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When I Was Your Age: Volumes I and II: Original Stories About Growing Up
“Memoirs of adolescence by renowned YA authors. . . . Readers can journey to places where the seeds of imagination and keen powers of observation are planted.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Tell me a story of when you were little” is something children love to ask. Twenty award-winning authors respond in these two extraordinary volumes, now combined in one book. The writers of these stories make it clear that despite the difference between one childhood and another, all children share a complex humanity and a deep capacity for joy.
“Tell me a story of when you were little” is something children love to ask. Twenty award-winning authors respond in these two extraordinary volumes, now combined in one book. The writers of these stories make it clear that despite the difference between one childhood and another, all children share a complex humanity and a deep capacity for joy.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
About the author
Amy Ehrlich
65 books25 followersAmy Ehrlich is the author of more than thirty books for young readers and is also a winner of The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award for her novel Joyride, which was also chosen Booklist Choice Best Book of the Decade. She lives on a farm in Northern Vermont with her husband and a great many domestic and agricultural animals.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 10, 2018
This book was really good. I loved to hear the stories about the childhood of famous authors nowadays. Some stories were sad, others funny, happy, exciting. All of them talked about an experience that had made the author change in some way, for example; some talked about how an experience in their childhood made them become writers, others talked about something that had shaped them or made them learn a lesson. In each story I could feel a different emotion and experience powerful feelings.
My two favorite stories were called Muffin and Scout's Honor. Muffin helped me learn that sometimes old people can be your best friends and we shouldn't judge them because of their age. I loved this story because of the sensory details it had, which made me even cry! My take away from Scout's Honor was a little bit different. I realized that having competitive friends is a good thing because you can learn from them and become better. Even though I didn't feel so many emotions in this story, it was really exciting and fun.
The rest of the stories were also awesome. I really recommend this book because from each story you can take away something.
My two favorite stories were called Muffin and Scout's Honor. Muffin helped me learn that sometimes old people can be your best friends and we shouldn't judge them because of their age. I loved this story because of the sensory details it had, which made me even cry! My take away from Scout's Honor was a little bit different. I realized that having competitive friends is a good thing because you can learn from them and become better. Even though I didn't feel so many emotions in this story, it was really exciting and fun.
The rest of the stories were also awesome. I really recommend this book because from each story you can take away something.
February 4, 2021
Everything will be okay:a literary essay
by:skylar
Everyone has to choose for themselves no one else because everyone follows somebody else´s act and they really need to choose for themselves not to be like anyone else.In the text everything will be okay by James Howe james is sad because they had to put down the kitten he was determined to save.In James Howe everything will be okay the text teaches you to choose your own path in life this is true throughout the beginning middle and at the end.
In James Howe everything will be okay. The text teaches you to choose your own path in life. The text teaches this through the beginning.The text states ‟this animal is filled with disease we can't let it touch anything in the house.‟ This shows that his mom is against having the kitten and he still keeps it there until his brother gets back to take it to the vet.
In James Howe everything will be okay the text teaches you to choose your own path in life the text teaches this through the middle the text states, that “but that kitten is mine ,i found it,and it gonna be my pet”.This shows he will not listen to his parents or his brother and he will choose his own path.
In James Howe everything will be okay the text teaches you to choose your own path in life the text teaches this through the end.The text states I will never work for dr.milk I will never go hunting with my dad i will decide what boy I am and what man i will become.This shows that he is deciding for himself not letting his parents and he's choosing his own path.
After reading this you should choose for yourself and not anyone else.From now on,I will choose for myself and not anyone else.Like if my friends wanna do something
I don't want to do I don't have to do it.this shows that you're choosing your own path.
by:skylar
Everyone has to choose for themselves no one else because everyone follows somebody else´s act and they really need to choose for themselves not to be like anyone else.In the text everything will be okay by James Howe james is sad because they had to put down the kitten he was determined to save.In James Howe everything will be okay the text teaches you to choose your own path in life this is true throughout the beginning middle and at the end.
In James Howe everything will be okay. The text teaches you to choose your own path in life. The text teaches this through the beginning.The text states ‟this animal is filled with disease we can't let it touch anything in the house.‟ This shows that his mom is against having the kitten and he still keeps it there until his brother gets back to take it to the vet.
In James Howe everything will be okay the text teaches you to choose your own path in life the text teaches this through the middle the text states, that “but that kitten is mine ,i found it,and it gonna be my pet”.This shows he will not listen to his parents or his brother and he will choose his own path.
In James Howe everything will be okay the text teaches you to choose your own path in life the text teaches this through the end.The text states I will never work for dr.milk I will never go hunting with my dad i will decide what boy I am and what man i will become.This shows that he is deciding for himself not letting his parents and he's choosing his own path.
