I mentioned THE BOXCAR CHILDREN in another thread and that got me thinking about children/young adult books you had to read back in school. Anyone got any favs?
One that we had to read, that I never hear anyone else mention is THE PINBALLS, by Betsy Byars. I need to try and find a copy and reread it and see if it stands up, but I remember really liking it as a kid... anyone else remember it?
another one, despite it religious overtones, is THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGENT EVER, by Barbera Robinson... we didn't have to read this one in school... it's a little to Christian I think, but I've picked ip up a couple times over the years and I admit it gets a tear out of me in the end...
Children books I liked
The Eleventh Hour, Sign of the Seahorse and Animalia by Graeme Base, all are amazingly illustrated!
Dr Susses books are all awesome
Enid Blythe books especially the Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair novels
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
By Jon Scieszka
Young adults I liked
Tomorrow when the war began series by John Marsden
The Belgariad and Malloreon by David Eddings
The Hobbit by J R R Tolkin
Anything Roald Dalh
There were so many others, spent my children in front of a screen or with my nose in a book, but that's big highlights
------- I don't know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve
I really don't think Tolkien, Eddings, or Barker count as Young Adult.
Young Adult
R. L. Stine - Fear Street
L. J. Smith - Night World, The Vampire Diaries
Everything Christopher Pike that was young adult.
Diane Hoh - Nightmare Hall and any I read. I can't remember all the names.
Caroline B. Cooney - Everyone I read
Sweet Valley High
Childrens
R. L. Stine - Goosebumps
M. D. Spencer - Shivers
Sweet Valley Kids
Fairytales
My dad used to read my Cinderella from the 1978 Franklin Library Brothers Grimm book. Which would be the version where the sisters cut off their heel/toe and had their eyes pecked out by the birds.
The Wild Swans
The White Cat
I am Barbariana O'Brian. Princess of royal blood. Now grovel before me and kiss asphalt.
Scary stories to tall in the dark, by Alvin Schwartz :3 It's a collection of scary stories to read by yourself or with others. I used to read the stories on rainy days with the lights off with my friends
All the books from the Point Horror series, the Horrorscopes series, Gemini was my favourite out of those, and I'd actually probably still enjoy it as an adult. I also loved the series Scared to Death by Ted Pickford.
Oh, and the Sweet Valley Twins books.
"...and she would fall, because she forgot her wings again, and gravity never forgets."
Some good children's books were the Warriors series by Erin Hunter and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (if you consider those children's books). And as for YA, I liked the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer, the Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga, and Shine by Lauren Myracle.
The most memorable books I loved as a child were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Holes, Nancy Drew series, Magic Tree House books, and of course, Harry Potter series.
No Time for the Ole in out love i just came to check the meter!
R.L. Stein a total legend! and Cassandra Clare the mortal instruments and infernal devices. and don't forget Lauren Kate with the Fallen series... to die for!
I'm surprised the "Chronicles of Narnia" or Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" have yet to be mentioned.
I've never felt as involved in a book as I did when I was reading "Northern Lights" for the first time. While some of the themes in the book are a little advanced for children, it's a fantastic display of the rewards of both independence and friendship. Plus, kidnapping, armored polar bears and epic adventures to the Arctic all round.
The "Chronicles of Narnia" are often derided for C.S. Lewis' flagrant approach to Christianity in his writing, but I don't think anyone can say "The Horse and his Boy" isn't a beautiful book.
Young Adult: The Tripods series by John Christopher. A sci-fi series where Earth is conquered and when children reach 14 years of age, they are implanted with controlling caps to serve the alien overlords.
young adult book ?
Amy plum - Die for me and well the other books of the series, amazing books, have made me cry and it takes a lot for a book to make me cry
He is in a constant state of stage fright, he says, because he never knows what part of his life he is going to have to act in next"
~Slaughterhouse-Five
Her way of telling stories was quite light hearted and kinda quirky and it was awesome 
