Middle People's Books: - Authors “A - E”

Middle People's (and some adult) Books: - Authors “A-E”

[This list is constantly expanding, as our newest generation has entered this level of maturity.  The age designations I have chosen are influenced by the fact that we have an “early reader”.  Don’t assume all books on this list are “recommended”; please read the notes for each book; a few are on here because I do NOT recommend them.]

Louisa May Alcott - (fiction) [8+ yrs]

Great author of young people’s stories, always with emphasis on good behavior and morals.

§  March Family Saga

o   Little Women, or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy  (semi-autobiographical) – tells the story of she and her three sisters in Concord, MA during and after the Civil War  (1868)  [9+ yrs]

o   Little Men: Life at Plumfield  -- story of her nephews (and other boys) who lived with her at Orchard House in Concord, MA.  (1871)  [9+ yrs]

o   Jo's Boys and How They Turned Out:  A Sequel to “Little Men (1886)  ”   [9+ yrs]

§  Other Stories  (fiction)

o   Eight Cousins – story of a lonely orphan living with older relatives and her seven boy cousins who live nearby (1876) [9+ yrs]

o   Rose in Bloom [9+ yrs] (sequel) (1876)  [9+ yrs]  (It’s been 50 yrs since I read this one.)

o   An Old Fashioned Girl  (1870)  [9+ yrs]  (It’s been 50 yrs since I read this one.)

The American Girl books – 

·       series of books for each character (doll).  I am pleasantly surprised by the two I have read so far.  Not only are they well researched and do not revise history, but they are also very well written and interesting--much better than many well-known children's books--surprising.   (I have also reviewed one of their movies, “Samantha” which is as good as the books.  Of course the extras on the DVD introduces children to their store where one can take one’s doll to tea parties and such…)

Avi

o   Hard Gold:  The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 (I Witness series)  (historical fiction)  [7+ yrs]

o   Iron Thunder:  The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac (I Witness series)  (historical fiction)  Our young man LOVES this book, and it is a simple explanation for grownups as well.  [7+ yrs]

o   “Who Was That Masked Man Anyway?” (fiction) - difficult to know how to classify this one as children no longer grow up listening to mysteries on the radio, so I do not know how many could follow the format.  There is little wrong with the book, except for a few expletives and swearing (quotes from actual old radio programs).  I do not particularly recommend it, but it could be read by 8+ yrs.

Blue Baillet – (fiction)

·      Chasing Vermeer  - A Vermeer painting is stolen and two 11-year olds set out to solve the mystery.  Pentominoes figure largely in the story, as well as sort of supernatural occurrences.  I’m not sure that every child would be interested in reading a book where the story is based on the use of pentominoes, including letters written in code between friends to decipher, but some children would like it.  It is obviously intended to hyper-stimulate the imagination.  [9+yrs]

Susan Campbell Bartoletti

o   A Coal Miner’s Bride:  The Diary of Anetka Kaminska – Lattimer, Pennsylvania, 1896 – (historical fiction) – Very good story of a very young (about 13 yrs), poor Polish girl whose father has agreed to marry her off to a widower with children who works with her father in the coal mines in America.  She   She immigrates and this is largely the story of her life after she arrives.  [Said to be for 9-yr olds, but they would need to be a very mature 9; I would say not younger than 10—life was very hard and fraught with loss and danger.  Poland was occupied by Russia and that was also very difficult.]

