10 YA Books that Scarred us for Life

[dorothyinAus]

May 17, 2012 16:34:23 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

You know what scarred me? Little Women, the death in that KILLED me, of course I was 10 and it was probably the first book I read where a character died.
Still love that book and do a reread every so often. Can't wait to introduce DD to it.

The first time I read Little Women, I didn't know there as a death in it. And when I realized there was, and who it was, I stopped the booked immediately and put it on my shelf. I would re-read the book only up until the death and then put it back on the shelf. I was in college before I finished the book all the way to the end. I had seen the Katherine Hepburn version of the movie countless times, so I knew what happened, but it still took years for me to actually read past the death.

The books that scarred me was Charlotte's Web. I cried myself to sleep for over a week after reading that book. I think I was 9 or so when I read it, and here some 30 years later, I still have not been able to re-read it.

[niemand88f]

I read all these as a child. I don't think any 'scarred' me, but some did evoke a strong reaction.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen - I know I read it but don't remember it much
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - I cried at several points and was very disturbed when the other kid falls on the axe
The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman - I enjoyed the series' story but didn't really get the message at the time
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis - Same here, I loved the story but didn't recognize the author's tricks
Lord of the Flies, William Golding - This book didn't bother me, I didn't like it though
White Fang, Jack London - I liked this one a lot

[dulcemariamar]

I love the Golden Compass but I read it as an adult. I think it is great for teens but I cant imagine reading it as kid and really understanding it and its themes.

[feedthecrocs]

May 17, 2012 14:08:27 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Also, Flowers in the Attic. DUDE. **shudder**

Flowers in the Attic is the only book I've read that I felt like it scarred me. I've read all but 2 books on the OP list.

[dragonfly08]

I've only read The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Flies, and White Fang off that list (about half of the others were published when I was either well into high school already or had graduated) and I've seen the film of Logan's Run even though I haven't read the book, but none of them made much of an impact on my life at all, let alone "scarred" me. And when they are age appropriate for my kids, they'll be allowed to read them as well.

[Nonny]

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen - I have never read this.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - This book is so sad, I remember crying in 5th grade when I read it, but I think a lot of us did so I don't remember any teasing. I wouldn't say it scarred me though.

The Giver by Lois Lowry - I just read this for the first time a few months ago after buying it for 99 cents. It didn't scar me and it wouldn't have as a kid either. Also, for those who don't know, this book is the first of four (the fourth coming out this fall) so you do get to find out what happened to Jonas.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson - I've only seen the movie as an adult.

Logan’s Run, William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson - Again, only seen the movie as an adult. The movie did scar my cat for life though. She flipped out during one of the scenes and started yowling at the TV.

Lizard Music, Daniel Pinkwater - Never heard of this.

The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman - this didn't come out until I was an adult and as an adult it didn't scar me. I wouldn't have even noticed the stuff about god at the end if I hadn't already known (I actually did miss it the first time and had to go re-read the chapter). The relationship stuff was sad.

The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis - I loved these books when I was kid and growing up in a non-religious household I never made the Aslan/Jesus connection until I was an older teenager. But the thing about Susan at the end always pissed me off as a kid, and it still pisses me off as an adult.

Lord of the Flies, William Golding - read this as an old teenager in college. I think it would have messed with me as a kid though, because if I'd have ended up in that situation in elementary or Jr. High school I totally would have been Piggy.

White Fang, Jack London - I know I've read this, but I'm totally drawing a blank.

[beebeeeater]

May 17, 2012 15:15:16 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

(I will totally cop to being legitimately traumatized by the one where Regina dies when she does a line of coke, though. It is seriously why I never did any drugs harder than pot in my youth. Any time someone whipped out something stronger, I'd pass and think, "what if I have an undetected heart murmur?!")

Same here! I would totally be that person!

[pthermal]

The only book I remember scarring me for life (or maybe just 6th grade) was French Silk by Sandra Brown because I totally thought it was a mystery novel until I flipped a page and read a sex scene.

I can't imagine not letting my child read any of those options on that list.

[christy082]

The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
Lord of the Flies, William Golding

Those are the only two I read. Well, actually only The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe from the Narnia series.

Neither scarred me for life, though I still remember the pig head on a stick...

[twogreen81]

I'm new but I wanted to chime in. I haven't read The Giver in such a long time, thank you for bringing it up! I was just about to buy a book on my kindle and now i'm buying that one instead. That was my favorite book for a very long time!

[pooh8402]

of this list, I read White Fang in high school (9th grade?).

I read Chronicles of Narnia my senior year of college, and The Golden Compass (and the rest of the trilogy) about 3 years ago when the movie was coming out. that's it. The Giver is on my TBR list.