Books I’m Grateful For

With Thanksgiving here, I’ve been thinking a lot about the books that shaped me, not just as a writer, but as a kid who found magic, belonging, and identity inside the pages of stories. Some books stay with us long after we outgrow our backpacks and school desks, and today I’m sharing the middle-grade fantasy books I’m most grateful for. These were the stories that opened doors, sparked imagination, and helped me feel seen at a time when I often felt like a loner trying to find my place in the world.

Here are the books that made me fall in love with fantasy, and the ones that continue to inspire my writing today.

A magical book

📚 Classroom or library use?

If you’re a teacher, librarian, or parent, don’t forget to stop by the Resources page for a full printable reading list and discussion questions that pair with today’s post!

✨ The Furthest-Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks

This was the first fantasy book I ever read, third grade, tiny desk, big imagination, and it completely transformed the way I saw storytelling. Lynne Reid Banks painted such vivid descriptions that I felt like I was climbing the mountain right alongside Dakin. It was the book that opened the door to fantasy for me. I didn’t just read it. I lived in it. I’m forever grateful for that first spark of magic.

✨ A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This book taught me that fantasy can be both cosmic and deeply personal. Meg’s journey isn’t just across space—it’s a journey of identity and courage. As a kid who often felt out of place, I found comfort in watching a character who didn’t fit the mold become the hero of her own story.

✨ The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Whimsical, clever, pun-filled, and wildly imaginative—this book showed me that fantasy doesn’t always have to be serious to be meaningful. Milo’s journey reminded me that curiosity is magic, and that sometimes the silliest stories hold the deepest truths.

✨ The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (French Edition Le Petit Prince )

This was one of the first books I ever read in French, and it remains one of the most beautiful and philosophical stories I’ve encountered. Even now, its soft melancholy and quiet wonder still inspire me. It taught me that fantasy can be delicate, emotional, and timeless.

✨ Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

This book made me think about life, time, and choice in a way no other story had before. There’s magic in the story, yes, but there’s also a tenderness and sadness that stays in the heart. As a young reader craving stories about belonging and identity, Tuck Everlasting felt like someone whispering truths I didn’t know how to ask for yet.

✨ Why These Books Mattered

Growing up, I often felt like the quiet, imaginative kid who never quite fit in. These stories were lifelines, worlds where magic wasn’t just possible, it was normal, and where characters found belonging even when they felt different. They helped me understand my own feelings, and later, they shaped the worlds I now build for young readers. Fantasy gave me community long before I had one. For that, I’ll always be grateful.

🦃 Your Turn!

What was your favorite childhood book, the one that made you feel something, or changed the way you saw the world? Post it below! I’d love to hear the stories that shaped you, too.