It's a little sad, revisiting childhood favorites, and seeing the flaws that only time and perspective could reveal, but it's wonderful to discover that what felt great about the book back then, is even greater to reread as an adult.

Snyder was so important to me, when Egypt Game and Changeling first came out and I was just the age to devour them and relate to them so strongly. They are still wonderful, amazing books, and I would still recommend them to kids, but with maybe the caveat that a few culturally awkward moments might arise. Not so many cringes as in Huckleberry Finn, and not as huge, but a few little cringes are there.

Still, I am sticking with five stars. Snyder wrote of childhoods just a little more complex, more dangerous, and more wondrous, than most writers of her time bothered to grapple with, and did so with respect and understanding. I don't even recall another book at that time about a child of a single mom, living with a grandparent, in a lower-income neighborhood, in a multicultural city, exercising a powerful imagination and creativity.

I loved Tom and Huck, Anne and Diana, and Mary and Colin and especially Dickon--who didn't? But I loved The Egypt Game's April and Melanie, and The Changeling's Ivy and Martha, even better.