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Everyone loves these classic authors—except these other classic authors. 

If you're a bibliophile, you've probably developed some strong opinions about books. If you've ever hated an author everyone else seemed to–inexplicably–think is the greatest thing since the invention of whiskey, maybe you can sympathize with these authors who also hated other popular writers.

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Remember a time when reading about 11–12 year olds watching the neighborhood kids seemed like a plausible arrangement? Ah, youth. 

It's a far departure from today's norm, where new parents often expect their babysitters to be professional child-rearing experts. (I currently have two nannies who alternate watching my 4-year-old and 9-month-old. Both have college degrees in early childhood development!) So when I re-read the first book in the series, Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin, I thought I’d chuckle over outdated babysitting blunders. Only I've come to realize that maybe modern-day nannies could take a page or two from these preternaturally mature middle-schoolers. 

Here are five times Kristy, Stacey, Mary Anne, and Claudia were suspiciously good, possibly magical, babysitting professionals:

For some authors, it's not enough to create a great character. They have to take it to the next level allow their creations to hop the border from book to book. These easter eggs fill us with uncontainable excitement. There’s nothing like discovering a beloved character in a totally unrelated novel. The result is an intricate web we are more-than-thrilled to dissect.

We’ve rounded up a handful of author magicians who love to revive their characters in totally new books. We can’t blame them for not wanting to let them go.

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Book trends come and go, and no list is more indicative of the times than the school-mandated Summer Reading List. Those of us (young, fresh-faced) bookworms who came of age in the '90s will see some familar gems in this nostalgia-packed list. Share your favorites with us on Twitter at @QuirkBooks!

Windows down, volume up, everybody. If you are looking for a little inspiration for your summer travels, check out this incredible interactive map pictured above: Atlas Obscura’s Guide To Literary Road Trips. This amazingly detailed project takes twelve books that center on a great journey, and catalogs every stop mentioned on the way along with quotes describing them. Of course, if you’d rather travel the country without leaving the comfort of your favorite armchair, there are plenty of novels to get that road trip feeling from home. Whatever mood you are in, you can explore America, and still be home for dinner. Check out our recommendations: 

Name-checking of early science fiction authors usually includes Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, and Jules Verne who all wrote during the nineteenth century. But could the origins of Science Fiction go much further back than that? And how far back? We take a look at the various titles that may have a claim to being the first Science Fiction novel.