These are some books that I plan to introduce to my girls as they get older. They are mostly contemporary fiction, not fantasy, not historical fiction, and they all reveal some hard truths about life. They would make for good topics for discussion. I have listed books for 4th to 6th graders first and books for 7th and 8th graders next:
Dear Mr. Henshaw—Beverly Cleary
Blubber—Judy Blume
Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself—Judy Blume
Old Yeller—Fred Gipson
A Girl Called Al—Constance Greene
The Hundred Dresses—Eleanor Estes
Loser—Jerry Spinelli
Where the Red Fern Grows—Wilson Rawls
Diary of Anne Frank—Anne Frank
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret—Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia—Katherine Paterson
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit—Paula Danziger
The Pistachio Prescription—Paula Danziger
Go Ask Alice--Anonymous
The Pigman—Paul Zindel
Scorpions—Walter Dean Myers
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t—Judy Blume
Tiger Eyes—Judy Blume
That Was Then, This Is Now—S.E. Hinton
Lord of the Flies—William Golding
The Outsiders—S. E. Hinton
The Pearl—John Steinbeck
Flowers for Algernon—Daniel Keyes
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden—Joanne Greenberg
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest—Ken Kesey
This is a straightforward book about sexuality that I find helpful:
It’s Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Harris and Emberley
These are also wonderful resources:
Great Books for Girls: More Than 600 Books to Inspire Today’s Girls and Tomorrow’s Women by Kathleen Odean (she also wrote one for boys)
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell (great baby shower gift)
Books to Build On by E. D. Hirsch (more academic focus, books to support learning about history, cultures, the arts)
Under the Chinaberry Tree by Ruethling and Pitcher (great books for little children)
The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children by Eden Ross Lipson (excellent resource for preschool to middle school readers)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Great list. Thanks Christine. We've visited a few of them already but you've suggested many more that we haven't read. I'll be keeping the list for future reference. I think I'll have to add "To Kill a Mockingbird"
We just finished "Bridge to Terebithia" (audio-book). Has anyone seen the movie? We watched the trailer and my kids are horrified at what they appear to have done to the story - flashy special effects etc.
Also, are any of the books specifically geared just towards girls? I've got some boys to grow with books too!
Awesome C! I would remove Old Yeller and add Watership Down and A Separate Peace.
I know you're focused on your own kidlets Christine, but I think the list is just a good list for kids growing up. I read almost everything on your "girl's" list and got something out of them all.
Insomniac,
Yes. Let's put TKM in the older list.
Most of the Judy Blumes are the 'girliest' reads on the list, but as Don points out, a good book that rings true can be enjoyed by both sexes.
Cooksin,
I'll concede A Separate Peace. Good call. Watership Down was excluded simply because I was going for mostly realistic fiction, not fantasy. I remain firm on Old Yeller. It is a masterpiece coming of age story.
Oh, and please do pencil in Catcher in the Rye in the older list, too.
Fantasy? You mean rabbits don't really have political societies and talk to one another?
Also, I wasn't dissing Old Yeller, it just scarred me for life.
Trying to choose a book or two to add to this list is like trying to decide which of my children I love the best. There are so many great ones! I too have boys to grow with books, and a girl in the middle, so I am often looking for books which appeal to both. We have recently read (and loved) Each Little Bird That Sings, which deals with death in a beautiful way, but also with family, friendship, and loyalty. We are currently reading Ruby Holler. We also recently finished Tuck Everlasting, which prompted some very interesting conversations with the kids.
Great list, and I am so honored to be included! Thanks for your lovely work in the world, sharing books and keeping a positive spin.
Madame Esme! Great to see you here. Many thanks to you again for your writing. Pop by anytime to talk books.
Post a Comment