When I Was Your Age, Volume One: Original Stories about Growing Up

When I was Your Age Volume 1, Original Stories about growing up By: Mary Pope Osborn ~ Laurence Yep ~ James Howe ~ Kathrine Paterson ~ Walter Dean Myers ~ Susan Cooper ~ Nicholasa Mohr ~ Reeve Lindbergh ~ Avi ~ Francesca Lia Block ~ Edited by Amy Ehrlich When I Was Your Age is a big bunch of true, short stories by different authors who write a lot of books. Each story has its own plot, beginning, middle and end, most of which are very exciting or sad in a weird kind of way. In one story, there is little girl in the second World War who is being bullied by a big meanie. Then the girl finds a friend who is an old lady who has a dog. The old lady is very nice and sticks up for her at school but soon there is an air raid and the inexplicable happens. In another story, there is a boy whose father had been a pioneer in the late 20's and 30's and currently owns a plane. The story really starts when the engine stops and the boy and his father plummet to the ground. The father tells the boy to put his head between his legs as they come in for a crash landing. Do they survive? It's up to you to read and find out. The book is for anybody(probably 3rd and up) and is really fun to read. It is historical short stories and I really like it because it tells a lot about the lives people lived a long time ago and has a big varieties. I hope you read it because it's a really good book. If you like it, you might like the second book in the series When I Was Your Age Volume2. by Dylan

The original tales presented in this book are actual memories of childhood penned by notable children's book authors. Although most of the stories have 8-10 year-olds as their protagnonists, they deal with emotions and predicaments more easily understood, I think, by slightly older children. Pre-teenage can be such an awkward time; these tales can be healing/instructive to those in this time of life. The authors all have written beautiful stories which really should not be missed. And, as an extra special "gift" to the reader, each story is followed by a one-page explanation/note written by the tale's author. It's a relief to realize that each author not only survived growing up, but also flourished. And I loved being allowed to share private memories of these marvelous authors. As a great fan of Katherine Paterson, I was especially touched by her story, which involved her older, prettier sister. Perhaps even more revealing, however, is the note she wrote to accompany this story. I am sure that the feelings here expressed were the souce of her poignantly beautiful novel "Jacob Have I Loved." (Great for girls age 12 and up.)This book also provided an introduction (at least for me) to several authors with whom I was not familiar; I look forward to reading more by them.I am a 40-something, well-educated mom. I bought this book for my own family, but I will be purchasing more copies to give as gifts. And I look forward to the sequel to this book, already in print!