Thanks to The Broke And The Bookish for always bringing topics to make me think. This week bloggers are revisiting childhood characters, imagining just what they would be doing all grown up. To check out all the participating bloggers, click HERE.
This week, I have a two-parter — characters I want to see all grown up and characters that have been re-imagined already. You see, I spent my childhood immersed in fairy tales. I re-read these classics over and over. I did emerge long enough to have a few favorite contemporary books (that phrase being relative since I am now 50+ 😉 ). So here are my Top 10 picks.
Childhood Favorites All Grown Up
Nancy Drew —Â Nothing in my book can top a Nancy Drew mystery. My much older sister had quite a collection of these books when I came along. I had a great library at my fingertips. I would love to see Nancy as a grandmother with a teenaged granddaughter-sleuth. Wouldn’t that be a fun mystery solving pair!
Box Car Children — This series always intrigued me. I loved the independent Alden kids determined to stay together. Their adventures kept me riveted. I’d like to see them all grown up with families, perhaps taking to the road in tricked out RVs.
Eloise — I discovered Eloise at the dentist. I always hoped that the my mom’s dental exams would take a long time so that I could get to the end of the book before it was time to leave. I don’t know why I never borrowed the books from the library — kids! I’d like to see an adult Eloise still living at the Plaza maybe working in fashion, or diplomacy or as a spy!
Landslide! — I got Veronique Day’s novel as part of the Scholastic readers program and I still have my treasured copy. The 5 Colson and Berthier children must not only survive but somehow escape from the landslide that has imprisoned them. This book is, sadly, out of print, and quite expensive in the second-hand market, so I am thankful I held on to my copy. I would love to see these children at a reunion with their families. And since I am evil that way, I would love for them to face another disaster and survive and triumph by their wits!
Fairy Tale Re-Imaginings
Fairy tales were a staple in my home. I am so glad that my favorite stories have now been retold by author Melanie Dickerson. I have read a couple of these books; the rest are on my wish list.
Beauty And The BeastÂ
The Merchant’s Daughter — An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.
Snow White
The Fairest Beauty — Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie’s one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe?
Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl’s inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother’s future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what.
When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them—they must also protect their hearts.
Rapunzel
The Golden Braid —Â Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.
Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.
The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?
As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?
Cinderella
The Captive Maiden — Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns the duke’s son, Valten—the boy she has daydreamed about for years—is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.
Sleeping Beauty
The Healer’s Apprentice — Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.
I also picked Nancy Drew this week! She’s timeless! Happy Tuesday! 😀
I have always loved Nancy. My daughter was not impressed when she was a girl. I guess I’ll have to wait to indoctrinate a g-daughter. Thanks for stopping by!
The Boxcar Children! How did I forget them?!?!?!? And – brilliant idea to include the fairy tale reimaginings! My TTT
Your Sunday Book Club post gave me the idea. I grew up reading and re-reading fairy tales. I guess that’s one of the reasons I love medieval history.
My youngest son has a BA in German. He said the Grimm Brothers are indeed grim in the original language. LOL.
LOL!!
I love your take on this theme, Beckie, especially the fairy tale re-imaginings. I read what seemed like tons of series like Nancy Drew – and while I obviously loved Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton was so much better! Did you ever read from that series by Margaret Sutton? She started with Judy at a similar age as Nancy, but gradually aged her, having her date a great guy named Peter, who became an FBI agent. Just can’t say enough about this series and would even read them again now if I could find them.
I credit my mom with instilling my love for reading. She worked downtown as an accountant at the Revenue Dept and loved to shop during lunch a couple of days each week, at Rich’s or Davison’s. She got paid twice a month and when she got out of the car on those days, I knew she would have a book for me. Started with the Bobbsey Twins, then eventually Judy Bolton, Cherry Ames, and Nancy Drew (around $1 at the time). She personally loved the long family sagas that were so popular in the 50s/60s and got me loving them also – authors like Susan Howatch, Belva Plain, Taylor Caldwell, etc.
I have not read the Judy Bolton series. It sounds like I really missed out. My dad was the reader in the family. My mom was more for magazines and newspapers, but my dad read voraciously. He read dusty tomes on archeology and anthropology — something he got from his father. I have a small pamphlet that my grandfather wrote on the Indian settlements in Eastern Pennsylvania. For fiction, my dad loved Michener and got me hooked as well. It’s great to have a reading legacy. My kids hated the “summer reading programs” I instituted for them. Both boys eventually became big readers, but my daughter was a very reluctant reader. I tried everything. Now she reads all the time, but Christian non-fiction is her choice. She pooh-poohs my fiction habits. 😉
Reading is so important and I am always saddened by those who say they hate to read.
Nancy Drew is a great pick, and I don’t know HOW I forgot about Eloise! I’ve not read the books, but the movies are hilarious. She’d be one sassy adult, I suspect. 😉
Eloise was always a great favorite. I never owned the book. I am wondering if my parents didn’t want me to get any ideas. Hmm. . . .