Shane's Booklist - Age 11

The "GoodReads" site created in 2006, is one of the main ways people keep track of their books today. In the olden days ... often it was just writing down the titles on a sheet of lined paper. Shane's booklist from his sixth grade year was discovered among the "saved, to be scanned" items. 

While some books stand the test of time, and are enjoyed by generations of kids, the Westra grandkid generation likely has a very different list of books for different ages and stages (Magic Treehouse, Captain Underpants, Big Nate, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter ... check out a Blackham post about Keaton's love of the Origami Yoda series) . Definitely something that is interesting to track and reflect on. 

"The Shades" was considered a Westra classic, absolutely adored by the Westra girls especially (along with the author's other book "No Flying in the House"). The "Indian in the Cupboard" series was made into a movie, as was "Babe". Jen reread "Call it Courage" and "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" recently. Which of these are still in circulation today? Have the younger generation read any of these "old" books? Which other books are considered favorites from Growing Up Westra (Beverly Cleary and Carolyn Haywood books, Encyclopedia Brown, The Great Brain, Sonny Elephant, The Marrow of the World ... I feel another blog post coming on!) 

Many books have been updated and republished over the years. It's fun to do a Google search and see if there are original covers that bring back memories. "The Ghost Next Door" didn't ring a book bell, but a look at the cover felt very familiar.

... the original list was scanned, and photographed. It's always fun to see the original handwriting. The photo is a little more legible (it's what is included here), but to make the list even easier to read, it's been retyped below.

1. The Pinballs by Betsy Byars
2. The Magic Meadow by Alexander Key
3. The Shades by Betty Brock
4. What Eric Knew by James Howe
5. The Not Just Anybody Family by Betsy Byars
6. Rasco and the Rats of NIHM by Jane Coley
7. The Ghost Next Door by Wylly Folk St. John
8. The Return of the Indian by Lynne Ried Banks
9. Babe the Gallant Pig by Dick-King Smith
10. A Hidden Magic by Vivian Veldo 
11. Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry
12. Star Ka'at by Andre Norton
13. Seven Spells to Sunday by Andre Norton
14. Cave of Danger by Bryce Walton
15. The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito by Shelia Garrigue
16. Me, My Goat, My Sister's Wedding by Stella Pevsner
17. The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
18. Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
19. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
20. Eli's Ghost by Betsy Hearne
21. Out of the Bug Jar by Kathleen Thomas
22. Prairie Songs by Pam Conrad
23. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
24. Building Blocks by Cynthia Voight
25. Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy
26. Switch Around by Lois Lowry
27. Shadow on the Dad by Anne Lindbergh
28. Hidden Shine by Walter Myers
29. Today's Special ... by Anthene V. Lord
30. Run For Your Life 
31. Illustrated Book of Knights
32. Flaming Footprints
33. Dead on Targets