Marion Dane Bauer – 

o    Land of the Buffalo Bones:  The Diary of Mary Ann Elizabeth Rodgers, An English Girl in Minnesota - (historical biographical fiction) - based on the memories of the author's mother, who was a descendant of the subject of the book.  [12+ yrs, begins with younger classification, but later deals with some very adult subjects, such as physical abuse by a father and the fact that back then inter-racial marriage was considered horrific]  ("Dear America" series, Scholastic, Special Edition)

Gary Blackwood – (fiction)

o   Around the World in 100 Days  - author wrote a “sequel” to Jules Verne’s story.  Harry, son of Phileas Fogg makes his own wager that he can drive a steam-powered car around the world in 1935.  Well written, fast-paced, elements of danger, fun.  [8-9+ yrs]

Steve Brezenoff – (mysteries)  [illustrated by C. B. Conga]

§  Field Trip Mysteries – series of nice little beginning chapter books.  The kids are 12 years old, but if a 6-1/2 year old has the vocabulary skills, the books are just fine for that age.  Very simple innocuous mysteries the kids solve while on class field trips.  [7-9 yrs]

o   The Burglar Who Bit the Big Apple

o   The Crook Who Crossed the Golden Gate Bridge

Bertrand R. Brinley – (fiction)

o   The Mad Scientists’ Club  - great fun following the adventures of a rambunctious group of boys as they get themselves into all sorts of trouble and sometimes end up doing good things!  [8+ yrs]

Walter R. Brooks - (fiction)

o   Freddy Goes to the North Pole - adorable story of animals who live on a farm and have great adventures.  Several head off to the North Pole.  One returns to tell them the others are in trouble.  Several leave to rescue them and have some adventures on the way.  (There are many "Freddy" books, and I can't wait to read some more of them.)  [7+ yrs if early reader, 306 pp, large print, well spaced]  [Amazon says 9+]  (This copy says "Celebrating 75 years of Freddy the Pig", but the stories are not at all "dated"--highly recommend.)

Joseph Bruchac – (fiction)

o   Children of the Longhouse – Young Mohawk boy lives and learns 500 years ago.  Written by a person who has known current Mohawk Indians for 30 years and does a great job incorporating their culture, beliefs, and way of life into an entertaining story for children which demonstrates many good moral lessons.  [7-8+ yrs]

Clyde Robert Bulla – 

o   A Lion to Guide Us  - (historical fiction) - 3 children from England end up in Jamestown where their Dad is after being shipwrecked in the Carribean.  [7+ yrs, although you could read it aloud to a 5-yr old].  It covers a small part of the story of someone who later sailed on the Mayflower and signed the compact:  Stephen Hopkins.  It is not ‘about’ Mr. Hopkins, but he is on the journey. 

o   Star of Wild Horse Canyon – (fiction) – young boy see wild horses and falls in love with one.  Adventures ensue.  [7+ yrs, a 5-yr old would love having it read aloud]

Frances Hodgson Burnett – (fiction)

o   A Little Princess  - have not read this one yet, but I will.  I watched the movie and it seemed TERRIFYING for children.

o   Little Lord Fauntleroy  -  Poor young boy’s mother has been disowned by her father.  Boy is sent to England to assume his role as “Lord”.  Eventual reconciliation of his family.  I loved this one as a child.  [8+ yrs]

o   The Secret Garden... young girl is sent from India to England at the death of her parents.  No one wants her and life is miserable until she makes a friend.  Later she discovers a cousin and helps rehabilitate him.  Parts can be a bit scary due to realism.  Made and re-made in movies. [8+ yrs]

Dori Hillestad Butler

§  The Buddy Files Series

o   The Case of the Lost Boy –  A dog’s family is missing; he works very hard at being a detective.  A very nice small story; entirely suitable for reading aloud to a 5-yr old; older children will enjoy reading it themselves.

Natalie Savage Carlson –

o   The Family Under the Bridge, illustrated by Garth Williams (fiction) – a tramp and a homeless family live under a bridge in Paris.  [7+ yrs]  [Newbery Honor  Book, 1959]

Joan Carris –

o   Welcome to the Bed & Biscuit (fiction) – nice early chapter book about a veterinarian who lives on a farm, all told through the eyes of a pet pig and his pet friends.  Good life lesson on changes in family dynamics.  NOT the same author as the well-known “Biscuit Books” for little ones.  [Read aloud for 5+ yrs; 7 can read to themselves]

