I hunger for adventure, maybe that's why I love middle grade fiction so much. For middle graders anything is possible. One of my favorite adventures as a child was Treasure Island and I just handed it to my daughter this week. She's an adventure girl as well. She's excited to start and that makes me smile. My once reluctant reader is reading Treasure Island.
Treasure Island by Robert L Stevenson
First published in 1881
The Hook: Jim Hawkins, a young teenager, finds himself on a ship overrun by mutinous pirates who go in search of treasure.
Why I love it: Characters and Adventure. This is the classic pirate story and who doesn't love Jim or Long John Silver? This peg-legged man haunted my dreams as a kid. While this story is great for boys it is not for reluctant readers. It takes a while before the ship sets sea and mutiny ensues.
What classic story did you love as a kid?
Treasure Island was never my cup of tea (I'm sure I read it, but I don't remember much about it). You make it sound exciting, though!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Secret Garden as a kid (still do!).
I didn't read this until LAST YEAR! My kids and I read it together. I agree, it's certainly not for reluctant readers--the language requires patience and concentration.
ReplyDeleteA classic I enjoyed growing up was WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. I reread it a few years ago and love it even more now.
I teach this one every year--the kids love it! I never read it as a kid, and I think classics are SO important. :)
ReplyDeleteI never read it either. That's awesome your daughter wants to read it.
ReplyDeleteRead and loved TREASURE ISLAND a couple of years ago. My favorite in childhood was E. Nesbit's THE RAILWAY CHILDREN (but that could have been because I had an elementary school crush on Jenny Agutter, who played Roberta in the movie.)
ReplyDeleteI have this book at home, but I never read it. Now you're making me want to read it! I used to read Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid. I was shocked when I found out, much later, that Carolyn Keene was not an actual author but just a pseudonym for several ghostwriters.
ReplyDeleteI loved this one. Thanks for reminding me. :o)
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the few classics I swear by. I read the book and watched the cartoon series when I was somewhere between a kid and a teen. Good memories :)
ReplyDeleteI was into dogs, Lassie on television, Sounder and Old Yeller in print. I didn't read R.L. Stevenson until adulthood. My own writing experience has pushed me back to reading middle grade again.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid we had this on audio (probably vinyl, yes I'm that old.) I can still hear their voices in my head. Great story!
ReplyDeleteI haven't handed this to any reluctant readers, but I do get a few students every year who will pick it up. I loved Anne of Green Gables, and that's another one that's a hard sell these days.
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