I, Houdini | 
so-soAnother for #MiddleGradeMarch! I loved The Indian in the Cupboard when I read it (and its sequels) in 4th/5th grade. (I‘m reluctant to re-read—I‘m skeptical whether they would hold up.) I remember seeing I, Houdini in a list of other books by Lynne Reid Banks, and becoming low-key obsessed with reading it—partly because I loved stories told from an animal character POV, and probably also partly because my library didn‘t have a copy. ⬇️
BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) I came across the book in a used book store several years ago, and you know the drill: I immediately snatched it up and brought it home and promptly didn‘t read it. So: #MiddleGradeMarch to the rescue and now I‘ve finally read it! It‘s a fun little story about the antics of a hamster, but I‘m pretty sure I would have appreciated it much more as a 5th grader than I did as an adult. The book is narrated by Houdini the Hamster, and ⬇️ 1mo
BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …the author plays up the condescending, arrogant first person voice quite a bit, which I found annoying/wearying after a while. And then there was a super weird part where Houdini meets the female hamster next door and—well, hamster lust/dubious consent was not something I wanted to read about. Especially not in a kids‘ book. “You‘re very beautiful and I‘m going to mate with you whether you like it or not”—um, no thank you. 1mo
willaful 😳 1mo
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CSeydel Whoa! that took a turn 1mo
BarbaraJean @willaful @CSeydel Yep. It's not a huge part of the narrative, but the fact that it's there at all is just bizarre. 😬 1mo
BarbaraJean Oh! And I forgot to note that this is my 1978 pick for #192025. Although I kind of want to read something different for my birth year!! @librarybelle 1mo
Librarybelle Wow! I only remember the author from The Indian in the Cupboard series - I actually didn‘t read the series but my brother did. 1mo
BarbaraJean @librarybelle With this author specifically, I remember having that moment of “Wait, she's written other books?!? Hooray!!“ That was always a revelatory discovery for me as a young reader! And then to discover my library didn't have them? Sadness indeed. Turns out maybe I wasn't missing out as much as I thought... 😂 (edited) 1mo
LeahBergen Happy Birthday!! ❤️❤️ 1mo
Librarybelle 😂 1mo
willaful @BarbaraJean I don't blame you! 1mo
BarbaraJean @LeahBergen Thank you so much!! 💜 📖 💜 1mo
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