Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Many adults stop reading books aimed at younger readers as soon as they are old enough. Others continue reading children's/YA books, classics and non-classics and enjoy them.

What are some reasons to keep reading these books?


Please share your thoughts here--and some of the book titles as well, if you like.

One of the reasons I enjoy books for younger readers is the guality of the writing - as well as the themes.

The Giver and the three companion novels in the set, although not classics yet according to our timeline, deal with important issues in thoughtful ways.

One of the main themes in the first book is the issue of free will. At what price is the harmonious society created?
This book is frequently studied in schools and has been frequently banned as well.

Rosemarie, She (author) is a Newbery Medal Winner, twice!

I have found that I can still gain many life insights through YA reading. The mark of a good author, I think. Also, there are some of those favorites that I've read as a child/YA that are just "warm fuzzies" upon rereading! And, ya know, it's just plain fun!

I totally agree, Sydney. It is just plain fun. This December I am reading a bunch of children's and Christmas books. A present to myself.

Not sure one actually needs a reason why, other than enjoyment!

Sydney wrote: "I have found that I can still gain many life insights through YA reading.

I appreciate life's little lessons that comes in YA's.

Now, I'm thinking I should treat myself to an "Anne of Green Gables" fest. Just had to put an Anne Perry book ("Acceptable Loss") in my Goodreads "let-it-go" (forever) category. Subject matter just too, too heavy.

There are some books that are such a pleasure to reread that newer books can wait, especially at this time of year when it gets dark so soon.

I find that many YA novels are more carefully written in order to be age appropriate, which the author generally pays more attention to the quality of the writing.
Of course, there are always exceptions.

A newly discovered Christmassy classic for me is The Light at Tern Rock, which I highly recommend and will definitely be reading again come Christmas, as well as my usual Christmas rereads, Das fliegende Klassenzimmer (The Flying Classroom) and Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories.

Thanks Manybooks! I did not realize Anne of Green Gables had a Christmas book!

I will be looking for that one!

Lesle wrote: "Thanks Manybooks! I did not realize Anne of Green Gables had a Christmas book!

I will be looking for that one!"

It is a collection of holiday stories that have been compiled by Rhea Wilmshurst.

Personally, I enjoy the YA section because the books are incredibly diverse (unless, of course, they're clones of other popular series). Also, many authors have noted that they express their most complex ideas in books aimed at children (see Lloyd Alexander's and Madeleine L'Engle's comments on this topic).

Some of my favorites include I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Trevino, Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.

I like those books, too. Have you read Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White? It is a fun book.

Years ago while teaching, I spent a year working in an elementary school library. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Everyday, surrounded by good YA literature. It was a feast, and I well took advantage of it! That's where I met the American Girl series also.

Sydney, I would love to work in a library. I’m drowned in student debt already, though, so going back right now for library science is not an option. I’m thinking of applying to my local library, which may not require that.

I love reading YA books in classics and contemporary for mostly for the coming-of-age stories. I still end up watching some tv shows geared to teens for life lessons, too. Although, more modern YA books and tv shows may get harder to appreciate, as I move farther away from the way of thinking in current youth.

I have this impression that a lot of contemporary YA authors are looking for movie deals, so they write sexy-beautiful heroes and heroines rather than awkward teens like Meg in A Wrinkle in Time.

Patrick, I hadn’t thought of modern YA like that. You’re probably right. The modern YA novelists do tend to write about the minority of youth who are simply beautiful and social butterflies. Most youth are not that way, and history has shown people rather read about someone more like them with faults they can relate to. Curious.

Samantha, my older daughter got a job in the Toronto Public Library when she was still in university back in the early 2000s. She is now in a great branch doing children's programmes, without a degree in library science. She studied English and History in university.
She started out as a page shelving books. She loves her job.

Rosemarie wrote: "Samantha, my older daughter got a job in the Toronto Public Library when she was still in university back in the early 2000s. She is now in a great branch doing children's programmes, without a deg..."

Thanks for the information, Rosemarie. Food for thought. I would love to share the YA books I’ve enjoyed and my reasons with today’s kids.

Brings back happy memories.

It does bring back memories, Alicia.

I remember reading Doctor Dolittle in the Moon on a sunny beach and David Copperfield under a tree in our yard on a hot summer afternoon. Both during summer vacations.

We use to have blackberry tree as a child that we (my sisters and I) use to play and read books underneath it. Great during summer times due to providing shade for us.

Rosemarie wrote: "Samantha, my older daughter got a job in the Toronto Public Library when she was still in university back in the early 2000s. She is now in a great branch doing children's programmes, without a deg..."

Nor did I have a degree in library science. I'm glad for her!

Samantha wrote: "Sydney, I would love to work in a library. I’m drowned in student debt already, though, so going back right now for library science is not an option. I’m thinking of applying to my local library, w..."

Re: your last sentence, I hear ya! One more reason to pursue the classics! You may be able to parlay your current education into a library position. Not all who work in a library are required to have a library science degree per se. Brainstorm. Then, sell yourself. Frequently, if they want you bad enough, they'll bend the rules!

I love to read children / YA classics for many reasons: they have lots of hidden philosophical messages, they are great lessons for us. They often bring back great memories, they help us to not forget our childhood. I'm thinking about Narnia Chronicles and The Neverending Story: I read them I was 36 but I was a little girl again, and it felt so gooood! I could really forget everything, I was travelling both into time and in another world. It's not always the case with Classics for adults.
They make us think but we don't even notice that we are thinking, they make that process easy.

Thanks, Sydney and Rosemarie. I applied today. Not sure if they have any openings right now, and one girl said they hired some at the end of last year. Darn, I should’ve applied 2 months ago. I figured most wouldn’t hire at year’s end. Ah well. There’s always a chance, so I can hope I’ll be called!

Martin, I like how you point out that YA & children’s classics make us think without us realizing it. The stories are often so fantastic (great and fantasy) that we enjoy them too much to realize we’re being taught something until it’s happened. I guess that works well for kids especially.

I hope it works out for you, Samantha.

I really started reading children's books again when my daughters were old enough to read them, and then just kept on reading them for enjoyment.
I learned a lot of history from historical fiction novels aimed at teens and older kids, but also enjoyed the great stories.

Children's classics usually have great ideas and life lessons in them children need to grow. I learned to deal with death when I read Black Beauty and Charlotte's Web as a kid. When my cat died I was already introduced to death because I read a lot and I could deal with it in a healthy way.

As adults we loose sight of the little things in life that children's books always seem to pick up on. Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince was a great tale I read as an adult but I wish I read as a child because of all the great lessons in it. All fairytales are great for children too...well some are too bloody but still, Einstein said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairytales." So if Einstein said it it must be true lol.

Heidi and Pinocchio both I have just recently read and find if I had not I missed out on two great YA Classics.

I agree with Patrick's statement above, most have moral guidance and lessons to learn in them. Pinocchio could have learned a little sooner! haha!

I have enjoyed re-reading ones that I have read as a child with a whole different perspective!

Thank you Rosemarie for the opportunity!

You are most welcome! Childhood years are short and busy, so reading, or rereading, children's books at a later age is generally a worthwhile experience. And often a lot of fun!