I remember my frequent checking out of "The Witches" in second or third grade caused the librarian at my school to call my mother about my reading inappropriate books for my age. (However, my mom really didn't much care what they thought).

The story that sticks most with me is Henry Sugar, though...maybe it was the mysticism angle, or the fact that sudden death terrifies me, but man. Also, I thought playing cards and card games were pretty fun as a kid, so being a card shark didn't sound so bad.