10.12.2010

Your MG Lost Heroes

Surprise, a post for me early in the week! What's the occasion? Well, today is the release day of Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero, the first book in his 2nd Camp Half-Blood series. You may have heard of the first series; it went by Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The second series is called The Heroes of Olympus.

I am SO EXCITED to read this book. I'm going to drop everything else I'm reading for this. No, seriously.

But my sister has called dibs. She sort of loves Percy Jackson, and who am I to come between a love like that? The only other book she was this excited for this year was Mockingjay.

Anyway, this got me thinking about the MG books I read when I was actually, you know, in the age-range of the target audience.

I'm putting in a disclaimer now that I did not read a lot of fiction before 5th grade. I was, however, very into Greek mythology. I read every Greek mythology book I could get my hands on at my local and school libraries until I ran out of books and had to move on to other mythologies. So I would have absolutely loved to have had the Percy Jackson books back then. Don't get me wrong. I do very much like the books now, but if I had read them as a 6th grader, I would've thought they were the best thing since sliced bread or peanut butter on bread sprinkled with sugar and toasted. (Try it! It's good!)

Back in my elementary school days, I loved reading The Boxcar Children series, enough that I collected the books. I still have a bunch I haven't read because I outgrew them before I could get through them. Then there was The Black Stallion series because I went through a horse phase, and who doesn't like a good boy-and-his-horse type survival-adventure story? Hmm, that's probably why I read The Horse and His Boy like second when I tried the Chronicles of Narnia.


Julie of the Wolves is a book that has stayed with me over the years, as well as Island of the Blue Dolphins - the first full-length novel I ever read by myself.

The Bailey School Kids series appealed to my mythology/folklore/supernatural-loving heart, and seriously, who could resist such intriguing titles as Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots or Angels Don't know Karate? How about Monsters Don't Scuba Dive?

Now, I love love love the contemporary MG series about a certain boy wizard named Harry Potter and the movie counterparts, but back in the day, I was THRILLED when they announced an Indian in the Cupboard movie beause those books were so freaking awesome. What kid doesn't dream that their toys will come alive?

So, now it's your turn. What MG books did you love when you were a middle grader? What MG books do you love now?


I'm off to start a new adventure at Camp Half Blood!

P.S. Be sure to check out Tahereh's newest EPIC contest at her blog: FREEEE MONEY. Yeah, you read that right. Use it to buy some new (or old favorite) MG books!

12 comments:

Bast said...

I'm also really excited for this book. I would have bought it already, but I'm right in the middle of another book. I wish I had held off on reading that one.

Sherrie Petersen said...

It's been a long time since I was in middle school, but I remember going through a phase of reading everything by Judy Blume, Paula Danziger and Beverly Cleary. Jacob Have I Loved, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Till we Have Faces by C.S. Lewis I loved with a passion in 7th grade.

Sherrie Petersen said...

BTW, my son and I are eager to read this new series, too. We loved all the Percy Jackson books, though the Red Pyramid wasn't as impressive.

Tere Kirkland said...

Read a sample of this a while back and I was hooked! Loved Percy Jackson more than I anticipated, so I'll be sure to read this soon, thanks for the reminder!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I'm very excited about this book, too! Even better, though, is that today is the release day for THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner. Yay!!!

Riff Remember by Lynn Hall was my favorite childhood MG book. Now, I love the Fablehaven series, Ranger's Apprentice series, Inkheart trilogy, and anything James Dashner.

Anonymous said...

I have to admit I haven't read a lot of MG books, but I do love Harry Potter -- and absolutely adored The Three Investigators series when I was younger (although that might be in the YA category).

Emy Shin (my new blog)

ali cross said...

Exciting! We have a preordered copy waiting for us at the bookstore. Woot! And Riordan's coming to town next week--I want to take my one son because he's a huge fan, but oh man. The signing's being held in a tiny Indie store and I'm afraid it's going to be so packed I won't even be able to breathe, lol!

As for me and my MG loves? I loved Ray Bradbury, Anne McCaffrey, and Lloyd Alexander. So yeah. No wonder I love to write fantasy and sci fi with my little reader-self reading all these heavy FANTASY and SCI FI books, eh? :D

Ishta Mercurio said...

The Percy Jackson books were good, so this is one to look forward to.

My MG loves from childhood were everything by Roald Dahl (although my favorite was GEORGE'S MARVELOUS MEDICINE), THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD, TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING and its companion SUPERFUDGE, ESP McGHEE, NANCY DREW... I read a lot. *grin*

Elana Johnson said...

Oh, I saw this last night at the book store. And Rick is doing a signing there on Monday. I can't go, but I should've gotten this book!

Lydia Kang said...

I also loved the Black Stallion. I read that book a million times! I also loved the Lloyd Alexander books, A Wrinkle in Time, and Misty of Chincoteague. There are others but I'm drawing a blank now!

Krispy said...

Quinn- Totally understand. It sucks to stop in the middle of another book.

Sherrie- My sister LOVED Percy Jackson, but she couldn't get into the Red Pyramid. Said it wasn't as good. Yay Percy love though! :D

Tere- Same here! Didn't think I'd like PJ so much (especially since the earlier books were written younger), but I did!

Shannon-LOL! Happy release day! I'll have to check out this Dashner fellow.

Emy (like the new name!)- I didn't read much YA until...now. Haha. Doesn't need to be said but Harry Potter rocks.

Krispy said...

Ali- Riordan's in town for me next week too! Excited! I LOVE Bradbury. He's like my literary hero. And Dragonsong is one of my favorite dragon books. :D

Ishta- I need to read more Roald Dahl! Yay more Indian in the Cupboard fans!

Elana- Haha, my sister HAD TO get it. So much so, she convinced a friend to take her to Borders before class.

Lydia- OMG, someone else who loved the Black Stallion as much as I do?! I was OBSESSED with the series for like all of elementary school. Haha. I also read the Misty books, oh and King of the Wind!