Even though I grew up on a beautiful island off the coast of Georgia, if you were to ask me where my favorite place to visit during the summer was, my answer wouldn’t be “the beach.” Instead of taking in the salty ocean breeze, I spent many a summer’s day in my island’s library surrounded by books. They helped me have adventures far away from my small town—I could walk through a wardrobe into Narnia, talk to animals like Dr. Dolittle, play croquet with Alice and The Queen of Hearts, and even visit “The Big Apple” with James, his giant peach and his garden bug friends. These are some of the books that helped me have big adventures while growing up on a little island:
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham could be classified as my first big adventure—it was the first book I ever read on my own. This rhyming classic introduced me to animals, places and foods I hadn’t seen with my own eyes. As I got older and began reading more chapter books than picture books, I still found myself revisiting Sam-I-Am and his strange dish. As the character realizes in the end, "I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you. Thank you, Sam-I-Am."
The Borrowers by Mary Norton: Aside from being a big book reader, I also loved watching movies growing up. When I discovered that several of my favorite movies were also books, I often set out to the library to find a movie’s book companion. One such book/movie combo I loved was The Borrowers. I had a blast setting out on excursions with the tiny Borrowers who lived in the walls and floors of the “Human Beans’” homes.
The Giver by Lois Lowry:The Giver was one of the first books I remember reading and obsessing over as a child. I couldn’t stop talking about Jonas and his seemingly Utopian society that turns out to be anything but. I was fascinated as Jonas was introduced to memories and emotions that I feel every day or situations that I understand that were completely foreign to him. Thankfully I didn’t have to grow up in a society like Jonas’, but it was a captivating place to visit.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: I, along with the unnamed narrator in Rebecca, was hypnotized by the grandeur of Manderly and the secrets and memories that haunted the estate. As a somewhat insecure middle schooler, I could relate to the narrator’s unease and feelings of not belonging in her new life at the grand estate. The twists and turns of plot were thrilling to read, and I found myself dreaming to visit Manderly someday.
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling: The ultimate adventures I had growing up were with Harry, Ron, Hermione and friends. From the simplicity of Harry discovering what a chocolate frog is, to the complexity of learning how to defeat Voldemort, I was never bored. I longed to roam the halls of Hogwarts and meander down Diagon Alley. Happily I can always explore Rowling’s magical world by taking a quick walk to my bookshelf.
