The Series Years: Grades 3-6 (Updated April 2026)

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I have a fantastic memory (which served me well when helping readers find the book that had a red cover and was set in New York City), but while I remember much of what I read over the past 70 years, I’m sorry to say I can’t pinpoint the age I read the books that shaped my reading life–well, except for a few smutty ones but we’ll get to those later.

ipiccy library

This is where the magic happened. Kids to the left, adults to the right.

Discovering the Joys of Books in Series

betsyMy memory of walking into the Cottage Grove Public Library and inhaling that unique “old books” scent is as vivid as if it happened yesterday, but what I also remember is the feeling of anticipation to see what new books awaited me for my reading pleasure–and that hasn’t abated a whit since then. It wasn’t long before I discovered books in series and that I loved following a particular character. I don’t recall reading many Beverly Cleary books (except for Fifteen in my later years), but I loved Carolyn Haywood’s Betsy series.

However, Betsy and the gang were left in the dust when I discovered Nancy Drew. Whenever I entered the library, a beeline was made to the rack to see if there were any of the tweedy blue cloth-covered Drew multimysteries I hadn’t yet read.  I don’t think the library had a system for reserving books (or if they did, the librarian, Miss Clark, never offered, as she might have known she’d be pestered to death), so I would rely on my memory to remember what I had read. I liked some more than others, and the ones I liked best probably took place in mansions. (As an adult, I relived my “Drew” years by reading Chelsea Cain’s delightful Confessions of a Teen Sleuth.)

I went on to devour the Hardy Boys series, and after those were exhausted, read the Trixie Belden, Kay Tracey, Judy Bolton, and Ginnie & Geneva series (never got into Bobbsey Twins, as I think I found them a little twee), but my next obsession came from a Mickey Mouse Club addiction.

“Y? Because We LIKE You!”

ipiccy annette donnaIf you are close to my age, you probably remember singing along to the opening of the Mickey Mouse Club — “Hey There! Hi There! Ho There! You’re as welcome as can be!” But what I loved most were the introductions of the club members and Annette’s appearance! Y? Who knows, I just know she fascinated me, and I was thrilled to find she was featured in a mystery series I found at the five-and-dime store, Knickerbocker’s.  I read Sierra Summer multiple times, which gave me a hankering to visit California’s Gold Country.

Since these cheaply bound books weren’t in the library and cost only 10 cents, it was easy to splurge on others, including the Donna Parker series. The one I loved most was Donna Parker in Hollywood, and what sticks in my mind is her itchy black wool bathing suit.  This was most likely the book that set me on the road to ruin when it came to my love of anything set in the glamorous world of La La Land, including celebrity memoirs and Jackie Collins books.

Get Me the Next Book, STAT!ipiccy nurse

My next obsession came in the form of nurse stories, mainly the series featuring Sue Barton by Helen Boylston and Cherry Ames by Helen Wells, starting with their first adventures as student nurses. Sue Barton had a life trajectory that wasn’t all apples and roses, so I don’t remember reading the later titles and wonder if it was because the library didn’t carry them due to the “real-life” content. Still, I loved reading her experiences in the years before marriage and kids. (An interesting side note about the author, Helen Boylston: She based her books on her actual nursing experiences, plus she was also a good friend of Rose Wilder Lane, who called her “Troub” for “Trouble, and lived with her for several years, some in Albania.)

The Ames series was fun as Cherry immersed herself in various jobs, probably a forerunner to my love for “behind-the-scenes” narratives.

And hey, who remembers these? I used my allowance to buy Harlequin nurse stories at the corner hole-in-the-wall magazine store.

harlequin

I also spent my allowance on comic books (12 cents each!), with my favorites being Superman and Archie, but I would also read Batman, Richie Rich, and Casper, as well as weird comics based on classic books such as Huckleberry Finn, Robinson Crusoe, and more.

ipiccy comics

Next up, I return to my early teens, when Miss Clark introduced me to my next genre fascination and let me check out smut.

robin 3rd grade

If you missed the first installments, you can find the first one here and the second here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magical Reading: Chapter Books (Updated April 2026)

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A couple of days ago, I reposted part one of a post about how I developed my love of reading and books, and here is the second installment. If you missed my first post on my reading history, you can find it here.

