When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up

Name: When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up
Author: Amy Ehrlich

Safe for the age band

Age-appropriate with no significant concerns.

Published: 1996
Ages: 10–14

About the book

A collection of short autobiographical stories by well-known authors for young people.

AI summary

A collection of short autobiographical stories by well-known authors for young people.

Why parents choose this book

What makes When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up worth choosing

An honest, parent-first look at who this book suits, what it offers, and what to know before you buy.

Best for

Age range: 10–14 (fits siblings across a range).
Reading maturity: Middle grade — richer plots and vocabulary with age-appropriate themes.
Kids who tend to love it: Biography.
Personality fit: kids ages 10–14 who enjoy a good story.

Parents love this book because

Age-appropriate content for the 10–14 band with no significant flags.
Written by Amy Ehrlich, whose books parents return to for consistently thoughtful storytelling.

Your child will probably enjoy When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up if they…

Enjoy stories written for kids around ages 10–14

This book helps develop

Vocabulary, sustained attention, and reading confidence for the 10–14 age band.

Things parents should know

Violence: cartoonish or off-page action.
Language: clean language throughout.

Reading commitment

Estimated reading time

Varies by reader

Length

Length varies by edition

Difficulty

Middle grade

Works as read-aloud

Usually read independently

Good for independent readers

Yes — suits confident readers in the age band

Similar books your child may love

Boy: Tales of Childhood · Roald Dahl
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
Brown Girl Dreaming · Jacqueline Woodson
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
Rosa Parks: My Story · Rosa Parks
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain · Peter Sís
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers' Edition) · William Kamkwamba
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
My Life in Dog Years · Gary Paulsen
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) · Daniel James Brown
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.
On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 · Laura Ingalls Wilder
Also popular with parents choosing books for ages 10–14.

Why we recommend it

We think When I Was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up is a confident pick for the 10–14 age band. It leans into biography in a way that feels genuine, not formulaic. Amy Ehrlich's voice is what makes it stick: readable, respectful of kids, and easy to hand to the next child in the family.