I read so many delightful books in 2023! I revisited old favorites and found some new gems to treasure. I set a goal of 100 books for the year and ended up reading 150—and that’s not even including most of the many picture books I read!

Now it’s time for the books I loved:

One of the first novels I read in 2023 ended up being one of my very favorites of the year: Seacrow Island (1964) by Astrid Lindgren. As soon as I read the description in the front of the book that called it an “unforgettable summer holiday” that’s “perfect for fans of classic stories such as Little Women and Anne of Green Gables,” I knew I would love it. It’s a charming tale of a family who heads to the Swedish seaside for the summer and end up returning in the winter! It reminded me a lot of the Penderwicks (with elements such as a poetic father, four children, a dreamy yet responsible eldest sister, a big lovable dog, some beloved rabbits, and lots of adventures)—but it also had a distinct feel of its own.

I read a couple more books in the Drina series by Jean Estoril (Drina Dances in Exile [1959] and Drina Dances in Italy [1959]), which were utterly fabulous. I have always loved books about ballet, and these are kind of like Noel Streatfeild stories with a bit more advanced writing style, and with a cast full of multifaceted characters.

Speaking of multifaceted characters, Meet the Austins (1960) by Madeleine L’Engle was a joy. Last year I read the novella prequel and enjoyed it, so I assumed I would like this one as well. It definitely exceeded my expectations! There was never a dull moment in this story of a big, opinionated family who take in an orphaned girl, attempt to thwart their uncle’s marriage, and nearly run into major trouble on a trip to the sea. One of my favorite parts was when the family’s house loses power. Evidently the feelings and details of a power outage have not changed since the 1960s!

R My Name is Rachel (2011)—about a city family moving to a farm in the 1930s—was a delight. It was a recommendation from a friend that I just loved, and it was also my first time reading Patricia Reilly Giff. Thankfully, there are plenty more Giff books out there, including Willow Run (2005), which I also read this year. Willow Run had a big plot point was left completely unresolved, but Rachel had the sweetest, most satisfying ending I read all year.

I have read a bunch of L.M. Montgomery short stories, but never before have I come across a collection as lovely as Around the Hearth (2022), edited by Joanne Lebold. One of the best in this volume was Miss Curtis Comes, which reminded me so much of stories by Elizabeth Enright or Noel Streatfeild. (So basically, if you want to experience what might have transpired if LMM had started writing big family stories in the 1950s, get a copy!) There is also a fabulous novella called By Way of the Brick Oven, which has shades of Louisa May Alcott and the Vanderbeekers.

Mitali Perkins’ Hope in the Valley (2023) was a book I’d heard so many positive things about, and to my delight, it lived up to the hype.  Set in the 1980s and featuring an endearing protagonist fighting to save a historic place, this book is beautiful and deserves to win the Newbery next month!

I devoured the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series this fall, which follows a governess in Victorian England who takes care of children who were raised by wolves.  Maryrose Wood’s writing is old-fashioned and humorous, and my favorites were the first book (The Mysterious Howling, 2009) and the fourth book (The Interrupted Tale, 2013).

The Secret of Tate’s Beach (1926) was another amazing book by Augusta Huiell Seaman, who wrote one of my favorites from 2022 (Mystery on Heron Shoals Island). Seaman’s mysteries are so intriguing to me, as many of them take place at seaside locales in early 20^th century (kind of like my upcoming novel, The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry)!

Other books I greatly enjoyed:

• Prairie School (1951) by Lois Lenski, a survival story in the vein of The Long Winter
• Christine of the Fourth (1949) by W.E. Eastways, a British boarding school story
• Stillmeadow Calendar (1967) by Gladys Taber, essays about Connecticut farm life
• Ribsy (1964) by Beverly Cleary—so charming and funny
• Wedding Flowers (2002) by Cynthia Rylant, the final installment in the Cobble Street Cousins chapter book series
• Little House in the Highlands (1999) by Melissa Wiley, set in late 1700s Scotland
• Village Christmas (1966) by Miss Read, a sweet holiday novella

My favorite audiobooks were A Place to Hang the Moon (2021) by Kate Albus and narrated by Polly Lee, the Gone-Away Lake series (1957-61) by Elizabeth Enright and narrated by Colleen Delany, the full-cast BBC dramatization of Ballet Shoes (1936) narrated by Rosemary Leach, and Schoolroom in the Parlor (1959) by Rebecca Caudill and narrated by Mary Sarah Agliotta.