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I fear this history of my reading over the years may turn out longer than I originally planned, but, quite frankly, that’s how I’ve always rolled. Anything I think will be an easy-peasy project turns out to be anything but simple. 

Finally, Chapter Books!

When I entered my second-grade classroom, my eyes were immediately drawn to a table judys journeyin the rear with a stack of books that appeared thicker than the easy picture books and readers from the first grade. I didn’t care that they were above my grade level; I just wanted to burrow my face into the stack. I don’t remember when we were allowed to select what we wanted to haul home (although I do remember taking more books than I had time for, a practice that continues to this day). But I do remember Miss Rorrer reading us a chapter a day from Judy’s Journey by Lois Lenski, a title from the American Regional series. I was entranced, and even though the teacher admonished us to not read ahead, I got a copy from the public library and devoured it.  I went on to try a few more by the author, such as Prairie School and Flood Friday, but never finished the series because I soon discovered something I liked better.

Prairie Life

I don’t recall if a librarian recommended the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House series or if I discovered it on my own. Still, I remember hearing the angels sing and devouring them one after the other (the books, not the angels). I rarely read a book more than once, but I read this series at least four times throughout my childhood (except for By the Shores of Silver Lake) and once as an adult. I went on to read anything else I could find about pioneer life (especially loved Steele’s We Were There on the Oregon Trail), a topic that still interests me. As an adult, I went on to read the various biographies and historical accounts that chronicled what it was really like for the Ingalls family. Two of note are Susan Wittig Albert’s A Wilder Rose, a novel based on Laura’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, and Caroline Fraser’s well-researched and eye-opening Prairie Fires.

ipiccy little house

More Magic

island blueI don’t know how old I was when I discovered Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. However, I can still remember the magical feeling I experienced as I read about a girl’s survival (I later learned it was based on the true story of a Native American who lived alone on California’s San Nicolas Island for 18 years). To this day, I love a good survival story, whether it be fiction or nonfiction.

Historical Celebrities

What I remember most from the school library was the profusion of biographies available, mostly from the Childhood of Famous Americans series. Who else remembers those orange cloth-bound books with such titillating titles as Pocahontas, Brave Girl, or Ben Franklin, Boy Printer? I remember enjoying them, especially Clara Barton, Girl Nurse. These most likely started my love for memoirs, especially those by famous people. (Insert your own snarky remark here.)

bios

Weekly Reader and Book Fairweely reader

During elementary school, two events helped shape me as a reader. Once a week, the teacher would pass out the Weekly Reader, a small newspaper printed for children. I don’t remember much of what I read, but what I loved was the feel of the paper and how much I looked forward to seeing it. I think it’s what started my continued love of magazines (mainly about celebrities).

I also loved going to the “fair”-the Scholastic Book Fair, anyway. It was a short downward slope to forming my shopaholic ways when it comes to buying books.

book fair

That’s it for this post. Stay tuned for the next part of my grade-school years, when I discovered books in series!

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 Shades of Books: 70 Years of Reading

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Not quite six years ago, when we were in the middle of the COVID lockdown, I spent my time chronicling my lifelong love of reading. Just for fun, I decided to edit and post it again for those who might have missed it the first time around. So please excuse my self-indulgence in repeating myself (something that is becoming an all-too-often occurrence in my elder age. 😉 )

So here is the first installment; stay tuned for the next two, and then I hope to finish the series so you know what happened after I discovered smut.

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When we first started the virus lockdown, I was having a tough time focusing on reading, so I turned to my BoBs (Books of Books I began 53 years ago, pictured in my new blog photo) to take a journey into what I’ve read over the years. It was interesting to see not only which books I read but also how my tastes (and handwriting!) have changed over the years. I started reminiscing about how I developed as a reader waaaaay back before my saddle shoes graced the steps of Harrison Elementary School, which led me to decide to chronicle my reading from age 3 to the present day. 

