These long-lasting classics are, to me, what defines childhood and underlines certain qualities of it. All of them have a resounding message of unfairness. But more than that, they are classics for more than just the underlying messages- they are classics because they touch the corners of our hearts and tug on them.
Every single one of these characters faced an injustice. Each overcomes the difficulty in their own way. It’s this same show of strength that captivates readers and makes them feel like they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. This is probably what your mom told you growing up and it’s true. It is how we deal with a problem that makes us problem solvers and solution finders. Rest assured all of these long-lasting classics were vetted by me, a bookworm, and reread multiple times stamping them forever on my heart.
Louis Sachar’s Holes
Holes is one of those long-lasting classics that was written by Louis Sachar and was made into a movie in 2003 starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Dule` Hill, John Voigt, and Patricia Arquette. This film adaptation of the book was well done. There were some little tweaks here and there that were different from book to movie. We all know that books do not exactly translate to film word for word. The mediums are just too different to try to reconcile a page-by-page and word-by-word adaptation.
Stanley Yelnats (a palindrome) is convicted of stealing a pair of shoes donated by a famous ballplayer. He has a choice: go to jail or go to Camp Green Lake. He chooses camp. Being from a poor family, Stanley has never been to camp so he thinks it might be fun. When Stanley arrives, he is shocked to see no lake. His job is to dig a hole in the dirt every day. The belief is that if you make a bad boy dig a hole daily, he turns into a good boy. He meets potential friends, all convicted of crimes, while he is innocent. Stanley does find comradery in a boy named Zero.
Holes teaches children how to persevere when everything looks bleak. I loved the twist at the end and how everything comes full circle. Sachar did such a great job writing this book! The book takes place in the present with flashbacks as if Stanley were thinking about old times or reading his own story. Pure genius on Sachar’s part!
Judy Blume’s Superfudge
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Another long-lasting classic is Superfudge, which is one out of a series of five books. There are Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing, Superfudge, Double Fudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. Out of this entire series, I will focus on Superfudge as that was the one I read the most growing up.
Superfudge is amazing. It takes you into the life of a 12-year-old boy named Peter and his little brother nicknamed Fudge. Peter is the one narrating the story so the story is from his point of view. Peter has his hands full with his little brother who is not short on antics. Fudge gets into all kinds of different antics and scenarios. Peter is often fed up with Fudge as older brothers often are. But then Peter’s parents announce that they will be having another baby soon. Peter groans inwardly, “Not TWO Fudge’s!”
Peter threatens to run away but changes his mind. Fudge is up to more of his usual antics. One of them is bringing worms into the house and showing Tootsie (the new baby) by bringing it too close to her face. No matter how old you are, this book will have readers laughing and rolling. Also, what struck me as really cool about this book, is that even though it was published in 1980, this book can still resonate with readers from all walks of life, no matter what year they are in. It is still relevant today! That is just part of the magic of the author, Judy Blume.
E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is undisputably a long-lasting classic. Written in 1952, Wilbur and Charlotte’s story touches children to this day. The story about a girl who loves a little runt pig has warmed the hearts of many over the years. It teaches sympathy as well as empathy and helps us better understand how to take care of others; and how to treasure the time we have with them.
Fern makes a convincing argument to save Wilbur, raising Wilbur from a piglet to a full-grown pig who is then sold to her uncle. Fern is allowed to go see Wilbur, but when Wilbur is sold again, he is to be fattened for slaughter. We identify with Fern’s feelings, relieved when she saves Wilbur from this untimely death. Charlotte is a spider who has watched Wilbur during the day and decided that she likes him. Wilbur, in hysterics when he learns his fate, stops only when Charlotte calls for him to stop. Charlotte then comes up with a plan to help save Wilbur using her web. Wilber is famous!
The rest of the story goes that Wilbur wins a prize at the county fair and is saved from being butchered. Fern grows up and moves on to other activities besides sitting on a stool by the pig pen and listening to the animals. The rest of the story is rather sad, but a good one. It touches the hearts of many children who want to own a pet and find it noble that to have a pet one must first save it from death. And the loss that comes when you love someone and they eventually leave.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda
No childhood reading list would be complete without Roald Dahl, who so clearly underlines the love of reading in his long-lasting classic, Matilda. Matilda is a bright little girl born into the wrong family. Her family does not care for books. All they care about is television and making money no matter how dishonest.
Matilda is a genius. With some undertones of Stephen King’s Carrie, Matilda uses telekinesis as she can transport objects with her mind. However, she uses her powers for good. Sometimes she gets a little mischievous while she is figuring out her powers. School goes well for Matilda. She is excited to go and learn more. As a small child, she would sit in the library and read for hours just to get away from home. She was bored at home.
There was also an adaptation of this book into a film. I think the movie was great even though they took some liberties with the order of things in the book. However, it was an excellent film. I highly recommend watching the film starring Danny DiVito from 1996. There was also a musical made in 2022.
Beverly Cleary’s Ramona Quimby Age 8
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Written by Beverly Cleary, this is a long-lasting classic certain to catch the attention of anyone around the age of eight. Ramona is a little girl exploring her world. She gets on her sister’s nerves and others get on Ramona’s nerves. However, Ramona is nothing if not resilient. This little family of four goes through the same ups and downs as most families do.
Ramona has to deal with going to her friend Howie Kemp’s house where his little sister, Willa Jean, forces Ramona to play with her after school. On another day at school, Ramona, following the example of her classmates, takes an egg and cracks it against her head. She assumed it was boiled, but instead, it was raw and ran down onto her head. Ramona is humiliated even though she was able to wash the egg out of her hair in the nurse’s office.
Ramona Quimby Age 8 is a classic because so many readers can relate to the feelings of an eight-year-old when something embarrassing happens to them. Her feelings are almost palpable and seem to come off the page with an intensity that sucks you into the book. Ramona’s situation is not too far off from what could happen in today’s grade school world.
5 Classics Conclusion
What makes a great story is putting people into the situation of the character. The fact that these books were written several decades ago and are still relevant today is pure genius on the author’s part. The very best of stories are when they suck you into their world and won’t let go long after you’ve put the book down.
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