On April 20th we added a new feature: Ask Shan! Shan is our in-house librarian and one of the things she loves to do is help folks find books for the young people in their lives. Well, here's the first question that's come along.
Question: I've got a 10 yr old girl who's a bit sophisticated & who reads a few grades higher. She doesn't like paranormal/magical books or mysteries (which is a lot of what I know). She liked Stargirl & Where the Red Fern Grows. Her mom doesn't want things that are too much with boys & relationships because she's only 10.
Answer: (click on book pictures to see Amazon prices and reviews)
This still leaves quite a range of books to choose from! But it can be a challenge depending on the interests of the child.
The easiest pick is historical fiction. There's a lot of it and for a strong reader who doesn't mind a longer story, it can offer some worthwhile exploration of different time periods and the characters that live in them. Some of it can have some pretty dark stuff happening however, so it’s a good idea for the parent to know the type of subjects their child might be able to handle. Here’s a few of my own suggestions:
Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder—anyone interested in frontier living and the lives of one family as they grow up should enjoy these stories. They’ve been around for a long time, and proven themselves popular over several decades.
All of a Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor—details the lives of a Jewish family in New York City during the early 1900s.
I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade by Diane L. Wilson—a tale of fourteenth-century China and a strong spirited girl who won a horse race in Mongolia. Wilson’s also got a few other horse stories set in different historical periods that might appeal if this one does.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi—adventure, murder and mutiny on the high seas told from the point of view of the only young woman on the ship. It’s an action-packed coming of age that transforms Charlotte in the process. It’s a little darker than some of the others, but I think it would work for a younger reader. (see Rocky's, one of our kid reviewers, review here.)
The Misadventures of Maude March or, Trouble Rides a Fast Horse by Audrey Couloubis –here’s a western adventure tale of plucky orphan girls that’s fast-moving as the girls wind up having an adventure similar to those in the dime novels!
So that’s just a few historicals. Really there’s plenty to pick from and if you’ve a time period in mind, a good librarian can always name a few set in that time period.
Another type is realistic fiction, particularly that set in present day. Usually these stories feature kids involved in familiar activities such as school, with parents or with friends and situations arise centering on one or more of those topics. They can be serious or funny or a mixture of both depending on the writer. Here are a few that come to mind:
E. L. Konigsberg has an entire range of books—not just the very famous From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler (a great book!). There are a whole range of titles about her quirky and thoughtful characters that is sure to please a reader interested in unusual characters in a small town setting.
Another author I’d recommend is Sharon Creech whose written a range of wonderful books including Love That Dog and Granny Torrelli Make Soup. Great relationship books that deal with life and friendship and family.
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis—about a quirky and logical seventh grader who gets in the middle of trying to solve her classmates problems and manages to cause a whole lot of trouble!
Out of Order by Betty Hicks –four siblings and a Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament to remember! A book of family, bug snacks, humor and insight.
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin—A book of humor and self-discovery for a young Taiwanese-American girl as she seeks to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog to her own life. Second book is The Year of the Rat.
Animal Books: I’ll mention a few things here in case the reader in question, while not liking fantasy, may enjoy books about animals. Some of these are very anthropomorphic, while others try to stay closer to realistic fiction.
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Evory Burnford—a famous tale about two dogs and a cat who travel across the country to find their family when they’re left behind.
Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed—much more fantastical, this one takes the story of a dog whose been betrayed and bereft who finds a group of misfits. Together they decide to invade the New York dog show. Much hilarity ensues and the ending is a happy one. Breathed’s an unusual writer for a children’s book, but I think he does a remarkable job here.
Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight—most people know this famous pooch from TV, but this is the book that started it all!
Misty of Chincoteague by Margeurite Henry—Henry pens a whole range of these horse stories. For the right reader , these may be just the thing!
Other: There are survivor stories, quirky stories and other types of stories that defy easy categories. Here are a few of my faves:
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead—okay, so this one has a slightly fantastic element of time travel and does take place in the 70s, but it’s primarily about friendship, loyalty and love and is a wonderful book that can’t really be confined to any particular category.
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scot O’Dell—fantastic survivor story! I loved this one as a girl. There is some death and dark parts though, so parents may want to have a look beforehand.
Newberry Award.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George—quite possibly one of my favorite survivor stories about a boy who runs away to the catskills and survives the winter on his own in a hollowed out tree. This is lighter fare than Island of the Blue Dolphins, so may be a better start for a younger reader.
Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kristin Miller—Just who is Kiki Strike? Is she friend? Villain? This mysterious girl and her team of friends join together to explore the city below Manhattan, and wind up getting involved in a suspenseful adventure! I really enjoyed this story—but would caution parents to be aware that the sequel definitely starts to move into YA territory!
A Whole Nother Story by Cuthbert Soup—a zany madcap adventure story of a family on the run from a whole bunch of unpleasant spies and government agents. Really enjoyed this one though it’s hard to classify as any one thing!
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick—part written, part graphic novel story about a boy, a clockwork invention and the history and truth he discovers about it. There’s nothing really like this out there—worth a look!
These are all worth a look, and I hope this helps give you some ideas for books to try!
Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad
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