Thursday, July 11, 2013

Backseat Book Club List of 100 Best Books for Ages 9-14


http://www.npr.org/2013/08/05/207315023/the-ultimate-backseat-bookshelf-100-must-reads-for-kids-9-14

This is a great list.
The only books I have reservations about recommending to junior high (and younger) kids are

  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Outstanding writing, but some material likely to offend many readers in our community.)
  • The second and third book in Pullman's His Dark Materials Series (Same comment as above but more so.) 
  • Are You There God?  It's Me, Margaret.   (I haven't read this one, but when it came out in 1970  -- ancient history, right? -- it was controversial.)

Some of my favorites, books not to be missed include the following.  Be aware that I'm having a hard time not just copying most of the list here, but these are really stand-out titles. 
  • Bunnicula -- If you didn't read this when you were younger, it's time to catch up!
  • Half Magic -- There's a set of these, and they are delightful!
  • The Graveyard Book -- One of my all-time favorites!
  • The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles  -- You may be surprised to learn that Julie Andrews (from The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins) also wrote a fun, fun fantasy book!
  • Chronicles of Narnia -- I just read/listened (on CD's while traveling in the car) to these again this summer.  
  • Wonder -- I just read this as school was getting out.  As the blurb on the list says, it's "about acceptance, self-esteem and the transformative power of human kindness."
  • The House with a Clock in Its Walls -- This is part of a series that has sadly been overlooked by too many readers!