Today's Top Ten is to pick ten childhood characters we'd like to read about as adults (like a novella or something to see what they grew up to be). I thought that was a fun and unusual topic, so here goes :)
The girls from the Baby-Sitters' Club by Ann M. Martin - from about age 10-13 this was my all-time favourite series, and I still reread the best books on a regular basis as guilty pleasure reading. I'd love to know how the girls (at least the original bunch - I never got to care much for Abby) grew up.
Charlie Bucket from Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - what happened to Charlie and his family after they moved to the Chocolate Factory? Did he stay as sweet and innocent as he was as a child?
Julian, Dick, George and Anne from Enid Blyton's Famous Five - this was my very first favourite series. I think this must have been some of the first chapter books I read, and I devoured the entire series - I prefered the originals of course, but quite liked some of the ones written by ghost-writers as well. Did they continue to get into as many scapes when they grew up? Did George finally resign herself to being a girl?
Ronja from Ronja Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren - did she and Birk manage to break away from their parents' expectations and become honest citizens?
Menolly from Anne McCaffrey's Harpers Hall trilogy - I've always found it hugely unfair that the third book wasn't really about Menolly at all. I wanted to read more about HER! I want to know more about her life as a harper, and if she ever made peace with her family (or at least her brother).
Alanna from Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet - I know that we get to see glimpses of her in the other books set in Tortall, but I'd love another book where she is the main character. She's always been my favourite, and I'd love to read more about what she's up to, balancing being a mother, a wife and a lady knight.
Melanie from Stephenie Meyer's The Host - okay, so I know this wasn't a childhood read, but seriously - what happens next?! Goodreads has been teasing me with sequels 'in the works' for YEARS now, and I'm starting to fear it just won't happen.
Gregor from Suzanne Collins' Gregor the Overlander - what happens next? Does he ever return to the Underworld? Does Boots remember any of her wild adventures as she gores up?
Cirena and Karano from Dennis Jürgensen's Dystopia - I've always been both relieved and sad that this is a stand-alone novel. Relieved, because it's so rare in the fantasy genre. Sad, because it is so amazingly brilliant! One of my top ten favourite books EVER. I reread it on a regular basis, even though I practically know it by heart by now. I'd love to hear what happens to both Dystopia and Frir/Lumber next.
... Can't think of the last one, so I'll just leave it here. Besides, if you count individual characters instead of series/books, I'm long past 10 anyway ;)
Until a few years ago, I'd have added Elizabeth and Jessica from Sweet Valley High to this list as well, but thanks to Sweet Valley Confidential, now I know!
