We all have favorite book characters for sure (Fred Weasley! Jo March! HERCULE POIROT!…..* ahem * I’m done.), but there’s something about the characters we read about as kids that gives them a special place in our hearts. It’s more than simple nostalgia—I like to think it’s genuine friendship. Fictional or not, these people are just as integral to the sharing and shaping of our childhood as any real person. Sometimes more.
But real people grow up. They change, have families, and go off on their own adventures. Our favorite childhood book characters don’t do that unless we’re blessed with a sequel or an epilogue, but that doesn’t stop us from wondering what might have become of them.
This is my list of favorite childhood characters I’d like to revisit as adults. For most, I’ve added my musings about their potential futures, but I want to hear what you think about them too! Do you imagine their fates differently? Exactly the same? Let me know! 🙂
Ten Childhood Characters I’d Like to See as Adults:
- Sara Crewe from A Little Princess. In my heart, Sara Crewe will always be the Little Princess, but I think it would be cool to find out what happened to her when she grew up. Naturally, she’d go back to India, maybe as a missionary or a hospital nurse. Or maybe she’d start a home there for other orphan children. The more I think about the possibilities, the more I want to read about it!
- Arrietty from The Borrowers. Even though we get to see Arrietty grow and accept more responsibilities in the Borrower books, I kinda want to see what she decides to pursue when it’s time to choose a life of her own. I can’t really picture her putting down roots like her parents (not right away, anyway). Instead, I imagine her and Spiller backpacking through the countryside and going on endless adventures.
- Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. I’m actually a little torn about this one. Part of me wants Calvin to stay a little kid forever, but part of me also wants to see how he turns out when he grows up. What do you think, fellow Hobbesians?
- Matilda from Matilda. Personally, I like to imagine Matilda growing up and becoming a school teacher or head librarian in the big city, where she bonds with another little kid who loves to read (and maybe also has powers?!). Of course, she’d still go visit Miss Honey on the weekends. 🙂
- Tom Sawyer from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I want this for the pure and simple reason that I want to see what happens when a troublemaker like Tom grows up and has a little troublemaker of his own. Poetic justice is a dish best served while running away from home to be a pirate, am I right? 😉
- Saaski from The Moorhchild. This was one of my favorite books as a kid. We get a glimpse of how Saaski’s life turns out at the end of the book, but I always got the sense this led to more adventures, which I would have wanted to read about.
- Terence Mugg from Which Witch. I love that Terence is basically a nice kid who just so happens to be able to conjure piles of riggling insects and grinning skulls into existence at will. Plus, who WOULDN’T want to read about the adventures of the successor of Arriman the Awful, the world’s greatest dark wizard? I’m especially curious about the fate of Terence’s “familiar,” Rover the Earthworm.
- Zinny Taylor from Chasing Redbird. I LOVED Sharon Creech books as a kid, and Chasing Redbird was the first one I ever read. I loved stubborn, mulish Zinny and her quest to create something of her own. And it was endearing that, as much as her brood of siblings annoyed her at times, you can tell she loves them. I like to imagine she had her own passel of kids and lived in Uncle Nate and Aunt Jessie’s old cabin…or maybe built her own cabin on the trail she uncovered? Of course, she’d plant roses and zinnias all around it. 🙂
- ALL the Harry Potter Characters. I know Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is coming out later this year, but what avid HP fan doesn’t want a legit Harry Potter: Next Generation series? Also, I REALLY want a prequel series chronicling the lives of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin before they founded Hogwarts. But that last one is probably just a pipe dream. 🙂
I totally agree: I would love to meet Sarah Crewe from A Little Princess. If you want to know what happened next, you should read ‘Wishing For Tomorrow’ by Hilary McKay. You can read my review here:
https://mybookylife.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/wishing-for-tomorrow-by-hilary-mckay/
One I character I definitely would want to meet is ‘Silky’ form The Magic Faraway Tree collection! Those book were so magical and took me the most enchanted and whimsical places.
Thanks! I’ll take a look at it. 🙂
I’ve never heard of the Magical Faraway Tree Collection. What’s it about?
Yeah, it’s by Enid Blyton, one of my favourite’s children author. i loved all of the book i’ve read by her. (she’s written over 200!) It’s all about three children,who move to the countryside, and discover an enchanted tree. they find many mystical creatures that live in the tree (Silky,Mooneface etc..) but at the top, there is a special land, which changes every so often. its a really great book or series depending on how you read it…
Dang, Tom Sawyer is one I’ve seen on a couple of lists that I just didn’t even consider! SUCH a great idea. Love your list!
Thanks! I honestly didn’t think of him at first either. I had my list mostly finished when I realized there were only two boys, so I wracked my brain to think of another one. I like the irony of Tom having to raise a kid just like himself, so he made the list! 🙂
Matilda made my list too. I’d love to see her grown up and happy. I also want to know if she changed her name to Matilda Honey. 🙂
I’m pretty sure that’s the best name ever. It’s officially getting added to my mental list of life goals for Matilda.
Would totally love to see Matilda as an adult. Could definitely imagine her as a librarian!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/top-ten-tuesday-55/
Thanks! I loved your list too. I especially liked that you mentioned wanting to see what a peaceful Panem looks like. Me too! 🙂
Yup all Harry Potter fans want a legit next generations series!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/top-ten-tuesday-55/
Lol! Amen to that!
I definitely want more Harry Potter sequels…and prequels. ? I SERIOUSLY want to know more about the other houses too, particularly Slytherin post-Hogwarts-battle, because I hope they got better treatment after that?!? Like SLYTHERINS ARE PEOPLE TOO. (Ahem, can you…um, spot the slytherin here? Yeah. I SHALL SHUSH NOW.)
Also I’d love to know more about Matilda. I hope she went on to be like a president or something. :’)
I know, right? I can’t remember if it worked quite like this in the book or not (it’s been YEARS since I last read it), but in the movie they confine Slytherin house to the dungeons for the Battle of Hogwarts literally just for being Slytherins. I was like, “Wait, seriously? Isn’t this exactly the sort of behavior you hate Slytherins for?”
The faulty logic made the Ravenclaw in me come out a little bit. 😉
I’m so glad that got cleared up! Rude internet users are never any fun.
I’m doing well! Super busy right now, so it’s been tough to keep up with blog stuff. We’re moving this weekend, and I’ve got a big announcement I’m hoping to write a post about early next month. By September though, I should be able to devote more time to blog upkeep. Fingers crossed! 🙂