Mon, I also read and re-read Bless the Beasts and the Children.

Other books (among literally thousands, as I was a very bookish kid) that made a significant impact:

Meet the Austins by Madeleine l'Engle. D1 and I agree, we strive to make our family like that. Even succeed sometimes smile

Treasure at Flying Spur by Shirley Sargent. I loved the idea of the summer projects they did (sort of an intellectual stretching, I think that is why it appealed to me so much)