Children’s books which are generally suitable for children age nine to twelve
Published: 2010 Theme: Community, Honoring the Past Best for: 11 and older "Death is like an explosion," Miss Sadie said, her accent thick, like the humid air that hovered heavy around me. "It makes people take notice of things they might have overlooked." This is a serious historical fiction children's book, covering some pretty intense topics, all set in 1936 and earlier. From bootlegging to the Ku Klux clan, from immigrants to war casualties, this book is no light reading.
Published: 2013 Theme: Don't be Gullible Best for: Pre-teen girls "Either the witch would be reasonable, or she would not. Imogene had read enough fairy tales to worry that a royal decree on the matter was less likely to soften the witch's heart and more likely to make her stubborn." If you are looking for a fun, light-weight summer children's book, one to take on a trip, this new book is a good choice. It's a silly little take-off on the princess-kissed-frog story, with amusing and sometimes dangerous twists of the plot.
Published: 1938 Theme: Compassion for all creation Best for: good readers over age 10 "The Wart did not know what Merlyn was talking about but he liked him to talk. He did not like the grown-ups who talk to him like a baby, but the ones who just went on talking in their usual way, leaving him to leap along in their wake, jumping at meanings, guessing, clutching at known words, and chuckling at complicated jokes as they suddenly dawned."
Published: 1908 Theme: Growing up Best for: Girls 9-12 "There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne, it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting." It is a cliche to say things are timeless, but books like this really are. There's nothing awkward reading it today. The emphasis on character development, and the growing pains of a young girl...
Published: 2000 Theme: Compassion, Friendship Best for: Boys age 10 and up "You know, it wasn't so much about being in the wheelchair that I learned about, but how people reacted to me being in the chair. People treat you different. They act like you're...you're..." "Stupid!" David snapped." What a courageous book for someone to write. And what a perfect book for middle school boys. The author is a middle school teacher, and clearly knows the issues boys are up against...
Published: 1962 Theme: Fantasy & Mystery Best for: ages 11 and up "The sky grew blue-black, and they left the shadowy earth behind. There were stars above them and below them. Their wagon floated gently among them as though it had been a rowboat floating in the Concord river." How delightful to find a children's book with so many of my favorite people: the transcendentalists, Krishna, and children who love adventures.
Published: 1986 Theme: The Grass is always greener... Best for: 5th or 6th grade "What was he looking for, a prince in fine velvets and a crown cocked on his head? Was it clothes that made a prince, Jemmy wondered, just as rags made a street boy?" What a great children's book this is! I first heard of it last year when the fifth grade class in my Waldorf Charter school was reading it. A superb example of writing with humor, and capturing an era of the past...
Published: 1990 Theme: Breaking Conventions Best for: ages 12 and up "What could I do? All my life I had been trained to obey, educated to accept. I could hardly change in a moment. 'Please lead me,' I mumbled, as near to fainting as one could be without actually succumbing." What an unusual children's book. I admit I was riveted, despite the amount of drama and violent scenes. There was something so compelling about the way it was written, as a first person journal of a 13-year-old...
Published: 1971 Theme: Getting along with others Best for: ages 7 and up "When Toft got outside in the darkness he stood and waited on the steps. The sky was a little lighter than the mountains, whose undulating contours rose above Moominvalley." This little book from Finland is a wonder in character studies, and has delightful language.
Published: 2002 Theme: Valuing the Past Best for: Girls up to 12 "We speak the same language, but sometimes it's hard to believe. Some things have changed so much that it's hard for us to understand each other at all." Finally -- a multicultural story to enrich my list of children's books. This book reminds me how much we deprive children of interesting experiences when we don't invite them into other worlds.
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