Lately, I find myself remembering just how important it was to read so much when I was younger. I know I say it all the time, but books quite literally made me who I am today--a thinker, a writer, a creator. This past week, I volunteered at a local school in Central New York, and I was able to read books with fourth and fifth graders. Although I always loved spending time with young children throughout high school as a volunteer, it's been a while since I was able to in college, up until this week. It was rejuvenating to be in the presence of such innocent, fun, free-spirited kids, and to witness their curiosity and excitement at the books we were reading. They took on funny voices to accurately match the characters, ran around the room pretending to be certain animals, and responded with a sense of curiosity and deep interest to every question I asked them. It was awesome.

The volunteering event reminded me of the importance of reading and the magic of a simple story. I couldn't help but reflect on some of my favorite books I loved to read during those crucial elementary and middle school years. Is there anything more glorious and memory-marking than the quintessential pre-teen chapter-book novel? Here, take a trip down Memory Lane, to revisit the words who made us who we are.

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1. "39 Clues" by Various Authors

This series absolutely took me on a journey through solving mysteries and traveling the world. The books taught me so much in terms of random, cool facts about things, and it instilled in me an eagerness to always look forward to the next book in the series.

2. "Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning" by Danette Haworth

This was the perfect read for a lazy summer day where I would sit in my pink cozy chair by the window and read about spontaneous outdoor adventures, coming-of-age, a small community church, and eating fish and chips.

3. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney

Very funny. Made me an expert in puns. And sarcasm.

4. "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

I learned that a world existed much more magical than my own. It was an entire world of gods and monsters, and it allowed my imagination to run wild.

5. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

I list this specific title because it was actually the first book in the series that I read after I checked it out from the town library on a joyous spring day after school. And it was my favorite out of all of them.

6. "Flowers in the Attic" by V.C. Andrews

This book is referred to by many as a horror novel, but I would disagree. In fact, it really made me the writer I am today. It helped me realize that I didn't have to be afraid of books or the content within them. It scared me and thrilled me, and it pushed me to transcend my literary comfort zones.

7. "Just as Long as We're Together" by Judy Blume

The book provided me with a sense of comfort as I was a pre-teen going through some of the same things as these girls: friendship troubles, crushes, growing up.

8. "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer

Perpetually torn between Team Edward and Team Jacob. Always an ethereal love story, regardless of what anyone says.

9. "The Daring Book for Girls" by Andrea Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz

Arguably the most valuable and entertaining and educational book on this list. These pages instilled a sense of curiosity and adventure in me, from learning how to make a peach-pit ring to different types of bird calls to the ghost story of Bloody Mary. Honestly amazing and classic.

10. "The Penderwicks" by Jeanne Birdsall

Again, another light and enlightening summer adventure.

11. "Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis

I still can't decide if I like the book or the movie more.

12. "Camilla" by Madeleine L'Engle

It was the first book that made me realize it was okay and, in a way, beautifully strong, to be alone.

13. "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell

I read this in fourth grade, and what has always stuck out to me most was the sense of isolation and primal survival in nature experienced by the main character. It definitely helped me understand the importance of courage and individual strength.

14. "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

Back in middle school, this was probably the first book that I ever had to write a thoughtful, analytical essay on. My sixth-grade literature teacher, who unfortunately passed away, first inspired my love for literature and for taking writing seriously. I remember always being pushed to analyze deeper themes and quotes in this book before any other. In retrospect, it was likely the first novel that impacted me emotionally.

15. "How to Eat Fried Worms" by Thomas Rockwell

Fun, innocent, crazy, amusing, youth.

16. "Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo

Another sweet summer read that's very close to my heart.

17. "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

It's still my all-time favorite book, second only to The Great Gatsby. It gave me a glimpse of how scary the world would be without freedom of expression and thought. And finally, of course, it spoke volumes about the importance of books in a culture and society in general, something that should never be forgotten.

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I will most certainly pass on these classics to my children or any children I ever encounter in the future, for they are definitely tools with which we can all learn to see the world differently, and for that reason, I'll always consider them as treasures.