When I was a child...
As I do from time to time, I'm re-reading some childhood favourites. Some of them hold up very well (Chronicles of Narnia, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne of Green Gables) while others... not so much. I always enjoyed Enid Blyton. I objected to the characterization of her books as racist and sexist, and inappropriate for children. They may be racist and sexist in some ways, but the elements that make them good are the stories and the believable interactions between the characters, and those are entirely appropriate for children. Who hasn't wanted to be able to solve mysteries like the Famous Five? I know that I went in search of secret passages when I visited old houses :) I also enjoy reading the Chalet School series, which presents a very idyllic school environment, with locations in Austria, Switzerland and the west of England. It definitely encouraged me to learn French and German, and started a love affair with languages. Rereading these books now, I'm finding th