My Very First Book

My mother said that as soon as I could grab, the first things I would latch onto were books. Now she may have been humoring me, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t remember having many children’s books in our little trailer house, but if we did, they were most likely the Little Golden Books from the local five-and-dime store, Knickerbocker.

What I do remember is discovering our 1950 edition of Betty Crocker’s Picture Cookbook and deciding to use the pages to practice writing my name. Then someone told me (probably a neighbor friend) that continually writing my name made me seem self-centered, so I stopped. Below is the actual book, which I still own. I’m unsure who was the recipient of “I Love You” and have no idea what “EUESS” meant.

My First Booktalk

One thing I was looking forward to when I started first grade was reading the Dick and Jane series, but Mrs. Browning sent me past “Go,” putting me in the “advanced” group, where we read a different set, most likely the Ginn readers. I remember looking forward to each day’s reading assignment.

But what I’ve never forgotten are my trips to the Cottage Grove Library and how much of a treat it was to haul home a huge stack of picture books. I was so impressed by D’Aulaires’ Don’t Count Your Chicks that I took it to first-grade Show and Tell and gave my first book talk, imploring everyone to read it. The only problem is I made the grave error of giving away the ending! I never did that again.

And from there, it was a slippery slope to more advanced reading in the form of chapter books and two of the most magical reading experiences of my life, which will be the topics of my next post.

CATCHING UP ON RECENT READS

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Fun City Heist by Micahel Kardos. I’ve enjoyed this author’s light thrillers, and I’m happy to report this was an extremely fun romp. It’s short, quick, and perfect for those who like a good heist thriller, such as Irwin Shaw’s Nightwork (an oldie, but it is great fun) and the movie Oceans 11. 4 stars

The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin (Oregon author). Willy has once again written an amazing novel about misfits who face the bad odds life has dealt them. Taking place in Portland, this features a hardworking house painter who takes in a neighbor’s boy whose family life is in tatters. If you’ve read Vlautin, you will recognize his talent for tearing your heart apart and then mending it with jagged stitches, and this is no exception. Also, if you’ve read Vlautin, you will wonder about me calling it a “feel-good” story, but this one is – really! A friend compared it to books by Frederik Backman. To be published in mid-April 2026. 5 stars

The Lake Effect by Cynthia A’Aprix Sweeney. This author’s first book, The Nest, remains one of my favorite novels of family dynamics, and this compelling novel about two families torn apart by infidelity and divorce is also well done. This reminded me of Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye, only the pace was a little faster. Readers of Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country and Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings will enjoy this. 5 stars.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. There is already a lot of buzz about this offbeat novel about a “tradwife” influencer with multiple children living on a big farm (think Ballerina Farm — Google it if needed) and profiting from millions of followers for her depiction of a perfect life. At first, this seemed similar to Marlys Milhiser’s 48-year-old time-travel novel, The Mirror, but it is so much more than that. Definitely a mindbender, and nothing is what it seems. To be published April 7. I could be wrong (and yes, sometimes I am), but it could be big. 4.5 stars

FOUR THRILLERS: Worth Your Time? You Make the Call…

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I love a good psychological thriller and was in the mood for more, so I tried these new books, which ultimately left me a little disappointed, especially after reading two barnburners earlier this year (My Husband’s Wife and The One). My thoughts:

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston. I loved her earlier book, First Lie Wins, and was eagerly awaiting her next book. However, it fell flat and was at times tedious, mainly because the timelines jumped around and I got confused about who was who. I skimmed to the end and wasn’t impressed with the ending either. As usual, your mileage may vary; some have loved it, while others felt the way I did.

