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2024 in books

Writer's picture: Grace A. JohnsonGrace A. Johnson


I didn’t think my inner child needed healing, as they say, but my year in books says otherwise. 2024 was not a good reading year—in the end, I read a grand total of 23 whole books. (For context, I read 153 in 2021 and Lord only knows how many in years before.) But out of those 23 books, over half of them were children’s classics.


restoring my childhood

As a child, I read abridged versions of the classics. Abridged Little Women, abridged Jane Eyre, etc. And if it wasn’t abridged, as was the case with Heidi and Pollyanna, you better believed I skimmed the heck out of it. Suffice to say, I didn’t have a taste for the classics. I would’ve much rather been reading the mysteries and apocalyptic thrillers I found at the library.

But this year, I decided to do what I didn’t as a kid: I read the real classics.

I finally picked up an unabridged copy of Anne of Green Gables, which I’d loved when I was younger but never read the actual version of, and let me tell you. It was phenomenal. Naturally, abridged books are a disservice—but especially to Anne of Green Gables. The story was familiar and yet oh, so new and wonderful, and I can’t believe why I never read the real thing until now.

I also really read Heidi for the first time. Instead of skipping over the boring parts, I took my time and soaked in the whole story—which moved me to tears a couple of times. Even though these stories were written with children in mind, they’re for adults. They’re for people who need to recapture the beauty of childhood, of life, of faith. They’re for folks who need restoration and the gentle reminder of what really matters.


reimagining my childhood

I also read some classics that most folks grew up reading (maybe not as seven-year-olds, but as middle- and high-schoolers), but I never read. The Hunger Games and The Hobbit. Could I have read The Hobbit as a kid? Definitely not without a great deal of skimming. But now that I’m considerably older (and allowed myself several months to tackle this tale), I finally gave it a try. And after we’d watched The Hunger Games movies as a family in 2023, I had to give the books a shot.

These modern classics were never on my radar when I was growing up, but I’m so glad I finally had the chance to read them.

I also cracked open my uncle’s old copy of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, in honor of the film release this past Christmas. This book definitely isn’t up there with The Hobbit in terms of popularity or cult following, but it’s a tear-jerker and a classic worth rereading.


revisiting my childhood

It’s not a celebration of one’s childhood without rereading old favorites—like my first-ever Nancy Drew book, The Hidden Staircase. This classic children’s mystery was what sparked my love of Nancy Drew as a five- or six-year-old, and it was even better the next time around.

I closed the year out some of the greatest childhood classics of all time: The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Horse and His Boy.

Let’s face it. The Chronicles of Narnia is the GOAT. I barely remember reading these books when I was younger (The Silver Chair is the only one that’s stayed with me), so I knew I was overdue for a reread. I read through three out of seven books in December, and I’m currently finishing the series. Y’all, these books are pure comfort and wonder. I can’t believe I haven’t come back to them sooner. Like Anne of Green Gables and Heidi made me fall more in love with life, Narnia has made me fall more in love with God.

And I’m just gonna say it…The Magician’s Nephew is extremely underrated. It’s the stinkin’ creation of Narnia, and it gets like zilch love and recognition. It deserves better.


other notable reads of 2024

On the more grown-up side of things, I also read Emma (which took me about as long to read as The Hobbit), The Lord of Psalm 23 by David Gibson, In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano, Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot (must read!), Lady at Arms and Baron of Godsmere by Tamara Leigh, and A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz (also a reread).


Your turn! Share your top reads of 2024 below, or what you hope to read in 2025!










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10 Comments


A.M. Revere
Feb 01

Gracie girl! Hello, dearie! I think it is so sweet that you read so many wholesome books this past year.

Here is what I read in 2024:

Ignite by Jenna Terese

As You Go: Words for the Unknown by Tanner Olson

Enjoy Your Journey: Find the Treasure Hidden in Everyday by Joyce Meyer

Life After by Katie Ganshert (read for the 2nd time I think)

Don't Give the Enemy a Seat At Your Table by Louie Giglio

Rooms by James L. Rubart

The Greatest Secret: God's Law of Attraction for Lasting Happiness, Fulfillment, Health, and Abundance in Life by Ron McIntosh (also read for the 2nd time)


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A.M. Revere
6 days ago
Replying to

Good question! Jenna's book was really well done, so that was one. Another would have to be Louie Giglio's or Tanner Olson's for sure. As You Go was full of poems that really touched the heart. But then again, James L. Rubart's book was something else; just beautiful.

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Malana
Jan 31

Aw love this post!

So true about revisiting books we skimmed or read abridged as kids, or read but simply missed the deeper, beautiful meaning. I remember trying Anne of Green Gables a couple of times, then once bravely making it through without ever really catching the story. In my mid teens though, I re-read it, and was completely lost in the wonder of the entire series.

"Puer comfort and wonder' so true about Narnia!

Oooh, a highlight read that comes to mind for '24 was Yesterday's Tides by Rosanna White.

This year, hmm, well, my sister got a few huge books for her birthday so that will keep us both covered for the forseeable furture ;D

This was a…

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Malana
5 days ago
Replying to

Ahh yes so true!!


Loved it so much :D :D No, I haven't acutally read any of her other work yet! Would you recommend?


Hear hear!

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Naia
Jan 30

This is beautiful 💕

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Grace A. Johnson
Grace A. Johnson
6 days ago
Replying to

Thank you, sweet girl! 💕

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Bella Raine
Jan 30

I love this, Grace! This year, I'm reading a classic a month and I'm really excited. Some of the ones I'm planning on reading are Pride & Prejudice, Chronicles of Narnia, the last three books of the Little Women series, and more!

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Grace A. Johnson
Grace A. Johnson
Jan 30
Replying to

Thanks so much, Bella!! Ah, awesome idea!! (I tried and failed to do that last year. 😅) Are these rereads or new to you?

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