I’m going to offer the oeuvre of my sister, Jennifer Holm!
Our Only May Amelia, a Newbery Honor winner that was inspired by the diary of our great-aunt. It follows the life of a young Finnish girl growing up on the Naselle River (the first ever born in the settlement; she has a kajillion brothers) in Washington State at the turn of the last century.
The Boston Jane trilogy, the story of a young woman who follows her beloved out to the Washington Territory in the mid-19th century… and how she copes with the less-than-cosmopolitan lifestyle on the frontier.
The Stink Files, a series that follows the exploits of a murdered British spy’s suave, stuffy, cultured cat, who must solve the mystery of who killed his owner … and cope with the less-than-cosmopolitan lifestyle in New Jersey.
Stay tuned for early 2006, when I, too, will have a book out that’s aimed for girls your daughter’s age …
I highly recommend Watership Down.
I loved that book when I was a kid.
Toadspittle thanks for the links. I have wishlisted the first book you recommended for future reference. Actually, all of them. Thanks!
How cool is that? I think the last one sounds closest to her interests. I’ll have to search these out.
Double cool! Can you tell us what the subject matter will be? Are you going to make available signed copies to Dopers? Hint, hint
Good stuff here. My 8 year old considers it tragic that she has about polished off the Magic Tree House series. They might be a little young for your 9 year old, but the Research Guides are good for young readers.
Just came in to second the Chinaberry and third the Jim Weiss stuff. He is wonderful. Get to hear him in person for the third time Jan 15.
When I was in 4th and 5th grade, I made it my goal to read every single Newbery Award title. I didn’t manage it - some titles totally bored me - but most of them are truly outstanding, easy to find, in print, and time tested.
The Redwall series by Brian Jacques. My brother and I both loved these books. There are 17 books in the series, and while I haven’t read them all, most of them are great reads. They may be a bit challenging, but they’re awesome books!
A graphic novel series about a daydreaming girl mouse (one of those deals where all the kids in school are animals), named “Babymouse.”
Oooh! Oooh!
I just want to second Chasing Vermeer. It was written by a teacher from, and is set in, the school that I went to - The Laboratory Schools at the University of Chicago. I got it for Christmas (age 37) and can’t wait to start it. My mother (age 69) already read it and loved it. She gave it to me and to my small cousins (ages 10 and 13). She also gave us books on Vermeer’s paintings, so that we could see the paintings that were discussed in the book, and sets of pentominos (sort of a math toy) that are used to make codes in the book.
Art, math, codes, literature, and history - all wrapped up in a fun book for kids. (And set in my school - my school!!!) What more could you ask for?
So Shibb – what did you get her, and did she like it/them?
Shibb, why didn’t you start listening to the Chronicles on the first book? 
Polly doesn’t come in until the sixth.