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins. I enjoyed her earlier book, The Villa, a suspense novel set during the summer Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, so I was looking forward to this one. It started out well, with an appealing setting (a small Alabama beach-town hotel) prone to hurricanes and likable characters. It flipped around on the timeline, but it wasn’t confusing, and the finale was fine, not mindbending but it made sense. This would be a good book to read with sand between your toes.

It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica. I read so many good reviews of this, and despite the unappealing characters (especially the two teens), I raced through this. Unfortunately, when it was revealed who caused the murders, my heart sank. I don’t want to say more, but I have a problem with the ones who were responsible and that ruined the ending. I also didn’t care for the final final revelation. But that’s just me… (If you want more of an explanation, send me a message.)

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James. I started this in audio, which was very well done with three separate narrators, but had to finish in book form as my audio loan ended, and that was OK (an occurrence that often happens). I enjoyed her earlier book, The Sun Down Motel, and found the spooky vibes right up my alley (chilling but not gruesome). This is the author’s latest book, and it has a strong premise: three adult siblings return to their childhood home after being summoned by the ghost of Ben, their younger brother, who disappeared when he was six. This had ghosts galore (real ones), and it rolled along fairly well, but the ending was rushed, with no real details about what happened in their childhood. I gave it 3 stars.

MARRIAGE AT SEA by Sophie Elmhurst

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Way back in grade school, I read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, and ever since, I have chased the high of that magical experience. In the 1970s, I found a bit of that magic by discovering Children of Cape Horn by Rosie Swale and Adrift by Steve Callahan, along with other survival and true adventure stories.

I wasn’t sure Marriage at Sea would scratch my itch for adventure, as delving into the dynamics of a marriage while surviving in the middle of the ocean (and Maralyn couldn’t swim!) didn’t seem that riveting. However, as soon as I started it, I realized I had read the book it was based on, Staying Alive, by Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, years ago. I had forgotten much of the story of how their sailboat was upended by a whale, and what they had to do to survive on a raft for over 115 days, so it was an interesting revisit, especially since the experience was viewed through a different lens. But what was most interesting was the “after” story of how they (and their relationship) survived the attention of the press, and what they had to do to earn a living.

HALF HIS AGE by Jeanette McCurdy

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Well, reading this was a wild ride, and this case, I don’t mean that in a good way. The topic (and cover, quite frankly) of Waldo, a high school senior, lusting after her 40-year-old schlubby creative writing teacher (and succeeding) may turn off readers, but those who have read McCurdy’s bestselling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, may be thinking of giving this a try. But here’s the thing: this is one of the most uncomfortable books I have read in a long time. I am not one to shy away from a controversial books and have a strong stomach for crude content (after all I read a pure porn novel in the 8th grade given to me by a classmate), but this has such graphic and disturbing sex scenes that I felt like I had to close my eyes (I can’t imagine getting through them in audio!). For a coming-of-age novel, it’s quite good, and there is some hope Waldo will come to her senses fairly soon, but I felt the author could have dialed down some of the graphic content a few notches and still gotten her point across.

This book is similar to two other novels I read about teacher/student relationships. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell is about a male teacher grooming and developing a long-term relationship with a high school student (loosely based on “Lolita”), and Nampa by Alissa Nutting is a novel about a female teacher who has a penchant for 14-year-old boys.

Would I recommend anyone read Half His Age? Well, for some weird reason, I like reading controversial books. Tell me something that should be censored or is creating a sensation, and I’m on it, immediately wanting to see what all the fuss is about. So if you are like me, by all means, read this, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

TWISTED THRILLERS: My Husband’s Wife and The One

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For those of you craving a couple of “popcorn” psychological thrillers, do I have some recommendations for you!

The first is Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife: Hooboy, that was one twisted mess, and I mean that in a good way. This author’s books have run hot and cold; the last two weren’t that great, but this one is a “banger.” It’s difficult to talk more about it without giving anything away, but just know it will keep you glued to your couch. If you prefer to listen to your books, I hear the audio is excellent, with multiple points of view and various narrators. Is it a perfect thriller? No, there are a few places you’ll be scratching your head, wondering how this happened and why didn’t someone notice “something,” and I’m still not sure I have it all figured out, but it’s a great roller coaster ride, nonetheless. This is perfect for fans of psychological suspense, such as Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden, Ruth Ware, and Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins.

