Fine Lines finds a publisher

One of my favorite haunts online is Jezebel. I think it’s quirky, cutting, insightful, and interesting. Sure it’s also sometimes befuddling and infuriating, but definitely worth checking out.

One regular feature is Fine Lines, which Jezebel describes as “a sentimental, sometimes critical, far more wrinkled look at the children’s and YA books we loved in our youth.”

Lizzie Skurnick's take on The Secret Garden: But The Secret Garden, more than anything, is about those who are locked up, and those who grow — both literally and emotionally

Jezebel posted this week that Harper Collins will be publishing a book featuring previously published Fine Lines and new material.

I wonder why some of the fondest memories we have of books are the ones we read in our childhood. For instance, some of my favorites are Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series. Is it because we start learning the true magic of reading when we’re young. That when have less pressures and worries it's easier to find time to read? I still remember being teary eyed at the end of Charlotte’s Web (and so a lifetime of crying while reading sad stories began).

Other childhood favorites: For some reason The Donkey Prince was a favorite. A prince is under a curse where he’ll remain a donkey until he finds true love. The Little House – LOVE IT. New favorite would Hug, which I usually always include as part of baby gifts.

I would love to see a Fine Lines on that often overlooked girl detective – Trixie Belden. Move over Nancy Drew! Unfortunately, the series was out of print for a number of years. While Random House has reissued the first five, the series had many, many more books – 39 to be exact.

Speaking of Nancy Drew: Nancy Drew: Curious, Independent and Usually Right - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91753085&ft=1&f=1032

To All Our Fans, With Love, From Lizzie, http://jezebel.com/5019004/to-all-our-fans-with-love-from-lizzie

Fine Lines

The Chocolate War: Life’s Tough Kid, http://jezebel.com/378750/the-chocolate-war-lifes-tough-kid

A Wrinkle in Time: Quit Tesseracting Up, http://jezebel.com/5013495/a-wrinkle-in-time-quit-tesseracting-up

The Secret Garden: Still No Idea What A Missel Thrush Is, http://jezebel.com/381385/the-secret-garden-still-no-idea-what-a-missel-thrush-is

Update: Amazon weighs in too.
http://www.omnivoracious.com/2008/06/a-book-about-bo.html