Novel: One Crazy Summer Author: Rita Williams-Garcia Target Audience: 8-12 years Genre: Historical fiction Publication Year: 2010 Setting: primarily Oakland, CA; 1968 A Favorite Quote: “Big Ma doesn’t care if President Kennedy’s face is on the half-dollar or if the airport is now officially named after him. She calls the […]
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Novel: Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution Author: Ji-li Jiang Target Audience: 11-15 years; 5th-9th grade Genre: Memoir Publication Year: 1998 Setting: Shanghai, China; begins in 1966, start of the Cultural Revolution A Favorite Quote: “Many friends have asked me why, after all I went through, I […]
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang
Novel: Catherine, Called Birdy Author: Karen Cushman Target Audience: 10 and up Genre: Historical Fiction Publication Year: 1994 Setting: England; Medieval (1290s) A Favorite Quote: “I am near fourteen and have never yet seen a hanging. My life is barren.” My One Sentence Summary: Fourteen-year-old Catherine (called Birdy by her loved ones) keeps a candid diary of her life, including […]
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Novel: Ella Enchanted Author: Gail Carson Levine Target Audience: 8 to 12 years (but I find it much-beloved by older readers, too) Genre: Fantasy Publication Year: 1997 Setting: Kingdom of Kyrria; during the reign of King Jerrold and Queen Daria A Favorite Quote: “That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay […]
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Novel: The Secret Garden Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett Target Audience: 9 and up Genre: Classic Publication Year: 1911 Setting: Yorkshire, England–specifically, at Misselthwaite Manor on the moor; around the turn of the century A Favorite Quote: “At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it […]
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Novel: Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective Author: Daniel J. Sobol Target Audience: 8 to 12 years Genre: Mystery Publication Year: 1963 Setting: Idaville, a town in the USA; set around the time the book was written–1960s A Favorite Quote: “An encyclopedia is a book or a set of books giving information, arranged alphabetically, on all […]
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Daniel J. Sobol
Novel: The Boxcar Children Author: Gertrude Chandler Warner Target Audience: 7 to 12 years Genre: Mystery Publication Year: 1942 Setting: USA, a rural area outside of a fictional town named Silver City; 1920s or 30s A Favorite Quote: “One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew […]
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Novel: My Side of the Mountain Author: Jean Craighead George Target Audience: 9 and older Genre: Survival Publication Year: 1959 Setting: New York (the Catskill Mountains); I didn’t notice a specific date, but references made by the main character indicate it takes place sometime in the 1950’s. It surprised me to realize this as an adult–as a […]
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Novel: The Phantom Tollbooth Author: Norton Juster Target Audience: 9-12 years Genre: Fantasy Publication Year: 1961 Setting: The Lands Beyond; during the exile of the Princesses Rhyme and Reason A Favorite Quote: “Are you the giant?” asked Tock doubtfully. “To be sure,” he replied proudly. “I’m the smallest giant in the world.” My One Sentence […]
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
If you clicked on the picture of Ned currently found on the “My Books” page of the website–congratulations! You have found my sister’s secret Ned page. Enjoy! And this is Emily with our family’s first dog, Richie. A long, long time ago…