Monday, April 12, 2010

I Need Some Title Suggestions for Great Middle Grade Novels

I'm going to be putting on a library program for middle grade girls in the near future and I need some suggestions for titles of GREAT girl books. These can't just be good books, these have to be the best! Something that any girl in 4th to 5th grade would absolutely adore. The titles have to be found in the children's section of the library not the teen section, so things like Twilight are out this time around. If any of you fantastic book bloggers and readers out there have any suggestions for me--I'd love to have you add them to comments below. And list as many as you want, I'm desperate here. : )

Thanks in advance for all your help.

6 comments:

  1. Realistic fiction:

    Mallory series by Laurie B. Friedman
    Emma Jean Lazarus Fell out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
    Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love by Lauren Tarshis
    Naked Mole Rat Letters by Mary Amato
    Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M.M. Blume
    Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
    Rules by Cynthia Lord
    The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
    Ida B: And Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan
    So B. It by Sarah Weeks

    Fantasy:

    Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull (boy AND girl character)
    Anything by E.D. Baker
    Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George (other titles in series - Dragon Flight, Dragon Spear)
    Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
    Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
    Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech


    Historical:

    A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
    The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages
    (sequel is White Sands, Red Menace)
    Anything by Ann Rinaldi


    Also.. a lot of my 4th and 5 grade girls are getting into the Charlie Bone series... which I haven't read but they've been a hit so far.

    That's all I can think of off the top of my head...

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  2. Check Shannon Hale's post on this and the post she references.

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  3. I just finished reading the following books and they were fantastic!

    Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes
    The Liberation of Gabriel King by K.L. Going
    The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

    For other titles, you can search Google for state reading lists. They'll provide titles at each grade level.

    Those are just some ideas! I really recommend the top three though!

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  4. I agree with pretty much what Kristen listed.

    2 of my favorites are:

    Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. I loved the message in this book and have encouraged my daughter and her friends to read it. It teaches that true beauty comes from within.

    Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.

    I haven't read the Dragon Slippers series yet by Jessica Day George, but I thoroughly enjoyed Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow as well as Princess Of The Midnight Ball. Based on those two book I have put the Dragon Slippers on my "to read" list.

    I hope you will post your final list of suggestions for all of us!

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  5. True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle....Theodosia series by R. L. LaFevers....Enola Holmes mysteries....Skulduggery Pleasant series....those are just a few I thought others might forget about. All are fabulous.

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  6. Too bad Clementine is so easy! I love Clementine (and Junie B Jones).

    I thoroughly enjoyed Jill Wolfson's What I Call Life and Home and Other Big Fat Lies.

    If you dare promote a very dysfunctional family Hilary McKay's Casson Family series are a riot.

    The Bindi Babes trilogy by Naridner Dhami are fun wonderful reading.

    Ibbotson's Star of Kazan and Journey to the River Sea are longer but riveting reads.

    Off the top of my head I also highly recommend the following:

    Dowell's Dovey Coe
    Dowd's London Eye Mystery
    Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant
    VanDraanen's Sammy Keyes Mysteries
    Taylor's Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer
    Balliet's Chasing Vermeer
    Avi's Poppy series

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