Great Reads

Once upon a Heroine: 450 Books for Girls to Love, by Alison Cooper-Mullin
In this indispensable guide to 400 books that nurture every girl's spirit of independence, competence, and self-esteem, the authors suggest special books that provide role models for girls and allow them to imagine themselves as heroines of their own lives.

Expecting the Unexpected, by Mavis Jukes
Twelve-year-old River and her sixth-grade classmates handle the information from their sex education class in different ways, and it leads River to the conclusion that her older sister's unusual behavior is due to pregnancy.

The Secret Life of Amanda K. Woods, by Ann Cameron
Living in a rural community in Wisconsin during the 1950s, eleven-year-old Amanda gradually and painfully learns a lot about herself, her parents, and her older sister.

Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine
In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

If You Only Knew, by Rachel Vail
Seventh-grader Zoe, who comes from a big family where she's never had anything all to herself, desperately wants CJ for a best friend, but when CJ reveals that she likes the boy Zoe likes, Zoe must make a choice. For Ages:

Eloise, by Kay Thompson
Here is everyone's favorite enfant terrible--Eloise--making life anything but dull, dull, dull.

Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans
Clever engineering, vibrant illustrations, and all the charm of Madeline herself make this a treat for old fans and new readers alike. Open the book, tie back the covers, and five Parisian scenes spring to life.

Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
Cultural obligation and artistic freedom cause tension in the lives of four young women in this classic novel.

Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
Harriet M. Welsch is determined to become a famous author. In the meantime, she follows a regular spy route each day and writes down everything she sees in her secret notebook. Then one morning, her classmates find her spy notebook and read it out loud! Now the other sixth-graders are stealing her tomato sandwiches, forming a spy-catcher club, and writing notes of their own -- all about Harriet!

Bad, Badder, Baddest, by Cynthia Voigt
When fifth-graders Mikey and Margalo devise a plan to prevent Mikey's parents from getting a divorce, the two friends find their scheme foiled by a new girl at school.

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by William Anderson
Recounts the life story of the author of the "Little House" books, from her childhood in Wisconsin to her later years at Rocky Ridge Farm.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg
Having run away with her younger brother to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 12 year-old Claudia strives to keep things in order in their new home and to become a changed person and a heroine to herself.

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, by Judy Blume
This is the story of Sheila, who manages to survive the episodic trials of the summer--the beginners' swimming test, the revelations of her friends' Slam Books, even the presence of the dog who "goes with" the Tubmans' rented summer home...

33 Things Every Girl Should Know, by Tonya Bolden
While everyone's probably got 33 different answers to a question, we're betting that there's a lot of common ground, and this book will show it. This collection of 33 different experiences from 33 women of different ages -- older, younger, and in-between - reveals that these women all have one thing in common: They've picked up some clues along their personal journeys and want to share them with you.

The Stupids Step Out, by Harry Allard
The Stupid family and their dog Kitty have a fun-filled day doing ridiculous things.

Patrick's Dinosaurs, by Carol Carrick
When his older brother talks about dinosaurs during a visit to the zoo, Patrick is afraid, until he discovers they all died millions of years ago.

Night Driving, by John Coy
As father and son drive into the night, they watch the sunset, talk about baseball, sing cowboy songs, and even change a flat tire before pitching camp at daybreak.

Chester's Way, by Kevin Henkes
Chester and Wilson share the same exact way of doing things, until Lilly moves into the neighborhood and shows them that new ways can be just as good.

Ira Sleeps Over, by Bernard Waber Ira is thrilled to spend the night at Reggie's, until his sister raises the question of whether he should take his teddy bear.

Nate the Great, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate the Great, boy detective and pancake-lover, is on a case -- who stole Annie's painting of her dog, Fang? Garbed in deerstalker hat, trench coat, and rubbers (his mother insists), Nate follows all leads. With a deadpan style reminiscent of Sam Spade, Nate follows the clues and solves his case -- and eats a lot of pancakes on the way.

The Stories Julian Tells, by Ann Cameron
Julian, that quick fibber and wishful thinker, is great at telling stories. He can make people--especially his younger brother, Huey--believe just about anything. But some stories can get you into a pack of trouble, and that's exactly where Julian and Huey find themselves all too often.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, by Jon Scieszka
Wonderfully quirky, this book breathes new life into traditional children's stories. In these irreverent variations on well-known themes, the ugly duckling grows up to be an ugly duck, and the princess who kisses the frog wins only a mouthful of amphibian slime!

The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in Room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey
When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking he's the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.

Holes, by Louis Sachar As further evidence of his family's bad fortune (which started with a curse on a distant relative), Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling
Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches.

My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains, including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, by Louis Sachar
An unmanageable, but lovable, 11-year-old misfit learns to believe in himself when he gets to know the new school counselor, who is a sort of misfit, too.

Bunnicula, by Deborah Howe and James Howe
This book is written by Harold, whose fulltime occupation is Dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe and their sons, Toby and Pete. There's also a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It's because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing -- someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived.

Encyclopedia Brown, by Donald J. Sobol
Whenever ten-year-old Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown's father, the Chief of Police of Idaville, had a difficult case, Encyclopedia always managed to solve it at the dinner table. So, he decided to open his own detective agency.

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
For young James Henry Trotter, life with the exceedingly nasty Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker is pure misery. James dreams of a better life, but he's totally unprepared for the wild adventures ahead when he drops the magic crystals he receives from a strange old man. Before long, James is off on a weird, wonderful journey inside a giant peach with a bizarre group of companions!

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
After a plane crash, 13-year-old Brian spends 54 days in the wilderness, learning to survive with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother -- and learning to survive his parents' divorce.

Crash, by Jerry Spinelli
Seventh-grader John "Crash" Coogan has always been comfortable with his tough, aggressive behavior, until his relationship with an unusual Quaker boy and his grandfather's stroke make him consider the meaning of friendship and the importance of family.

Stuart Little, by E. B. White
This is the adventures of the debonair mouse, Stuart Little, as he sets out in the world to seek out his dearest friend, a little bird who stayed a few days in his family's garden.

Back to the Recommended Reading List