My Favorite Books

As a writer, part of learning how to write is obviously reading good books. As a young die-hard bookworm, I enjoyed many books, regardless of whether they were good or not. From reading and studying the styles of many different authors, I got an idea of what I liked in books, and that helped me learn how to write a book that other people would like to read. Today I thought it would be fun to look back and list some of the books I considered my favorite at one point or another in my life (again, regardless of whether they were good or not), and share that list with y'all. Most of the books on my list are series, but each author on the list had a part to play in influencing my own writing style (hopefully in a good way). :)

The Pony Pals series by Jeanne Betancourt

Okay, so I wrote my first chapter book when I was nine in a notebook that my aunt gave me with a fuzzy tiger-print cover. I would stay awake at night and write a section or so after I was put to bed, and the writing style and story line heavily echoed the Pony Pals books. I was addicted to this series because 1.) I was a crazy horse lover even then, and 2.) I have always been an organizer. Jeanne Betancourt's writing style totally catered to AND developed the methodical planner and organizer in me. Plans of action were dialogued extensively between the characters, illustrations were used to diagram, and there was a lot of fun outdoorsy stuff that happened that I learned fun facts from. The books were definitely written for younger kids (I must have been between 8 and 10 when I was obsessed with them), and if I were to read the books now not taking into account my fond nostalgia of them, they would probably drive me nuts because the plot moves along slowly and some of the conversation scenes can be both corny and boring. However, at one point in my development they were my inspiration.

The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I recall going to our public library when I was 11 and going to the same section every time; I just wanted to get a new Pony Pals or Boxcar Children book. I loved the Boxcar Children books for the same reasons I liked the Pony Pals books, but more specifically because they were mysteries. I thought the mysteries were not only engaging and exciting, but I actually learned some cool stuff from some of the books. It was heartwarming to read about the four siblings and their grandfather working together. (Not to mention the characters seemed totally real! I am 100% Jessie!) Honestly, books that center around kids solving mysteries independently yet without being in rebellion against or going totally without adult authorities seem to be few and far between. If I were to read When I read the Boxcar Children today, I still enjoy them.

The Horsefeathers Series by Dandi Daley Mackall
(Have you noticed a common theme yet with me and horse books?)
The Horsefeathers books were probably the first Christian fiction books I ever read. I read them for the first time when I was around 11 (I've read them countless times since,) and they totally changed the way I saw books. For the first time, I recognized the power of a story to impart life-changing spiritual truth. The books are about Scoop, a teenage horse gentler with a broken family and her horse, Orphan. Her life is tough, but she has good friends and her Aunt Dotty who always points her to God and teaches her what is most important in life. These books had well-developed and creative characters, awesome plots and story-lines, touching themes, and awesome settings. The spiritual lessons that Scoop learned impacted my life greatly, and I totally obsessed over the teenage horse gentler thing, and ate up all the cool facts I learned about horse care and training!

Winnie the Horse Gentler Series By Dandi Daley Mackall
The Winnie books seem like they were written for slightly younger ages than the Horsefeather books, but I read them when I was older because I didn't discover them until then. It was so funny, because comparing the Horsefeather series and the Winnie series, they both have so many similarities with characters and settings, but they are both so different at the same time! I love Dandi Daley Mackall's writing style, and I think her writing style probably influenced mine the most. The fact that she wrote about horses was just a HUGE bonus. :) Fun fact: The Winnie books were what indirectly inspired me to write "My Father's Princess." I was at a friends' house and we were just getting to know her, so I asked if she liked to read and mentioned the Winnie books. That opened up the floodgates, she introduced me to Dandi Daley Mackall's "Starlight Animal Rescue" series (which is connected to the Winnie series), and my friend, sister and I were inspired to start our own series called "The Outsiders." We planned to each write books for the series that told connected stories about troubled kids who find Jesus. That is how I started writing "My Father's Princess." :)

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
My all-time favorite book, EVER!! (And may I just say, it is impressive if I can ever pick anything that stays my favorite. But this book beats all the other books I've ever read by far!) I read it for the first time when I was ten in my homeschool co-op's literature class with my favorite teacher, and I have read it all the way through at least five times since. (That's not counting the countless times I've picked it up and just jumped around, reading a chapter or two here and there for therapeutic value.) The first time I read it the first chapter seemed a little slow, but after that I devoured it all. Historical fiction is my all time favorite genre, and if it's biblical fiction that gets bonus points. A story that is engaging, thrilling, and exciting, characters that are real and relatable, a good solid lesson that can impact my life, and some heartwarming elements thrown in there for a good measure makes a good book for me. The Bronze Bow fits the bill and goes over, above, and beyond by a universe! A lot of things can make me want to cry, but most of the time I control it and don't actually cry because 1.) the feeling passes too quickly to justify putting the book down to wipe my eyes, and 2.) I'm too self-conscious to cry in front of others (namely all the little siblings that I ironically tune out whenever I'm reading.) The ending of The Bronze Bow, however, has made me cry unashamedly all five times that I've read it through. A must-read for anyone and everyone!!!

Millie Keith: A Life of Faith series
So, I attempted reading the first Elsie Dinsmore book when I was 10 or 11 because my friends at the time kept recommending it, but I absolutely could not get through it. There were many reasons that book just didn't work for me, including 1.) Elsie was too perfect to be relatable at all, 2.) I could not handle the gross injustice that Elsie experienced and just put up with. As the indignant child that I was, I wanted her to get revenge on her tormentors! Okay, maybe not revenge, but at least just fair play for Pete's sake! 3.) She spent way too much time crying and bemoaning how "wicked" she was, when she was a perfect little angel. 4.) I got to the chapter where a rattlesnake was mentioned and that sealed the deal right there. I put that book down and never picked it up again. However, when I was maybe 14 and got the first four Millie books (revised and adapted from Martha Finley's original Mildred Keith books), I couldn't put them down! The books got better as they went on! Filled with wit, humor, relatable lessons, exciting story-lines, and awesome time-period historical facts, I felt like I grew with the Lord as Millie did. The books are out of print now and the later ones in the series are pretty expensive on Amazon, so I had to wait 'til Christmas to get the next book. This was especially hard for the girl who would pick it up and not be able to put it down until she finished it that day (A.K.A., me). I nearly killed myself over the anxiety of what would happen; those books end on some intense cliff-hangers! These books are probably at least my second-favorite of all time right now. I really hope to adapt them into a movie someday. That would be AWESOME!!

Laddie by Gene Stratton Porter
Honestly, this was probably the first book I read that actually made me laugh out loud MULTIPLE times. I got it for some holiday when I was in my pre-teens/early teens, but I didn't crack it open until I needed something good to read during the Standardized Testing administered in our homeschool group a couple years ago. I remember someone telling me they were watching me laugh as I was reading it in the testing room, and they were wondering what could have been so funny! I can't even remember the overall theme of the book anymore, but I remember it having some awesome characters (particularly the endearing and colorful little girl protagonist), the story was compelling (it was one I couldn't put down until 3am), the dialogue and descriptions were whippersnappers, and overall it was a sweet story about family and growing up, centered around a beloved older brother's romance and told from the candid perspective of a young girl. Creative, fun, hilarious, and endearing!


Well, I guess that does it for now. Honestly, this post took me forever to edit. There is so much I could say about so many different books and authors that impacted my life, but I have to stop here because this post is getting way too long. Tell me about your favorite books and authors in the comments! I'd love some summer reading ideas! :)