Books By Marissa Moss/ Ages 7+ (best when read together or discussed with an adult, likely best for female identifying children)
If you grew up in the ’90s like I did, you might remember Amelia’s Notebook, those diary-style books scribbled with doodles, crossed-out thoughts, and brutally honest emotions. Reading them as a kid felt like reading a secret. Amelia has a single mom. A dad who isn’t around. An older sister who gets under her skin. A brain that never seems to shut off, jumping from wondering how different noses looked, to what she’d be when she grew up, dissecting the details of a road trip to the grand canyon, what will happen when she supports an archaeological dig with her classmates and more.
Connecting with another child going through things can be the light in the dark.
Amelia wasn’t polished. She was real. And for a kid like me, whose mind also moved a mile a minute, her notebooks felt like home.
Back then, we didn’t use words like “neurodiversity” or talk openly about anxiety, overstimulation, or emotional regulation. But Amelia normalized it, without making it heavy. She wandered mentally, fixated on small things, said the wrong thing sometimes, and had big feelings. In her world, that was all okay. That was all human.
I see our daughter reading the book, excitedly awaiting Amelia’s next adventure, and considering starting her own diary notebook. Amelia’s Boredom Buster book is simply the best. She actually went up to her room to look for it and look for things to do the other day when she was bored (Thank you Marissa Moss!)
Books that stand the test of time, despite all the changes in the world
Now, decades later, I’m reading Amelia’s Notebook again, this time with my daughter. She’s seven. And watching her respond to the funny parts, pause at the big feelings, and just think as we read makes me feel warm inside. I see her connecting to Amelia just like I did. And maybe, if I’m honest, I get to reconnect with 10-year-old me, too.
And then I googled.
Turns out, Amelia’s story didn’t stop where I left off. Her notebooks continued, well into her teen years.
You can bet your bottom dollar I immediately added them to my online cart. I told my husband, “Our daughter loves them! We need more!” But secretly (okay, not so secretly), they’re for me too. Because there’s nothing quite like a story that grows up with you. One that reminds you that you were never alone in the first place.
So here I am, years later, ready to find out what happened next. Stay tuned as I get more Amelia notebooks in the mail
Why this book counts in the age of Screens
In this age of screens, short attention spans, and constant noise, books like Amelia’s Notebook offer something grounding. Something real. They create space for kids to be curious, for parents to connect, and for families to grow together through stories that matter.
Whether it’s the comic books that Amelia makes within the pages of her notebook, or the envelopes and postcards sent between her and her long distance best friend Nadia, the books are interactive, joyful and about the most important things – people, learning and connection to yourself.
At Daddy’s Digest, we believe in more of that.
We’ll be sharing more book reviews and meaningful recommendations like this—for parents who want to slow things down, foster connection, and explore great stories with their kids.
Start with Amelia. Read it together.
Laugh, reflect, and rediscover how books can bring you closer.
Learn more about Marissa Moss and Amelia: https://www.marissamoss.com/books/amelias-notebook/