After reading this you should choose for yourself and not anyone else.From now on,I will choose for myself and not anyone else.Like if my friends wanna do something
I don't want to do I don't have to do it.this shows that you're choosing your own path.
February 4, 2021
Everything Will Be Okay Essay
By Christopher Payton
In life you will face hard deaths. Just like pets,family members,friends and harmless wild animals.In the short story “Everything Will Be Okay” The baby kitten was very sick and diseased.in James Howe”Everything Will Be Okay” teaches you to choose your own path in life. This is true for the boy in the text.
How does “Everything Will Be Okay” teaches you to choose your own path in life through the beginning,middle and end.In James Howe “ Everything Will Be Okay”Teaches you to choose your own path in life.The text teaches this through the beginning.The text said “We can't keep this thing its diseased.we can't let it touch anything in the house mom said then lets bring it to DR.Milk”.He chooses to take the little kitten to the vet instead to let it go.
How does “Everything Will Be Okay”teach you to choose your own path in life.In James Howe “ Everything Will Be Okay”Teaches you to choose your own path in life.The text teaches this through the Middle.The text says” Its half dead Paul said but then it's half alive I said”.This shows that the boy is fighting to save the cat not kill it.
How does “Everything Will Be Okay”teach you to choose your own path in life.In James Howe “ Everything Will Be Okay”Teaches you to choose your own path in life.The text teaches this through the end.The text said “ I'll never go hunting with my dad. I'll never work for DR.Milk.I’ll choose what boy I will be and what man I will become”.
As you can see, the character’s in “Everything Will Be Okay'' undergo a major death at the end of the story.The boy learned he could choose his own path in life.Not to be like other people.When people face deaths or very sad deaths. You want to talk to them about it.
By Christopher Payton
In life you will face hard deaths. Just like pets,family members,friends and harmless wild animals.In the short story “Everything Will Be Okay” The baby kitten was very sick and diseased.in James Howe”Everything Will Be Okay” teaches you to choose your own path in life. This is true for the boy in the text.
How does “Everything Will Be Okay” teaches you to choose your own path in life through the beginning,middle and end.In James Howe “ Everything Will Be Okay”Teaches you to choose your own path in life.The text teaches this through the beginning.The text said “We can't keep this thing its diseased.we can't let it touch anything in the house mom said then lets bring it to DR.Milk”.He chooses to take the little kitten to the vet instead to let it go.
How does “Everything Will Be Okay”teach you to choose your own path in life.In James Howe “ Everything Will Be Okay”Teaches you to choose your own path in life.The text teaches this through the Middle.The text says” Its half dead Paul said but then it's half alive I said”.This shows that the boy is fighting to save the cat not kill it.
How does “Everything Will Be Okay”teach you to choose your own path in life.In James Howe “ Everything Will Be Okay”Teaches you to choose your own path in life.The text teaches this through the end.The text said “ I'll never go hunting with my dad. I'll never work for DR.Milk.I’ll choose what boy I will be and what man I will become”.
As you can see, the character’s in “Everything Will Be Okay'' undergo a major death at the end of the story.The boy learned he could choose his own path in life.Not to be like other people.When people face deaths or very sad deaths. You want to talk to them about it.
October 26, 2021
This collection of autobiographical sketches by authors from their own lives permits the reader to gain a personal insight into their lives and the experiences that helped shape them. They have written about a moment that shaped them and in doing so shared a personal part of their childhood forward for all to see and experience. A uniquely candid insight of writers baring their childhood to provide a window into their emotions. A very rewarding read!
January 1, 2021
I borrowed this book because it was recommended as an elementary school mentor text for personal narrative writing, but I continued reading it on my own after my class moved on to a new topic. I don't usually go for short stories, but I enjoyed most of these because they were really heartfelt and provided some small story telling insights from a few of my favorite writers when I was growing up.
August 30, 2024
Really sweet - some stories are happy, some are sad, and some are more complex. All are impactful and very thought provoking as they force you to think back to your own childhood and dissect your past - like what memories have stuck with you, what moments defined that time in your life, and why.
September 23, 2018
Original, mostly true, stories about growing up.
March 4, 2020
After finishing the whole book, its just like any other short story. Some of the stories were intresting and some were not quite what I expected. I would recommend this book to people who like short stories that talk about authors growing up. I dont think I would read this book again because it kinda got a little boring for me. I was satisfied in the beginning stories, but at the end they really got boring. Overall this book was a 3/5 for me because I was only intrested in the beginning stories.
