’ve compiled a list of books paired with the books of my childhood. Some reveal the same feelings created in the original pages, some share a new sense of discovery. Without the first, I likely wouldn’t be so drawn to the second. I hope this list helps you relieve some of your childhood wonder as well.
Harry Potter
We could not have made the list without including one of the most popular childhood series to date. Harry Potter was many readers’ introduction to fantasy. With witches and wizards, dragons and goblins, this coming of age story brought many people to love the world of magic.
If you enjoyed Harry Potter, try Patrick Rothfuss’ series The Kingkiller Chronicles. This series centers around a young man, Kvothe, growing to become one of the world’s most notorious wizards. Similar to our beloved childhood favorite, this story also centers around the coming of age of its main character. One unique characteristic is The Name of the Wind, the first book in the trilogy is told through the voice of its main character, aiding in transporting you into the very thoughts of a wizard.
The Fault in our Stars
I was in 8th grade when The Fault in our Stars was first published. I remember reading it and very quickly becoming obsessed with John Green. This story was one of the first “love” stories I thoroughly enjoyed and cried over. While many of John Green’s books bring about the same nostalgic feeling, I find myself looking for those feelings in other writing styles.
Everything, Everything was loaned to me by my mom, although it still lives on my shelf. Nicola Yoon captured the same essence of The Fault in our Stars while telling her own unique story. This story follows a teenage girl with severe food allergies, trapped in her room of safety. One day, a new neighbor moves in and they form a bond through their windows. Of course, they fall in love. But it wouldn’t be the same without the twists and turns throughout.
Divergent
This is the story that sparked this whole idea in the first place, Divergent. My life was shaken when I finished this series. Veronica Roth was the first author I read to write off the main character of a book. That shock and heartbreak has never been matched in another novel.
While plot twist is not quite rivaled, the riveting tale of Seeker does match up in a few areas. Arwen Elys Dayton writes about a teenager, Quin, whose birthright assigns her to the role of protector. She spent her whole life training her special abilities to serve this prestigious role. However, Quin goes on a journey of discovering things are a lot different beneath the surface and her job is not what she thought it was.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
This next series was the first series I ever read. A Series of Unfortunate Events is humorous and dark. Written under the pen name Lemony Snicket, this story tells the tragedy that is the Baudelaire orphans. Through each book, the reader follows the bad luck and misery that makes up the lives of some of the fictional worlds most kindhearted characters.
Recently I discovered Daniel Handler’s (Lemony Snicket) adult collection of novels. These books have the same dark yet humorous tales while focusing on more adult themes. The Basic Eight tells the story of a murderous high school girl. A comedy like the beloved children’s series, is well loved by Handler’s adult fans as well.
Judy Blume
Judy Blume wrote some of my favorite chapter books. When I was in elementary school, my mom introduced me to Freckle Juice and Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret. I fell in love with the simplicity of the books. Stories about kids facing real life challenges and growing up.
Thinking back, this may have been my first introduction to realist fiction. It may be the reason why I like Fredrik Backman so much. I know you see me talk about Backman all the time, but he’s my favorite author so don’t expect a change anytime soon. His books follow a similar feel to Judy Blumes. With simple plot lines but complex characters, these realistic fiction novels are hard to beat.
Coraline
We had to include a child’s first introduction to horror in this list. Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a children’s horror book, turned Claymation movie, about a young girl in her new house. Once situated in her new house, she discovers a locked door. Once opened, another family invites her in. While things may seem great she soon realizes her ordinary life isn’t such a bad thing.
If the creepiness of Coraline intrigued you as a child, try Stephen King’s, The Shining. Jack Torrance arrives at the Overlook Hotel expecting a fresh start. However as the seasons change, the sinister secrets begin to reveal themselves and the Torrance family’s life is at stake.
How’d we do?
What childhood books did you like? That nostalgia is hard to beat. I hope some of these books bring you some of that childhood wonder back. Are there any other childhood books you’d like recommendations on? Drop them in the comments and we’ll get back to you.
And as always, happy reading!