Monday, August 25, 2014

books for preteen girls

There's a tricky side to being a voracious reader: people end up asking you for recommended reading lists. I'm one of those people that blanks as soon as anyone asks me for recommendations. :( It helps to sit at a computer and leisurely come up with a list as titles come to you. Goodreads helps too. ;) 

Anyway, I thought I'd share a list I compiled a while ago for a friend. These books I think would appeal most to preteen girls. Some are quick reads and some take longer, but I love all of them. :) Of course, unless you're reading the Bible, all literature will have flaws, so I won't pretend these are perfect. I'm a fan of at least reviewing what your child is reading, if you don't have the time to read the book yourself first. Never take someone's word for it, and never judge a book by its cover. (Unless the author is Nicholas Sparks or Stephenie Meyer. :P)

The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Indian Captive by Lois Lenski (and anything else by her)
The Little Women series by Louisa May Alcott
The Dear America series
The Sarah, Plain and Tall series by Patricia MacLachlan
I am Regina by Sally Keehn
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Princess Academy series by Shannon Hale
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (and anything else by him)
Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
The Heidi series by Johanna Spyri and Charles Tritten
The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry (and anything else by her)
The Prairie River series by Kristiana Gregory
Hidden Rainbow by Christmas Carol Kauffman
The Grandma's Attic series by Arleta Richardson
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard
The Borrowers series by Mary Norton
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Du Bois
The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye
The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stuart
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Got any faves that should be added?