As you know, we love books over here at Modern Kiddo. We write about them a lot—both vintage and new. Both Alix and I believe that reading to children is one of the most fundamentally awesome things you can do. Often in our quest for immortal retro goodness, we also come across Young Adult books we loved back in the day.
For example, over the summer I came across a sweet vintage copy of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, by the one and only Judy Blume. I remember exactly where I was when I read it and how I talked to my friends about the book and how I totally related to it. Basically, I LOVED THAT BOOK.
But I haven’t picked it up since I returned it to the library in 1984.
I wondered…. would I love that book as much now as I did then?
Back at MK headquarters, I chatted about this with Alix and we both giggled as we remembered that book. All of a sudden we started spouting off all these other grand books we adored as tweens and teenage years but hadn’t picked up in ages. Like Island of the Blue Dolphins
Suddenly we were both hit by the idea—let’s chat about it! All together! Let’s call it a book club. In fact, we’ll call it the Modern Kiddo Little Book Report Club! We’ll pick a book from our childhood that we haven’t read in ages, assign it at the beginning of the month and then we can all talk about it on the blog. And maybe,  just maybe… we’ll even do a fun little podcast chatting about it.
Our first book will be the one that started it all: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
So get ready. Download it to your Kindle, head to the local library, or grab a copy from the bookshelf in your old room at your parent’s house. Just find it and let’s all get reading!
Are you ready? Â Who’s with us?? And start thinking about some of your other faves…we’ll be taking suggestions!
PSÂ Vintage fever has taken the world by storm! Our girl Pilgrim tipped us to the Retro Readers Book Club, hosted by the adorable Pip at Meet Me at Mikes. They’re reading James and the Giant Peach, so you can get a double dose of your old favorites!
I LOVE THIS IDEA. Absolutely, positively so into this I can’t even start expressing my excitement. YA novels are my VERY favorites! (And The Phantom Toolbooth TOTALLY holds up in the most brilliant way, I can attest.)
My suggestions: Down a Dark Hallway; The Girl With the Silver Eyes; Introducing Sally J. Freedman As Herself; Then Again, Maybe I Won’t; The Boxcar Children…
Does To Kill a Mockingbird count, or do we all just agree that’s the most perfect novel ever written and move on?
Actually, I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird in three book clubs and truly, it just continues to be amazing every time.
I am so glad you are in!
Yes. Mockingbird is in a league of it’s own……plus I think we’re thinking slightly younger YA. Like, more tween than teen!
I’m dying to read The Girl with the Silver Eyes.
Did you ever read Hunger Games yet?
I’m ever so much IN.
hurrray!!
we must we must increase our bust ! lol Gretchen and her rag ! I learned so very much from this book !
hahaha, totally….and I remember the SCANDALE of “Forever”!!!
Love this idea!!! Count me in!
fabulous!
I only read “Island of the Blue Dolphin” about one trillion times – loved that book!
Me too…..but i haven’t read it in YEARS!
I loved this book, but I really WAS Sally J. Freedman. So I will be looking forward to that one as well. But I think my very favorite book as a YA was The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel).
Ahhhhhh!!!! I totally forgot about that book!!!! The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel)….WOW!!
I AM SO IN.
I love all of these…..also one of my all time faves was From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler…..and The Secret Garden….and The Little Princess….and Mandy…..and I just re-read “I was a 98-pound Duckling” when I went back home….also loved The Chronicles of Prydain books…and…..and…..
And The Westing Game!!!
The Westing Game? I’m intrigued! But I did read Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children. Spooky!
I LOVED Miss peregrine’s! And The Westing game… It’s up there with “From The Mixed Up Files.” Oh my gosh you guys, I am so excited! And I am dying over “I Was a 98 Pound Duckling” — I’d forgotten about that one! I totally associate it with the sequel to Harriet The Spy “The Long Secret”… And MANDY. Ohhh…
One thing about “Margaret” — they’ve changed it so there are no more BELTS! 😉
Oh, but the “belt” was even archaic when I started reading it! But that was kinda part of the fun for me. Sigh!
OMG i forgot about The Westing Game….it’s just a hazy memory. I def need to read that one again.
Oh, I love this idea. I’m IN-IN-IN. A couple of suggestions: Deenie, the Ramona Books, Harriet the Spy, and The Great Gilly Hopkins.
I’m in too!
Loved The Westing Game
Loved Island of the Blue Dolphins
Anyone read The Giver by Lois Lowry- kind of a YA version of 1984- GREAT book
Love this post!!
Yay! You’ll have to play along with us!
I am sooooo in!!! YA is sorta my fave genre(not sure what that sez’ about me) though not exactly tween.
How ’bout “The Diary of Anne Frank”? or Jerry Spinelli’s “Star Girl”?
Definitely not tween…but this summer while waiting for my 15 YO at play rehearsal I re-read EVERY SINGLE….. Francesca Lia Block book (plus the new ones!) We could do a whole section on her books. Did you know she has a blog? She writes unedited short stories and poetry on it…..so darn cool!
Lisa-G.
Okay ladies, I am officially freaking out!!! Do you have any idea how much I love Judy Blume? I own every one of her books and have hung on to them since my childhood to pass on to Luna…..well-thumbed copies I have read probably at least a hundred times each. Just As Long As We’re Together, Blubber, Iggie’s House, Deenie, Tiger Eyes, all the Fudge series, etc etc etc…..man, I think it’s time to dig them out and read them all over AGAIN!
My aunt passed on to me her copy of Summer Sisters (one of Judy Blume’s “grown-up” books) which is super readable and totally brings me back .
eep! Enough gushing, I probably sound like a crazy 13 year old……
xo amanda
p.s thanks for making my day (actually, probably my whole month 🙂