graham crackers and apple juice

so you know how i've been reading kiddie books that my friends recommend? well, i've discovered that reading a person's childhood favorite might be one of the best ways to gain insight into their soul. i now know why my friends are the way they are. for example:

- mer, "the ordinary princess": like the title character, mer is cute and spunky and makes the most of what she's got. the one difference between the two is that mer hates animals and would never befriend a squirrel and a crow.
- ross, "maniac magee": maniac magee is awesome at everything but is nonchalant about it. sounds like ross.
- brent, didn't like to read: ha, explains a lot.
- mv, "sideways stories from wayside school": wacky hijinks ensue.

my favorite books were from the ramona series. ramona quimby was an awkward and misunderstood kid, who tried to live up to her (seemingly) perfect older sister's example, but couldn't help getting into trouble. she sometimes came off as a pest, but really she just had an overactive imagination and craved attention. my experiences weren't quite as extreme as hers (i got gum stuck in my hair, she got her hair tangled in a whole crown of burrs), but i saw a lot of myself in her. she and i both focused on strange little things in life, like the smell of a new eraser or how a sheep costume should not include pajamas covered with pink bunnies. we shared a lot of the same anxieties and dreams, so i totally understood her. ramona was an incredibly odd, flawed, and adorable character. if you haven't ever read the books by beverly cleary, i highly recommend them.

even though i know i should be reading ADULT literature, i love what i'm getting out of children's books!