The other one that had a breakneck pace was The One by John Marrs. It is a psychological suspense with a futuristic twist, and the idea of taking a DNA test to find your perfect soulmate is fascinating, but does it really work? Marrs takes on this idea for his novel, told from the viewpoints of those who have found their perfect match, with some successes (love at first sight) and some that could be called failures (the mates are dead or dying, or one is a serial killer — I know!). Marrs pulls out all of the stops in the never-ending twists in this story. I’ll for sure be reading more by this author.

This is good for fans of Dean Koontz and David Ellis’s Look Closer.

DAMN GLAD TO HAVE READ THIS BOOK: Damn Glad to Meet You by Tim Matheson

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For the first half, I was ready to give this 5 stars, but it bogged down when he started delving into his experience learning to direct, although there are those who may find it more interesting than I did, so keep that in mind. I was surprised by how many TV shows he appeared in as a kid (Leave It to Beaver, Bonanza), and by the number of famous actors he worked with in various movies. Of course, his big break came when he starred in Animal House. From there, his career went through various levels of success, culminating in a West Wing role and then the Virgin River series. Even though he had a somewhat wild young adulthood (with various side eyes from me for his alley cat morals), he eventually settled down and had a family. Tim appears to be a genial guy who writes candidly about his experiences and peccadillos, but never wanders into dishing dirt on fellow colleagues (dang!), with the worst criticism being for Rob Lowe, who “stole” his nanny.

All in all, I enjoyed this and would recommend it for those who want to know more about his life and experiences, especially in the entertainment world. For similar reading experiences about those in the world of acting, try Henry Winkler’s engaging memoir Being Henry, Pamela Anderson’s Love Pamela, and Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights.

My Personal Reading Challenge for 2026

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I usually don’t plan on what to read over the year, but after perusing my loaded bookshelves, I plucked out a few that were calling to me and created my own reading challenge. Here is my list.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. I read this when it was released in 1977 and decided it was time for a reread since it’s always been one of my favorite romantic sagas.

Cashelmara by Susan Howatch. I don’t know how many times I handled (and caressed) the library copies of this dramatic family saga over the years, and it’s been on my TBR list for years.

Green Darkness by Anya Seton. This is another reread from my long-ago past. I first ran across this back in 1973 when I was hired to work at the West Salem Library. This was one of the first epic time-travel romantic sagas, and I continue to recommend it for those who like the Outlander series.

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. I read this at age 13, which was a bit above my grade level, but I talked the librarian into letting me check it out. I was transfixed. I recently read Gill Paul’s SCANDALOUS WOMEN, a novel about Susann’s journey when writing this, so I decided it was time to do a reread to see if it would still be considered as sordid as I remember.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I have read everything by this author except this, and I hear it’s one of her best, so I’ll definitely have a great reading experience.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. This is a dense, odd, and complicated horror novel set in a haunted house. I’ve heard it will blow your mind and make you afraid, very afraid. However, I’m not sure I’m smart enough for this, as one reviewer said, “A love story by a semiotician. Danielewski has a songwriter’s heart as attuned to heartache as he is to Derrida’s theory on the sign.” Okaaaay…

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. This is on the Booker shortlist and is loved by Ann Patchett, so what can go wrong? I do hear it’s long and fragmented, so we’ll see if I ultimately finish it.

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (Daevabad Trilogy). I’m not much of a fan of epic fantasy, but I decided to vary out of my lane a bit. This is the series that rose to the top when I queried my fellow librarians for a good, accessible speculative work of fiction.

And last but not least, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Clocking in at over 1200 pages, this has seen a surge in popularity. I need something to replicate the reading experience I had with the Seven Sisters series, so this may fill the bill.

Do you have any reading lists for the coming year?