Ever since I heard the news, I’ve been thinking about Diana Wynne Jones and how much her books meant to me. They were wise and honest and exactly what she always said children’s books should be: blueprints for life. So here are the ten most important lessons I learned from her….
1. Doing the right thing matters.
2. One good friend can change your life.
3. It’s okay to be shy, but remind yourself that you could be missing out on the chance to make a friend.
4. It’s okay to be sad, but remind yourself that things will get better.
5. Life doesn’t give you extra credit for flying solo, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
6. Parents (kids’ version): It’s your parents’ job to take care of you. If they won’t, it’s their fault not yours.
7. Parents (grownup version): Taking care of your children is the most important job you’ll ever have. So do it.
8. Keep your eyes open; the world is stranger and more wonderful than you can possibly imagine.
9. Life and writing are both better when you’re honest. So be yourself.
10. One good book can change the world.
Thank you, Diana. I owe you a debt I can never repay. And I know I’m not alone. Somewhere in the world, right this minute, a child is saying “Chrestomanci” three times just in case he really does show up. And somewhere in the world — right this minute and for the next eighty years or so — you are changing someone’s life.
Thanks, Chris! I loved the Chrestomanci Chronicles too and read them until they were dog-eared. She will be missed.
I’ve been a fan for many, many years, and she shaped my own writing (I always list her as one of my top 5 influences). While I love (and have) most of her books, I find the haunting and otherworldly ones stick in my mind (The first Dalemarks, Power of Three, Black Maria, Fire and Hemlock, Eight Days of Luke, The Homeward Bounders) whereas I must admit Castle in Air is one of my ‘comfort books’.
Mitt is my favorite hero, and Sophy my favorite heroine.
She will be missed, but may her books continue to be loved.
Hi Dave! I completely agree about the dark and haunting ones. The Power of Three is probably the book of hers that I reread the most outside of the Chrestomanci books. It has an eldritch quality to it that is like no other kids’ book I can think of. Funny thing, though. I have never read Fire and Hemlock. And I’ve seen several of my favorite writers talking about it today as one of their favorites. Clearly I have to read it….
I’m a little iffy about many of the books that get called ‘YA’ – but Fire and Hemlock is jewel of an example of what this can and should be. It also blends in myth with modern story as very few authors ever do really well. This is DWJ. It’s a masterclass. Do read it if possible.
Thanks Deb and Rob. The one silver lining today is getting to know so many other DWJ fans and hearing their reminiscences about what she meant to them. At the moment I am waiting to pick my son up from after-school, rereading Charmed Life once again, and thinking how really great it’s going to be to read it with my kids some day….
What are your favorite books of hers? I find I’m thinking a lot of The Power of Three and Dogsbody today. I haven’t read Dogsbody for years and years, and the last time I went looking for it it seemed like it was out of print. Maybe I need to go looking again …. it seemed from Neil Gaiman’s tribute to her that it there might be a new edition coming out?
We all love her books in our house – so much joy and wisdom and wonder.