I love it when Young Adult literature shows up outside the usual venues like the journals, blogs and websites of librarians and young adult authors.
One of the most enjoyable and unexpected places to find critiques of classic young adult books is Jezebel’s Fine Lines feature. Jezebel is a relatively new addition to the Gawker Media family of blogs, and its niche is a female take on pop culture. Each Friday, a Jezebel writer discusses a young adult book from her childhood. Recent takes include The Chocolate War, Weetzie Bat, Then Again Maybe I Won’t, even The Babysitter’s Club!
When you’re immersed in young adult literature—like I am at the library—it’s refreshing to hear from “lay people” about their favorite books.
And how do these books hold up? Reading what made The Cat Ate My Gymsuit so memorable also reveals how it’s both dated and timely (Ms. Finney may wear a macrame necklace, but she also speaks out about unpopular political decisions during an unpopular war.)
I really enjoyed the writer’s take on The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Both she and many of the commenters remembered reading and liking the book, but no one could recall much about it. Add me to this group—my edition had Kit wearing a red velvet-looking dress, but that’s about all I remember, except that it was kind of boring and not “witchy” enough. Now, the Wicked Wicked Ladies in the Haunted House? Those were some memorable witches. I can remember Mavis and Lucrece as vividly as any characters from my childhood reading.
Enjoy Jezebel’s take on our childhood reads, and enjoy letting your adult self read these books again. And doesn’t it make you wonder which books that are popular today will still be remembered fondly 30 years from now?