Comments on: Top 100 Children’s Novels (#85-81)

By: Marcia

Marcia — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:53:04 +0000

I was thrilled to see The Little White Horse on the list. That book saved my life when I was eleven and staying with my brothers in a Kinderheim in Switzerland—a kind of boarding home for kids whose parents are away. I found it in the library there and read it over and over for comfort. I found it again, newly re-released, when I was 34, and it had the same effect. A lovely, lyrical book with memorable characters.

By: Sondy

Sondy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:55:43 +0000

The ONLY reason I didn’t put The Thief on my list was because I put on The Queen of Attolia. But I do think of them (especially QUEEN) as more YA, but bowed to Powell’s rating. Anyway, I’m happy that Eugenides made the list — I’m sure if it were more clear-cut on the age group, it would have been higher. It does seem some of the best books transcend age group.

By: Miriam Lang Budin

Miriam Lang Budin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:57:21 +0000

Yay! I have never read THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE. I don’t even think I’d ever heard of it. Now I have and I will!

By: Sherry

Sherry — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:22:06 +0000

None of my picks have made your list yet. I’m hoping that’s because they’re all up there at the top of the list. I’m going to have to start myself a list of all the books in your top 100 that I haven’t read.

But no Dahl. I am not much of a fan of Mr. Dahl.

By: Alison

Alison — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:31:08 +0000

The Little White Horse is one of my favorites too. I looked at a reissued paperback edition and they’ve changed the Black Men to the Dark Men…

By: Billy

Billy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:17:35 +0000

I recently read “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon”. I really enjoyed it, and thought it was a good-hearted story with some simple yet occasionally beautiful writing. It was deservant of an Honor this year, but I have to say that I don’t really understand how it could make the poll. I know a lot of people will be hoping for “When You Reach Me” now, too. I literally just finished that too, and while I thought it was really good, I still think it might be a little too much too fast for that title too. Althought they are both really good books. Just my view.

By: Jess

Jess — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:56:57 +0000

So happy to see The Thief made the list! It’s not my favorite in the series, but the one that feels the most truly like a children’s book, which is why I put it on the list instead of, say, The Queen of Attolia.

My problem with the list isn’t discovering new titles I want to read – it’s wanting – NEEDING – to reread all the ones I loved as a kid but that aren’t fresh in my mind. Apparently it’s time to reread Lloyd Alexander!

By: Anne Ursu

Anne Ursu — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:58:25 +0000

This is just amazing work. Thank you for putting this together is such a complete, fascinating fashion.

I’m going to guess there’s one more 2009 book on the list… curious to see if I’m right.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:57:09 +0000

Oh yes, please let us guess the top 10 again, Betsy! That was one of the most fun parts of the picture book poll.

I think you did the right thing for the series books, for what it’s worth. And I like seeing how people ranked the different books – it’s interesting to see which Harry Potter book is more beloved, for instance (and now that Chamber of Secrets is on there in the 80s, I’m guessing that Half-Blood Prince and Order of the Phoenix aren’t on the list at all — I don’t think they’re likely to be better liked than Chamber – and I’m hoping that Prisoner of Azkaban is highest, but the fun is in seeing if that’s right or not!)

By: DaNae

DaNae — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:39:05 +0000

Wait a minute, hold your ponies, you are going to let us guess the top 10 again right! You aren’t going to simple give out a prize for merely matching the top ten? Because I will never get to compete in the Olympics, or for that matter any activity that requires spandex, but the chance to guess the top ten will put me into competitive mode.