Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2013-December 2014 would NOT be old).
I was inspired by one of the Top Ten Tuesday posts to write about my own "gateway" books. I guess I'll split it up into a few books that a) got me into reading b) got me into YA and c) led to me reading other books of its genre (if that makes any sense). So without further ado, here are some of my gateway books! (These are not in order, and I obviously haven't included everything, but this is just a sampling.)
Inspired My Love for Books/Reading:
1) Make Way for Ducklings
2) The Babysitter's Club
3) Harry Potter
4) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
5) Inkheart and Cornelia Funke's other books
6) Doctor Seuss' books
7) Eric Carle's books
8) Judy Blumes' books
9) Beverley Cleary's books
Got Me Into MG/YA:
1) Sarah Dessen's books, namely Lock and Key
2) Harry Potter
3) Inkheart and other Cornelia Funke books
4) Percy Jackson and the Olympians
5) The Mysterious Benedict Society
6) Chasing Vermeer
7) The Princess Academy
8) Midnight Rider
9) Judy Blumes' books
10) Jude Watson's Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series
Books That Led Me to Others in Its Genre
1) Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen-->YA Contemporary
2) Midnight Rider by Joan Hiatt Harlow (and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne)-->Historical Fiction
3) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (and Eragon by Christopher Paolini)-->Fantasy
4) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer-->YA Paranormal (I'm not a huge fan of the genre anymore, but this initially led to it)
5) Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan-->Mythology
6) The Wanderer by Sharon Creech-->Multiple POV books
7) Nancy Drew, Shakespeare's Secret, and Chasing Vermeer-->Mystery
8) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins-->Dystopian (as much as I didn't like the books)
I see Harry Potter all over this list. ;) Hehe...I have just started reading it (up to book #5 now!) and I'm totally hooked and I wish I'd read it growing up. There's way too much awesome there. x) I also wish I'd read more Percy Jackson!! I've only read one and I while I loved it, I don't really think I'm a huge fan. I WANT TO READ MORE.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yes! ;) Woot! Better late than never, right? But yes, all the awesome :P
DeleteI think I'm a bigger fan because it led to many of the friendships I have today (including one of my best friends), but yeah. No series would ever beat Harry Potter for me. If you can, I'd recommend it!