Today at Daastan, we are opening a window to the past and remembering the childhood favourites. The kids of late 1990s and early 2000s are now beyond their teenage years and often feel nostalgic when looking back. Therefore, to relive some of the memorable literary moments of Gen Z, we have made a list of children books that are always a top shelf favourite. From C.S Lewis’ fantastical works to Jeff Kinney’s gripping world of tweens, we are revisiting it all!
The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S Lewis
Long before the days of J.K Rowlings’ Harry Potter, another fantasy series ruled the hearts of millions all around the world. As a matter of fact, after more than half a century it still continues to allure the readers. The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S Lewis has been a staple not only in children’s bookshelves but also in teens and adults. For Lewis’ Narnia has been a realm filled with magical creatures, beautiful landscapes, unforgettable adventures and parallels between good and evil. Since its initial release in the 1950s, the series has been adapted for theatre, radio, film and even video games and graphic novels.
The story follows the adventures of four children: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie. One day, they discover world of possibilities beyond their own hidden behind a wardrobe door. Upon treading into this magical world, the children come across a talking Lion; Aslan, an evil witch, and some other mystical creatures. These children soon take up new roles in the magical world of Narnia, saving its inhabitants and leaving behind a golden legacy.
“Remember that all worlds draw to an end and that noble death is a treasure which no one is too poor to buy.”
― The Chronicles of Narnia
The Percy Jackson Series – Rick Riordan
For most of the Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes fans, the love for Greek Mythology took roots from Rick Riordan’s The Percy Jackson Series. The story behind the conception of this book series is wholesome. It pays tribute to a father’s love. It all began when Riordan’s son was studying Greek Mythology in second grade. His son, Haley would ask him to tell him bedtime stories about the Greek Mythology. However, after sometime Riordan ran out of stories to tell. To solve this problem, Haley suggested that Riordan make up new stories for him with pre-existing characters from the mythology. So, that’s what Riordan did. Today those bedtime stories turned novels are a NewYork Times Bestseller.
The series is set in the mid-2000s and follows Percy Jackson, a young boy who finds he is a demigod son of Poseidon. He discovers that because of an oath taken by the Big Three (Poseidon, Zeus, Hades), his father abandons him. His voyage through the terrifying mysterious regions begins with his buddy Annabeth Chase and his best friend and comrade Grover Underwood.
“You will see things just as they are, being a half-blood, but humans will interpret things quite differently. Remarkable, really, the lengths to which humans will go to fit things into their version of reality.”
– Percy Jackson, ‘The Lightning Thief’
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
The kids of early 2000s were not just fond of diary writing themselves but they also loved peaking into others journals. It was because of curiosity and a sense of belonging, that author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney released the “Diary of Wimpy Kid” series. The author initially released an online version in 2004, in the form of daily entries. However, soon it became clear the online entries were not enough and kids wanted to know more about the daily life of Greg Heffley.
The series narrates the story of arrogant and lazy Greg Heffly and his best friend Rowley Jefferson in the form of diary entries and illustrations. Both the kids are young and naive so they often find themselves in troublesome situations. Their bad luck is usually brought upon by Greg as he tries to manipulate, and deceive his way up the social ladder. However, these diaries are not just about Greg’s mischiefs, they also carry lessons about loyalty, friendships, self-esteem and dreams.
We hope you enjoyed opening this window to the past with us. Share in the comments your favourite childhood series. Also, for more literary goodness, stay tuned!
