While gender doesn’t determine if a book is great or not, it does help if children can identify with some of the characters in the stories. This is especially true for reluctant readers. The books in this particular category are noted for the predominance of boys as main characters.
Published: 2008 Theme: Expressing Emotions Best for: ages 10 and up "The chair in my room is like a pleasingly plump momma, big and squishy, with stuffing poking out." This book is not like any other. For one thing, it is a novel, written all in verse, that deals with a boy's sadness over the loss of his dog...
Published: 2013 Theme: Heroism Best for: ages 9 and up "In what way was attacking a peaceful neighboring country heroic? He degraded Erick's men for being thieves even as he planned to steal all of Carthya from me. My fingers itched to pick up my knife and start the fight." I love heroic characters. I don't have much tolerance for fighting. Somehow they always seem to go together. Yet in The Runaway King, the fighting seems to be somewhat tolerable, especially because the good guy always wins...
Published: 1959 Theme: Respecting Differences Best for: ages 10-12 "He used to live up on Hessian Hill, Onion John did, in a house he built out of piled up stone and four bathtubs and no running water. Once a month he'd get up in the middle of the night, according to the way the moon was, to cook up a stew...It was a stew to get gold out of the moon..." I read this children's book with some trepidation, turning each page expecting something bad to happen. Yet, in fact, it turned out to be a rather heartwarming turn of events that I enjoyed...
Published: 2001 Theme: Perserverance Best for: ages 9 and up "Your mind knows that you are going to Songdo. But you must not tell your body. It must think one hill, one valley, one day at a time. In that way, your spirit will not grow weary before you have even begun to way." In this lovely, art-inspired children's book about a potter and his apprentice, the feeling of the way of the ancients comes through loud and strong. The image of the apprentice who serves the master potter for the love of the art is...
Published: 1966 Theme: The Power of Kindness Best for: Boys age 9 and older "As with all good magic, there is a bit of skill involved, so proceed with caution, particularly right at first. And above all, use discretion. Remember, there must be absolutely no public notice." Who would imagine that doing good deeds, without really planning them, could have terrific results? This imaginative children's book has a subtle way of bring the interconnectedness of life to children, without ever saying so.
Published: 1999 Theme: Finding One's Path Best for: 11 and over "Gwydion caught Taran's look of disappointment. "It is not the trappings that make the prince," he said gently, "nor, indeed, the sword that makes the warrior..." Lloyd Alexander's children's book series on his invented land of Prydain undoubtedly has an enormous following. Fantasy books tend to create a real cult if they are good, and there is no question that this series is good...
Published: 1967 Theme: Overcoming Fear Best for: 8 and older "Mafatu lay there under his lean-to, relaxed in every nerve. He had fire, food, shelter. He had faced Moana, the Sea God...There was a new-found confidence in his heart. He had found a new belief in himself." This tale is told as if on one long breath, an exhalation that ends in exultation. There is not a moment where you can rest until the tale is told, which of course, is what makes a great tale, and a great children's book.
Published: 2007 Theme: Caring for the Planet Best for: 9 and up "His mind was full of clouds in space, huge explosions, and the millions of years it took to make a star. These thoughts took him far, far across the Universe--" What a wonderful discovery this children's book is, in so many ways. As a work of fiction, it makes great reading, with plenty of humor and drama all the way through. However, add to that the scientific accuracy of the genius of Stephen Hawking and...
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: 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...
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