September 28, 2022
Everything Will Be Okay
By Amira
In life you should always help people when they need help. This is shown in “Everything will be okay”.In ¨Everything will be okay.¨by James Howe. There is a boy who loves a kitten he found in the woods. My Opinion is the text teaches to help others no matter what. This is shown in the beginning, middle and most of all the end.
The text teaches to help people no matter what. In “Everything Will Be Okay” by James Howe teaches to help people no matter what. The text teaches this through the boy because he helps the kitten. For example¨Everything will be okay. I’m going to take you home, and my mom will give you a bath and some medicine. This is the same because the boy will help the kitten.
The text teaches to help people no matter what. This is shown in the middle. In “Everything Will Be Okay'' by James Howe teaches to help people no matter what. The text teaches this through the boy because he loves the kitten. For Instance¨Don worry Smoky,¨I tell the kitten inside.¨I won't let anything happen to you.I don't care how sick you are.¨This shows that the boy loves the kitten.
The text teaches to help others no matter what. This is shown in the end. In “Everything Will Be Okay.” by James Howe teaches to help people no matter what. The text teaches this through the boy because he wants to keep the kitten. For example “You do have a choice.” Is all I say. I hug the box for dear life and move to the door. This shows that the boy wants the kitten to be his pet.
In life you should always help people when they need it. This is shown through the story. When someone needs help you should always help them. This is shown in “Everything Will Be Okay.”by James Howe. This is shown in the beginning, middle, and most of all the end. From now on I will help people when they need help. When someone is in trouble and needs help you should help them and to spread a little cheer.
By Amira
In life you should always help people when they need help. This is shown in “Everything will be okay”.In ¨Everything will be okay.¨by James Howe. There is a boy who loves a kitten he found in the woods. My Opinion is the text teaches to help others no matter what. This is shown in the beginning, middle and most of all the end.
The text teaches to help people no matter what. In “Everything Will Be Okay” by James Howe teaches to help people no matter what. The text teaches this through the boy because he helps the kitten. For example¨Everything will be okay. I’m going to take you home, and my mom will give you a bath and some medicine. This is the same because the boy will help the kitten.
The text teaches to help people no matter what. This is shown in the middle. In “Everything Will Be Okay'' by James Howe teaches to help people no matter what. The text teaches this through the boy because he loves the kitten. For Instance¨Don worry Smoky,¨I tell the kitten inside.¨I won't let anything happen to you.I don't care how sick you are.¨This shows that the boy loves the kitten.
The text teaches to help others no matter what. This is shown in the end. In “Everything Will Be Okay.” by James Howe teaches to help people no matter what. The text teaches this through the boy because he wants to keep the kitten. For example “You do have a choice.” Is all I say. I hug the box for dear life and move to the door. This shows that the boy wants the kitten to be his pet.
In life you should always help people when they need it. This is shown through the story. When someone needs help you should always help them. This is shown in “Everything Will Be Okay.”by James Howe. This is shown in the beginning, middle, and most of all the end. From now on I will help people when they need help. When someone is in trouble and needs help you should help them and to spread a little cheer.
December 30, 2013
There is nothing I love more than when my Dad would tell me stories of his childhood. This is a collection of stories from famous authors including Avi, Francesca Lia Block, Joseph Bruchac, Susan Cooper, Paul Fleischman, Karen Hesse, James Howe, E. L. Konigsburg, Reeve LIndbergh, Norma Fox Mazer, Nicholasa Mohr, Kyoko Mori, Walter Dean Myers, Howard Norman, Mary Pope Osborne, Katherine Paterson, Michael J. Rosen, Rita Williams-Garcia, Laurence Yep, Jane Yolen. I love the story that Avi tells of his scout trip in heart of New York City. It's hilarious. It wonderful to hear authors tell their stories from one wishing she had a dog so she could feed her mother's horrible cooking to the poor canine to growing up in World War II where bomb shelters on the playground were a way of life. Fun read.
June 28, 2012
My edition was only Volume 1. I expected to like it more than I did, but some of the stories just did not hold my attention. Some of the authors who contributed a story from their childhood were Mary Pope Osborne, Avi, James Howe, Katherine Paterson, and Laurence Yep. There were eleven total authors who were part of this project. My favorites were memoirs by Mary Pope Osborne, Katherine Paterson, and Laurence Yep. Those three would be worth using with students. They are stories that will touch readers' hearts as well as make them laugh.
October 18, 2016
Sorry to the authors who wrote this, but this book started to get a little boring for me as it went on. Some of the stories are very good while other were okay. I would recommend this book to people who really like short stories.
December 15, 2012
I love short stories :D
December 10, 2015
Good short read but not a main book
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews