You're listening to All the Backlist, a weekly show about books that are not new.

I'm your host, Danica Ellis, this is episode number 415.5.

And today I'm going to talk about a couple of books series that I read and enjoyed as an

adult, but that I wish I had been able to read when I was younger.

I find it really interesting to think about the way that I read why in children's books

now, because I still do read them.

I read fewer why books than I did in my early 20s.

I don't even think I've read that many why books when I was actually a teen weirdly.

But the way that I read them now is different.

I used to really relate to the main character, including when I was in my early 20s, but

now that I am in my 30s, I still relate to them in the way that I relate to all characters

that we're all human and we all have emotions that I can understand and feel for them.

But I don't put myself in their shoes, I don't feel like we are comparable in the same

way I used to.

Instead, I just feel really protective of them, especially in some of the way that I've

read recently.

I just want to scoop them up.

I just want them to be happy.

I just feel so bad for the struggles they're going through.

I think my very brief time as a teacher definitely helped with that and actually working with

teenagers and seeing how much that they are just kids still, and then I guess in a way

we kind of all are, but especially teenagers.

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