I also read dozens of picture books this year, and a few that come to mind as especial favorites are:

• Home in the Woods (2019) by Eliza Wheeler (absolutely wonderful!)
• Sarah Mackenzie’s A Little More Beautiful (2023, illustrated by Breezy Brookshire) and While Everyone Is Sleeping (2023, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard)
• Hello Lighthouse (2018) by Sophie Blackall
• Andrew Henry’s Meadow (1965) by Doris Bunn
• A Big Mooncake for Little Star (2018) by Grace Lin
• Goodnight, Anne (2018) by Kallie George, illustrated by Geneviève Godbout
• Blueberries for the Queen (2004) by Katherine & John Paterson, illustrated by Susan Jeffers

My absolute favorite re-reads included The Sea Is All Around (1940) by Elizabeth Enright, Mine for Keeps (1962) by Jean Little, the Mitchells series by Hilda van Stockum (1945-60), Theatre Shoes (1944) by Noel Streatfeild, Betsy in Spite of Herself (1946) by Maud Hart Lovelace, The Golden Name Day (1955) by Jennie D. Lindquist, The Penderwicks (2005) by Jeanne Birdsall (here is my review from this summer’s reading challenge), the first four Anne books by L.M. Montgomery (1908-36), and Ramona and Her Father (1977) by Beverly Cleary.

All in all, it was a fantastic reading year, and there are so many more books I’m excited to experience in 2024. One of my most anticipated reads is Rosetown Always, the finale to the Rosetown trilogy by Cynthia Rylant.

What did you enjoy reading in 2023? What are some books you’re excited about for 2024?

In this third post in my seasonal series, I’m highlighting the middle grade and YA books that are most suited to winter! They are especially perfect for those long afternoons by the glow of the Christmas tree, watching tufts of cotton snow fall outside the window as you indulge in the peacefulness of the season.

Maggie Rose: Her Birthday Christmas by Ruth Sawyer
A forgotten gem from a renowned author of the mid-20th century, this marvelous novel could really be considered a summer story more than winter one, as much of the book takes place in summer. But the final chapters come to a climactic crescendo at Christmastime, when a little girl’s dream of hosting an enormous “birthday Christmas” celebration finally comes to fruition. The elegant prose, captivating descriptions of the coast of Maine, and magnificent ending make this one of my very favorite books. It’s out of print now, but available to read for free on Open Library!

Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Treasury
This collection of lovely Christmas tales by Louisa May Alcott is an absolute joy. My grandmother gave me this book two Christmases ago, and I read each story with delight, savoring Alcott’s sympathetic characters and happy endings.

Patty Fairfield by Carolyn Wells
Originally published in 1902, the first volume in the Patty Fairfield series follows 14-year-old Patty as she lives with each of her aunts in one unforgettable (and highly amusing!) year of picnics, parties, and adventures.

Friendly Gables by Hilda van Stockum
In this post, I detailed all the reasons why I love Hilda van Stockum’s Mitchell family trilogy, and this final book in the series is definitely the best of the three! Taking place in March and April in post-World War II Montreal, this sweet family story includes brand-new twin babies in the house, a secret meeting place, and an unpleasant housekeeper (who just might have a heart of gold). This novel has the feeling of a Christmas tale to me, but perhaps that’s because I read it for the first time as an 8-year-old right before Christmas! 🙂

The Family at Caldicott Place by Noel Streatfeild
One of my all-time favorite novels, this is a warm, uplifting depiction of a family struggling to cope with enormous loss. When a city family in reduced circumstances unexpectedly inherits a vast estate in the British countryside, their lives—and the lives of three unusual children who become their boarders—are changed forever.

Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories by L.M. Montgomery
Much like Louisa May Alcott’s collection of Christmas tales, this is another unforgettable compilation of stories filled with hope, goodwill, and the importance of family. Chapters of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Windy Poplars are included in this book, along with many stories about other characters.

Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott
I read this book last Christmas, and I fell in love with the large cast of warmhearted characters—most importantly conscientious Jack and impetuous Jill, whose sledding accident at the start of the novel is the catalyst for a series of heartwarming events in their close-knit village.

Betsy in Spite of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace
The sixth installment in the Betsy-Tacy series, this book follows Betsy Ray through her sophomore year of high school in 1907, as she attempts to transform her typical vivacious self into a “dramatic and mysterious” personality. She also visits her friend Tib in Milwaukee for a splendid Christmas celebration (which is very fun to read)!

From Anna by Jean Little
I cannot recommend this novel enough. In fact, I should really dedicate an entire blog post to this achingly beautiful middle grade by popular Canadian children’s author Jean Little. The moving story of a nine-year-old girl who is uprooted from Germany in the 1930s and forced to come to terms with her limited eyesight, is one of the finest Christmas stories I’ve ever read. The rhythmic writing, realistic characters, and timeless message continue to amaze me every time I pick up this book.