Rereading Our Childhood

Deborah and Mary Grace discuss Ballet Shoes , Noel Streatfeild's classic 1936 story of a trio of adopted sisters, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, who attend a school for professional children in the performing arts in London. Ballet Shoes is the first in what became a series of "Shoes" books about children working in the theater, the circus, etc. Mentioned on this episode: Plays that th...

Oops! Mary Grace made a mockery of the show title by picking a book that it turns out she probably didn't read as a child. What she (and Deborah) actually did read was The RIVER at Green Knowe . Nevertheless, they had a great time discussing The Children of Green Knowe , the first book in the series, which is about a boy named Tolly who goes to live with his great-grandmother in a mansion hau...

Mary Grace and Deborah discuss Harriet the Spy , Louise Fitzhugh’s 1964 classic about an 11-year-old would-be writer, her spying career, and her interactions with her nanny, her classmates, and her parents.  Discussed on this episode: Other books in the series: The Long Secret (1965) Sport (1979, published posthumously) Other books by Fitzhugh:  Suzuki Beane , a parody of Eloise , written by Sandr...

Mary Grace and Deborah discuss Henry Reed, Inc. , Keith Robertson's 1958 novel about a boy who starts a research business while spending the summer with his aunt and uncle in a small town near Princeton, New Jersey. This is the first in a five-book series about the adventures of Henry and his friend Midge.  Other books in the series: Henry Reed's Journey (1963) Henry Reed's Baby-Sit...

Deborah and Mary Grace reread Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth , E.L. Konigsburg’s 1967 debut novel. You can listen to this episode here . Discussed on this episode:  Other books by E.L. Konigsburg: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler , Konigsburg’s Newbery Medal winner about a brother and sister who run away to the Metropolitan Museum. (George) A Pro...

On the first episode, Mary Grace and Deborah revisit Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret , Judy Blume's 1970 classic of adolescence. Mentioned on the podcast: Other books by Judy Blume: Then Again, Maybe I Won’t , the boy equivalent of Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great , the first two books in the popular Fudge...