Keep out, philistines
I was feeling nostalgic today and purchased the first edition of this book on Amazon. I threw in the first edition of Meet Felicity from the American Girl series for a buck fifty too. This was the first compelling book I've ever read as a kid. I remember intently looking at this cover, lying on my bedroom carpet with my legs sprawled across the bookshelf. From that point on, I finally understood my discomfort with my mostly Caucasian group of friends and why I became angry with some of the jokes my best friend would make. Well, I understood a little better at least. This is when I first learned of the word "prejudice". Little did I know, it would prepare me for a life of first-hand experiences.
One of the worst mistakes my family made was to send all of our books to California. Long story, short- we were rewarded with a free trip to Hawaii. (Don't ask.) I still remember boxing up all of the heaviest ones and most of the lighter ones. Then when we didn't have enough, I offered the rest of my books. These included recipe books and encyclopedia sets my grandmother had collected. I had every young adult series imaginable and I read them all too. Which is the only reason I could come up with for my submitting to this ridiculous plan. That and I probably thought I was too old to read BSC anymore. It was only but one of my father's horrible ideas.
Although I am probably still too old to read the series again and I cringe at the impostors on the new covers, I plan on keeping this one in my library. You live, you learn.