What really stands out when you think of your childhood books?

[invisiblegorilla]

For me:

The Chalet School series. The early ones, when Jo was still a pupil! I brought them second hand. Eustacia, Elisaveta and so on. I remember when Jo and co. were given their prefect rooms in the new building and being in love with the descriptions/idea of it all.

Nancy Drew. Can't remember which ones, it's just a lot of investigations and stories blended it together in my memory.

The Chronicles of Narnia. I found the last book a little strange, but I read the first three over and over again.

And anything by Roald Dahl. There's a lot more (anything to do with boarding schools and midnight feasts had me obsessed) but I'm curious about what books other people remember the most.

Not sure I'm a fan...influenced by, yes..

So, so many of the above, especially the Noel Streatfeild's (natch) and the Lorna Hills.

Also, Beverley Nicholl's series: The Mountain of Magic, The Tree That Sat Down and The Stream That Stood Still, The Wickedest Witch In The World. Quite dark and scary, especially the unabridged versions.

The Silver Crown by Robert C O'Brien (author of Mrs Frisby and ...)

Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Lost Prince. I've never met anyone else who's read it.

Sorrel, I have! But fairly recently as all her works are free on Kindle. Wish I'd read it as a child. I think Enid Blyton must have, don't you?

Yes, definitely!

Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Lost Prince. I've never met anyone else who's read it.

I have my grandmother's copy. I haven't actually read it, though ...

Can't believe I've only just remembered Angela Brazil! The Naughtiest Girl in School series in particular. I was telling a friend how she got into the school in the first place (I won't go into details so we don't need a spoiler alert!) at the weekend and it reminded me I must add it/them to this thread!

I think I read The Lost Prince. Wasn't Frances Hodgson Burnett more famous for writing Little Lord Fauntleroy? I definitely read that, but didn't enjoy it particularly.

cheapskatemum the Naughtiest Girl series was Blyton, not Brazil!

Does anyone remember Norgy in Littleland (Freda Hurt)?

I loved this book in which a little boy is turned small by magic and enters a miniature village one of his kindly neighbours has built, in search of a lost earring.

I've been trying to replace it lately but it's rare now and rather pricey.

I've got The Lost Prince too.

Ooh, other people have read The Lost Prince . "My heart for Samavia" (or something!)

What about Penelope Lively? A Stitch In Time and The Whispering Knights?

I downloaded The Lost Prince last night after seeing on here I could get it free - have to say I'm not loving it yet, all the boyish this that and t'other, and wotsit and his dad drawing all eyes with their upright bearing etc. Funny how some authors can produce both terrific and terrible work.

Just bought The House in Norham Gdns and Samuel stokes for a friend. Is a stitch in time hers?

I have The Wonderful Birthday by Freda Hurt. No memory of Norgy in Littleland, though.

That's interesting, EbearHug. I see FH wrote some others too, notably 'Mr Twink'. I only remember Norgy. Found this screenshot which tantalisingly shows the model village, Norgy and his stuffed dog Jock (there's a very sad bit where heroic Jock saves the day but loses some stuffing. Fortunately All Ends Ok.)

On the back flypaper is a mention of Snail and the Pennithornes which rings a bell with me. In those days one tended to have read or intend to read all the books advertised on endpapers.

All the Enid Blyton books -FF, SS, Faraway tree, etc.

Izzy, Willy Nilly - a book about a girl who had a car crash on a night out with friends. I still remember it often.

Ramona the Brave.

All the Point Horror books.

Sweet Valley High.

MNHQ, thanks. Was going to report, but you got there first.

Lougie, is that the one in the US where she has a plain and poor friend whose father takes a worse post as a policeman to get her into a better school? I've often though about it. ( trying not to mention the obvious thing about the car crash as would have to do spoiler alert).

Lottie and Lisa has just been republished under a different title.

Just as linnets and valerians by Goudge has, now called The a Runaways...

I've just finished The Runaways, aka Linnets and Valerians, bought for a penny on Amazon (plus p&p) after it was suggested on the last MN thread like this. Utterly delightful.

I love this thread! So many books I'm going to hunt out to re-read. Has anyone mentioned 'From the mixed up files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler' yet? About two children who run away to live in the metropolitan museum of art in NY. I loved it