Gennifer Choldenko –

o   Al Capone Does My Shirts  --  (historical fiction) -- great story, very well written.  Do not let the back cover summary lead you to believe younger children should read it.  It won “teen” book awards for a reason.  Lots of exciting things happen to the 13-yr old as he lives with his family on Alcatraz, but his sister is “special” and the effect this has on every member of his family in 1935 is a very significant theme in the story.  His mother is almost mentally ill as a result, and the boy is left to deal with it almost completely on his own for much of the story.  [10+ yrs]  [Newbery Honor Book, 2005] 

Ann Nolan Clark –

o   Secret of the Andes (fiction) great story of young boy growing up in the mystical heritage of his Inca ancestors  [8+ yrs]  [Newbery Medal, 1952]

Beverly Cleary  -

o   Ramona Quimby, Age 8  (fiction) – just make sure your 8-yr old knows they’ll get in big trouble in these days if they try some of this stuff.  [8+ yrs]

Andrew Clements – (fiction)

o   Frindle  - In order to aggravate his teacher, a fifth grader makes up a new word for “pen”.  He succeeds in his attempt to get attention, and ultimately causes a nationwide event.  I, personally, do not have the degree of appreciation for this story that many people express, including teachers.  A child will probably like it, but I always read every story with the idea that whatever is in that story is a lesson I’m teaching the child, and the subtleties of this one do not fit my concept of a lesson I wish to teach a child.  I do not think we should encourage behavior that “causes an uproar in the students”, the neighborhood, and the country unless there is a moral principle involved.  Others will disagree; I would hope their parents make certain they understand the circumstances under which one should make such a fuss.  [9+ yrs]

Clive Cussler (yes, the same one who writes adult books) - (fiction - beginner adventure/fantasy) - Great books for early readers 5-7 yrs who should not have to deal with much of what is written for 8-12 year olds, but also for 8-12 yrs.  [5-12 yrs]

o   The Adventures of Vin Fiz – a magical plane and two kids fly across the country; good guys, bad guys, etc.                                                                                        

o   The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy – a magical boat and the two kids go on an exciting boat race from San Francisco to Sacramento; more bad guys, etc.

Alice Dalgliesh – 

o   The Courage of Sarah Noble – (biographical) – based on actual relative of the author.  Beautifully and simply written story of an 8-year old in early 1700’s pioneering, learning about her Indian neighbors, and overcoming her fears.  [7+yrs]    [Newbery Honor Book, 1955]

Jacqueline Davies –

o   The Lemonade War  -- (fiction) –Siblings go through the 8 and 9 year old issues of life.  He feels bad because she is “smarter” than he is and ends up in his same grade at school.  The bad feelings erupt into an all-out war of the lemonade stands, complete with bad behaviors, friends taking sides—pretty much what life’s about.  Also good lessons in simple business management.  Well-written.  [9+ yrs]

Franklin W. Dixon (pseudonym for multiple writers over many years) – 

§  Hardy Boys series (mystery) – I get the feeling they get periodically “updated”.  [8+ yrs]

William Pene Dubois –

o   The Twenty-One Balloons (fiction/fantasy) – school teacher goes on a balloon trip around the world and lands on Krakatoa when it is about to explode; eventually rescued in the Atlantic Ocean.  (Don’t look for data about Krakatoa here.)  [7+ yrs]  [Newbery Medal, 1948]

Walter Edmonds – 

o   The Matchlock Gun  - (historical fiction) - young pioneer saves his mom in Indian attack with his grandfather's gun) [read aloud at 5 yrs; 7+ yrs]  [Newbery Medal, 1942]

Bernard Evslin – classics

o   The Dolphin Rider and Other Greek Myths  - What a nice way to learn the classics!  Published as a Scholastic book in 1976 and perhaps out of print, but available as “used” through Amazon.  He has a really nice way of writing and retaining the spirit of the originals.  [8+ yrs, read aloud to 6+yrs]