Middle People's (and some adult) Books: - Authors “M”
[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.]
Stephanie Sammartino McPherson –
o
Ordinary
Genius: The Story of Albert Einstein - (Trailblazer Biographies) [9-12 yrs, but our 7-1/2
yr old loves it. Seriously, grownups will appreciate the story
and the simple explanation of the theory of relativity] - great book
Patricia MacLaughlan –
§ Sarah,
Plain and Tall series:
truly a lovely series, and the entire set will be ok for 7-yr olds
despite the sometimes sensitive subjects.
Grownups also. To quote Booklist: “MacLachlan packs a lot in…and never diverges from
the child's point of view, even when showing adult behavior. The happy result
is emotional impact without cloying sentimentality.” Based on a true story in the author’s own
family. Each can
be read as a ‘stand-alone’ story, although they are in specific chronological
order.
o
Sarah,
Plain and Tall -- A young woman goes
West to care for a motherless family and possibly marry the father. A TV movie is based on this book and it sticks quite close to the
book. [7+ yrs, unlike the “Little
House” similar series, I don’t believe a 7-yr old will bump up against “too
mature” for their interest level.] [Newbery
Medal, 1986], [Scott Odell Award for Historical Fiction, 1986], [Golden Kite
Award, 1986]
o Skylark -- extreme draught, fires,
a trip to the “aunts” back East, homesickness, going home. The family expands. Oldest child’s journal writing time. Another TV movie. [7+ yrs]
o Caleb’s Story – a rather grumpy stranger shows up, much to the
father’s consternation. It’s now Caleb’s
time to write the journal. [7+ yrs]
o More Perfect Than The Moon -- a “perfect gift” is
coming for little Cassie. Cassie writes
creative and unique entries in the journal.
The family has a telephone. Someone is away at the war. [7+ yrs]
o Grandfather’s Dance -- Cassie continues the story of a car, the
“aunts”, a wedding, a funeral, and acceptance.
From Booklist: “the
warm, quiet story of love and grief will send readers back to the other books
in the touching saga”. [7+ yrs]
Megan McDonald
Judy Moody Gets
Famous! - good story of a 9-yr old’s journey through
friendships, popularity, moodiness, etc. and how she worked her way through
some significant issues. [9+ yrs, best introduced at the
appropriate time]
Jean Merrill
o
The
Toothpaste Millionaire –
delightful story of kids making a business.
Try the math! [7+ yrs]
o
The
Pushcart War - amusing story supposedly teaches children
about wars and how easily they are started.
As a story it’s fine, but as a teaching tool—not so much; war is not
that simple. [10+ yrs]
Ralph Moody –
· Little Britches series... (autobiographical,
chronological) [8+ yrs, early ones
could be read aloud earlier to more mature children]
o Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers [1906 - 1910 - Colorado]
o Man of the Family [1910-1912, Colorado]
o The Home Ranch [summer of 1911 - amplifies his
story as ranch hand from "Man of the Family", Colorado]
o Mary Emma and Company [1912 - Massachusetts]
o The Fields of Home [1914 -1915 - grandfather's
farm, Maine]
o Shaking the Nickel Bush [1918, Arizona]
o The Dry Divide [19_, Nebraska]
o Horse of a Different Color: Reminiscences of a
Kansas Drover [19__ in his
early twenties]
§ History books:
[8+ yrs, adult]
- (the Old West) - not just for kids.
(I have read all except the one I have not yet found. They are as gripping as his autobiographies,
very well researched and presented. It
is clear that research for the individual books was preparatory to the
"Old Trails" and "Stagecoach West" (or vice versa) which
are detailed history and not appealing to children.)
o Kit Carson and the Wild Frontier (1955)
o Geronimo, Wolf of the Warpath (1958)
o Riders of the Pony Express (1958)
o Wells Fargo (1961)
o Silver and Lead: The Birth and Death of a Mining
Town (1961) -
juvenile book format; story of "Silver City" with explanations of how
minerals came to be there in the first place, etc. Nicely done.
o America Horses (1962) – this one tells the story of the
four American breeds of horses, and is not at all boring. I was enchanted by it.
o Come on Seabiscuit (1963) - this book is not credited as
telling the "real story" in the way the much more recent book and
movie, "Seabiscuit" are credited. However, it is a more succinct, very engrossing,
accurate (as far as I can tell) representation of the facts in the recent
version, thus giving it appeal to children.
o The Old Trails West - Vol. 1 - The Gila Trail, El Camino Real,
Old Spanish Trail" - The Great Legendary Routes that Bound a Wild Land
into a Nation - 4538-1880 – Too much detail for kids. (1963)
o "Gateways to the Northwest -
The Old Trails West - Vol. 2 - The Santa Fe Trail, Big Medicine Trail, The
Oregon Trail, The California Trail" (1963)
o Stagecoach West (1967) - (this is truly "pure history" with a great deal
of careful research. You will pick up most of the interesting parts if you read
all of the other histories. Too much detail
for kids.)
o Knife is Not Enough (can't find this one yet)
o
The
Wild Country (hard to find
-- this is NOT a different book; it was originally published
as Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers. I have included it
in this list for informational purposes only, as you may find it listed in some
places and be tempted to do as I did and purchase it. It was made into the Disney movie, “The
Wild Country” but the movie is not much recognizable from the book. It is, however, a good family movie and
manages to maintain the general "flavor" of the books in an
acceptable manner.)
Lucy Maud Montgomery
(fiction)
[I have not read these
in many years, but I loved them as a child.
Will make comments as I read them again.]
o
Anne
of Green Gables – feisty orphan goes to
live with a family on Prince Edward Island off the coast of E. Canada. They wanted a boy helper but she makes havoc
and fun.
o
Anne
of the Island - college life for a girl a century ago
o
Anne
of Avonlea - school teacher
o
Anne
of Windy Poplars - principal of high school
o
Anne’s
House of Dreams - marries her long time sweetheart
o
Anne
of Ingleside - mother of five
o
Rainbow
Valley - Anne’s children and neighbor children
o
Rilla
of Ingleside - youngest child grows up, there’s a far off
war
Michael Morpurgo –
(historical fiction founded in part on a real horse)
o
War
Horse - In 1914, a
beloved farm horse is sold to the British Army. The horse goes through training and active
duty in the war. Meanwhile the boy owner
longs for his horse. Later in the army,
he wonders if he will ever see his horse again.
It is a really well written and interesting story which has recently
been made into a movie. [10-12+ yrs (reality of war, esp. as
regards animals); also for grownups]
Farley Mowat – (autobiography)
o
Owls
in the Family - based on his
childhood experiences (most of his books, especially the autobiographical ones
have to go into the adult reading list) [7+ yrs]
Vicki Myron with Bret
Witter –
o
Dewey
the Library Cat - true story, much beloved book, but I have
misgivings about how old a child should be before reading this book. Most of it is fine for 7+ yrs, but there are
a few psychological aspects which cause me pause at any age.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments are moderated by Nana-B.