My sons at roughly that age loved Michael De Larrabeiti’s The Borrible Trilogy. I thought they may be a bit young for the books but they raved about them. From the Amazon reviews they struck the same kind of chord with lots of kids. More here.
Oh and a second vote for Neil Gaiman. Extraordinary children’s books.
I recommend A Filly for Joan, Afraid to Ride, and *The Outlaw *by C.W. Anderson if she likes horses.
*The Liberation of Clementine Tipton *and One Hundred and Eight Bells, both by Jane Flory, are also great. The first is a historical novel set in 1876 about a wealthy child living around the same time as Laura Ingalls Wilder, which makes it an interesting contrast. The second is set in Japan in the 1960’s.
Also, *The Ark *by Margot Benary-Isbert, a novel set in Germany just after World War II.
Unfortunately, I don’t think any of these are in print, but if you find them in a library or at a used book sale, they’re well worth checking out.
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews (yes, that one). It’s a great story about the importance of imagination and holding on to it as you grow up.
Jeez, I can’t believe I left out Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series: Wee Free Men, Hat Full Of Sky, Wintersmith and I Shall Wear Midnight. Great books with a well-characterized protagonist who is neither stupid nor cutesy. Sir Pterry can write about children without either condescending or treating them as minature adults, the Scylla and Charbydis of YA literature.
Speaking of which, I was about your daughter’s age when I first read Bullfinch’s Mythology, and I loved that.
My own third grader likes the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo, Disney Fairies, Diary of Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries books for light reading.
Here are some excellent recent fantasies she might enjoy: Copper, by Rebecca Lisle, The Folk Keeper, by Franny Billingsley, and Savvy, by Ingrid Law.
Check out Madeleine L’Engle, who wrote far more than A Wrinkle in Time.
The OP might consider asking a children’s librarian, too.
When I was nine years old, one particular librarian noticed how many books I was checking out, and she made it a point to try to find at least one book that I hadn’t read each week. I don’t remember her name, but I certainly remember her fondly.
She seems to be a voracious reader. Why not just let her loose in the library?
I really liked Bruce Coville’s Unicorn Chronicles when I was a school-age voracious reader. Only the first two books were out then, so I don’t know about the last two, but the ones I read had a good mix of adventure, humor, and suspense. They are not fluffy books about unicorns, the tone is more Harry Potter-esque.
I think this is The Magic Grandfather, by Jay Williams. (I was just thinking about it the other day… must be a sign!)
Lois Lenski wrote lots of other great YA novels besides Strawberry Girl in her “American Regional” series. Try Cotton in My Sack and Shoo-Fly Girl.
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“English”?!? Bite your tongue! :eek: The Peppers are New England to the backbone, specifically Massachusetts, I believe.
Title reminds me of the 1969 Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver, also set in a poor Appalachian family but with a different premise (orphaned children take up “wildcrafting” or gathering and selling wild herbs and greens in order to stay together as a family).
My vote would be for the Green Knowe books by Lucy Boston - mystery, history, ghosts, a touch of magic
The Children of Green Knowe (1954)
The Chimneys of Green Knowe aka 'Treasure of Green Knowe (1958)
The River at Green Knowe (1959)
A Stranger at Green Knowe (1961)
An Enemy at Green Knowe (1964)
The Stones of Green Knowe (1976)
Also
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Many of my other thoughts have been mentioned.
Si
Yes! Thanks!
It’s pretty easy for me to find. I have hardcover copies of both books on the bottom shelf of the cabinet in the computer room. My parents got me the Greek Myths book (softcover) when I was a child and I literally read the cover (and the last few pages) off of it. Decades later, my wife acquired hardcover editions of both books, and I’ve been sharing them with our son.
Diana Wynne Jones has already been mentioned, so after she reads Howl’s Moving Castle, you can get your daughter the animated film by Miyazaki from Netflix. Who knows? maybe it’ll start a lifelong love of anime…
I would recommend the Tripod Trilogy (The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead, and The Pool of Fire) by John Christopher. These are sci-fi action/adventure, and the heroes are young boys, so they might be more suited to a boy’s palette, but I loved them. I got started when I saw them serialized in comic form in Boy’s Life magazine as a Cub Scout and tracked them down to read in book form after that.
Two historical fiction recommendations for you and recommend to others:
David, Bernice, and the Magic Fox In “The Dragoons” by John F. Kinnear
David, Bernice, and the Magic Fox In “Gettysburg, Pennsylvania” by John F. Kinnear
A two part series thus far: Very Value-Priced 8x10 with Illustrations.
Don’t forget to pass the word on!
Check out The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron.
It was a Newberry Medal winner for 2007. Great book.
Seconding The Secret Garden and A Little Princess - loved, loved, loved these books as a kid.
Tom’s Midnight Garden also captured my heart as a kid - I should maybe buy it and re-read it.
I remember Julie of the Wolves being a good book.
Another vote for The Egypt Game. Wonderful book. I still reread it occasionally.
Also, they’re a little dated now but if she likes series mysteries, The Three Investigators and Trixie Belden series are good. And if she’s science-minded, the *Danny Dunn *series (also fairly dated now, but good stories).
Oh, and for something a bit more modern, the Bartimaeus Trilogy (or at least the first one, The Amulet of Samarkand–I haven’t read the other two yet) is good.
I’m don’t know if it’s age appropriate and you may possibly take issue with its anti-religion stance, but I found the ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy by Philip Pullman a great adventure.