Got Books?
Monday, September 26, 2011 at 12:51PM 
Lately, lots of kids have asked us for book recommendations. So here it is. Ellen and I read mostly for our own enjoyment, so this isn’t any kind of official, comprehensive list. It’s whatever caught our eye and interest. There are a lot of other great books out there that we have yet to read. If you know of any that we missed, write them down in the comments! Happy reading! – Anne and Ellen
Ellen’s Mostly Middle Grade List
Enola Holmes mysteries by Nancy Springer
Girl Power in Victorian England! Sherlock Holmes' kid sister solves mysteries that baffle her brother. These books are fantastic! Get a bunch of them and tell everyone you have the flu and have to stay in bed for a week.
Gilda Joyce, Psychic Detective series by Jennifer Allison
Word of warning about these books: be ready to stay up all night to read them. Seriously, they are un-put-down-able. These books are the whole package: great storytelling, quirky characters, and a genuine, hard-to-solve mystery. And of course there are the ghosts. Sort of.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by MaryRose Wood
Oh yeah, this woman can write! Clever and atmospheric, although it may be a book adults would enjoy more than kids.
Secret Letters from Zero to Ten
A sweet young romance set in France . . . what could be bad?
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
A gorgeous puzzler of a book. Crazy characters, bruised shins, and an airtight mystery.
Amazing Grace by Megan Shull
A great romantic YA set in Alaska, featuring an unforgettable teen tennis sensation.
The Beastly Arms by Patrick Jennings
This one is weird and wonderful with unforgettable characters.
Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder
This is the sort of book you want to read in bed on a rainy day (don’t forget the milk and Pepperidge Farm Mint Milanos)! It’s a lovely throw-back to those great children’s classics where magic is always lurking next door.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I resisted this series for a long time because it was so popular (I’m almost always disappointed by the best-sellers). But like the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games lives up to the hype and then some. It will haunt you for months after you finish.
Holes by Louis Sachar
One of the most perfect reads, in my opinion. The kids in this book are digging and the readers are traveling down, down, down through the book’s layers. I have read this countless times just to figure out how Sachar manages this (I still haven’t quite figured it out).
Anne’s Mostly Fantasy YA List
Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwall
Most of the books on this list are fantasy, but here’s one for the realists out there. It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but I loved it! As I remember it was funny and touching.
Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett
I hate when authors plunk a modern character down in a historical setting. But Tracy Barrett is brilliant at capturing a character who truly seems of her time. I’m planning on reading all her other books as soon as I can.
Zahrah the Windseeker Nnedi Okorafor
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor
Nnedi Okorafor creates worlds that you can almost touch, and that you’d love to enter, if they weren’t so convincingly scary. Imaginative and compelling storytelling.
Cecilia and Sorcery, Or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevemer
The two authors wrote this book for fun, not realizing they’d end up with a published work. The book practically fizzes with humor. A funny, romantic romp in a magical world.
A Fistful of Sky by Nina Kiriki Hoffman Loved this book. Lyrical, magical, wonderful writing.
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Brilliant and disturbing.
Shipbreaker Paolo Bacigalupi
A dystopian fantasy. How many times can I use the word brilliant in this post?
Here are a few more books. Read them! You won’t be disappointed.
Quest for a Maid Frances Hendry
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Wise Child by Monica Furlong
Do you have a favorite book or books? Let us know in the comments. - Anne and Ellen
books, reading, recommendations
Reader Comments (33)
I've read some of these books, and I agree they are very good! You didn't elaborate on Elsewhere, but its sooooooooooooooooo good. I would highly recommend it to kids ages 11-14 or about that age.
I have read a few of these books (usually for school assignments) and I actually found them pretty good! One of my all time favorite book, and I can't express to Jen Calonita how AMAZING they are, are the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series. I am really going to miss Kaitlin Burke when I read the last book! I was feeling so close to her that I now really want to go to New York City. I would recommend these books to anyone and everyone! AMAZING read!
Yes,I agree! Elsewhere was one of those life-changing books for me.
--Ellen
Becca - Elsewhere is one of my all-time favorites. I reviewed it on my own blog a while ago. In case anyone's interested: http://annemazer.squarespace.com/journal/2010/9/9/random-acts-of-book-adoration.html I also reviewed a few other favorites: The Kneebone Boy by our very own Ellen Potter (I adore all of her books), and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak/
Ellen, FYI--
The Westing Game is one of my all-time favorites! And I do believe I recommended (and/or lent?) The Beastly Arms to you :) Glad you liked it in any case!
love and books,
Mollie
This is a pretty thorough list! I agree that the Hunger Games rocks but I would warn that there is some extremely creepy and disturbing content. I would also recommend the Harry Potter books and the Underland Chronicles, by the same author as The Hunger Games. The first book is called Gregor the Overlander.
I did not mean that the Harry Potter series are by that author.
I've only read a few of those books, and I've heard of a few more, but from what I can tell those are all great books, and if you guys say so then I know for sure. :D Also, have you read the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"series or "The Kane Chronicles" by Rick Riordan? They're more great books! :)
I completely agree, Veronica! I'm really excited for the new one!
great list! :)
I HIGHLY recomend the Septimus Heap books (ages 9 and up but I think probably a little dark at some points for 9 year olds) because they are awesomeocity. They are by Angie Sage.
I also recomend Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor, Dragon's Egg by Sarah L. Thompson, Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve, and Once Upon (and twice upon) a Merrigold by jeane ferris. (also other books from jeane ferris cause she's a master at writing!)
Thanks for the book suggestions, everyone! Must - go - to - library - NOW!!!! - Anne
The Nnedi Okorafor books sound wonderful and I had not heard of that author before, so thanks for including her on these amazing lists!
Jo, In the last few weeks, I've been binging on her books. Loved them all! Hope you do, too. - Anne
Anyone interested in the magical world of Disney, a great series (a runner-up to Secrets of My Hollywood Life for me) is Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. The fifth one is coming out in April from what I've heard. :)
Has anyone ever read The Giver or Where the Red Fern Grows?
Yes, Samantha, I've read both those books (The Giver & Where the Red Fern Grows). They are excellent! Thanks for mentioning them here. - Anne
My Lit. teacher made us read them. I think that Where the Red Fern Grows was a little sad. The Giver started off a little confusing, but right now I'm halfway through it. It's actually pretty good!
I went the library, and they said it was banned book week. They had all different books that were literally banned somewhere around the country for various reasons. Some of the books there surprised me, like Harry Potter. Is that going on at other libraries, too?
That hasn't been at libraries I've recently been to. It sounds really cool!
Banned book week at my library ended yesterday. It was really cool. If any one heard of that this week or had it at their library, it would be cool to hear about it and what books were mentioned there. We had some books that I never would have thought would have been banned across the nation!
just thinking it might be cool to hear about it since we were talking about our favorite books. I know I asked about the Giver a little while ago and that was banned at one time. This week was celebrating our freedom to read any book that we want to read. It was pretty awesome!
The Gilda Joyce books are amazing! I started reading them a few years ago and have reread them so many times!
I love both of your book lists! I've read quite a few of them. Have you heard about Michael Buckley's series The Sisters Grimm? I absolutely love those books. The way he combined everyday life with fairy tale characters, was such a good job. Has anyone else read those books?
The Hunger Games is an amazing book. I practically read nonstop for three days until I finished it! However, it is violent and has mature themese....:P i only reccomend it for teens, 13 and up. It is the best book out there!
Thanks for the comments, everyone! Yes, The Sisters Grimm is on my "to read" list. Also really enjoyed Sacred Scars and Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey. (YA fantasy, mature) Happy reading! - Anne