What was that book?

[WolfpackWife]

I have this nagging memory of a wonderful book I read in...god...it had to be middle school. But I cannot for the life of me remember the title, or many details. I thought maybe if I shared what I remembered, someone here might know what I'm talking about? I've thought about this book a lot over the years, but I've never been able to recall the title or more details.

All I can remember is that it's fiction, it has to do with a boy who somehow befriends and visits an old man and *I think* the story evolves into the sort where his time with the old man teaches him lessons about life, etc. I believe it was set in the UK, but that could be wrong. I also *think* the boy had some sort of strife at home.

I also think it may have been, in some way, required reading during middle school - perhaps it was on a list of suggested reading for a certain year?

It's a long shot, but maybe the iMSN think tank will know what I'm talking about.

[Pollyanna]

Karate Kid? Sorry, I'm no help, but that does match your description

[WolfpackWife]

Hahaha - not quite, but you're right, I guess KK does fit that description!

[alotofyarn]

Not The Giver? Not quite the same plot, but it involves a young boy and an old man.

Any of these? http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...hool_Book_List

[WolfpackWife]

YES!! I figured it out! "Goodnight, Mr. Tom". My recollection of the description was slightly off but Google came through for me.

[poky]

I've had a couple of those "I remember this vaguely, what was it" books, and I think I've finally managed to find them all. The latest one I just finally rediscovered a few months ago: "Children of the Dust". Nuclear winter story from the POV of kids living through it. Made a huge impression on me when I was about 15.

[WolfpackWife]

I've had a couple of those "I remember this vaguely, what was it" books, and I think I've finally managed to find them all. The latest one I just finally rediscovered a few months ago: "Children of the Dust". Nuclear winter story from the POV of kids living through it. Made a huge impression on me when I was about 15.

Sounds interesting, I don't think I've read that one! I remember "Good Night, Mr. Tom" having that sort of impact on me - it just moved me for some reason. There was another book I read in elementary school/5th grade that I felt similarly about, but I don't remember a single thing about it, I just vaguely remember the colors of the cover. I wish I had kept some sort of record or list of books I read in middle/elem. school. I've always been a voracious reader, but for some reason the books I read in late elem school and middle school had huge impacts on me and stayed with me for a long time. I guess there's just a lot of good YA fiction out there. Makes me want to be an elementary school librarian.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

There was another book I read in elementary school/5th grade that I felt similarly about, but I don't remember a single thing about it, I just vaguely remember the colors of the cover. I wish I had kept some sort of record or list of books I read in middle/elem. school.

I have that same problem...there was this children's book that I'd love to get for my future kids that I adored as a child because the illustrations were so beautiful... I know they were full page illustrations and stunning. I know it had a poor large family in it but that's all I can remember (and it's not stone soup -- but similar maybe)?

[WolfpackWife]

I have that same problem...there was this children's book that I'd love to get for my future kids that I adored as a child because the illustrations were so beautiful... I know they were full page illustrations and stunning. I know it had a poor large family in it but that's all I can remember (and it's not stone soup -- but similar maybe)?

Hmm...I wish I had a guess for you, but the only thing that comes to mind is The Boxcar Children, but no illustrations (that I remember)

[Vanquisher]

There was this book I read in 7th grade that I loved at the time. I went back and read it as an adult. It sucked. It was veiled in religious Mormon subtext that I didn't pick up on at 12 years old (I grew up in Utah). Anyway, it has great reviews on Amazon. Go figure. The Alliance by Lund.