Best Books
In this article, you will find:
Books for older children
Ages: 12 and up Ten Queens & Portraits of Women of Power
By Milton Meltzer
Ages: 12 and up
From Esther (5th century BC) to Catherine the Great (1729-1796)--this is a captivating account of how ten powerful female rulers changed the course of history.
Step Lightly: Poems for the Journey
By Nancy Willard
Ages: 12 and up
A collection of poems celebrating the ordinary in an unordinary way, by such authors as Emily Dickinson, Theodore Roethke, and D. H. Lawrence. The poems in this collection come from Nancy Willard's cardboard boxes - she's collected them to accompany her on her journey through life, and she hopes young people will take them along on their own adventures.
Transall Saga
By Gary Paulsen
Ages: 12 and up
Thirteen-year-old Mark ventures into the desert for a hiking trip. He was looking for freedom and serenity--what he encountered when he awakens is a jungle inhabited by strange, almost-familiar creatures. Young readers will enjoy this thrilling adventure story.
The Wreckers
By Iain Lawrence
Ages: 10-15
Fourteen-year-old John Spencer survived a harrowing shipwreck off the coast of England. When he reaches land, he finds a community that exists by luring storm-tossed ships to their rocky shore. Readers will enjoy the fast-paced adventure that includes, pirates, kidnapping, mystery and ghosts.
Soldier's Heart
By Gary Paulsen
Ages: 12 and up
The author tells the story through the eyes of an actual Civil War soldier. A fifteen-year-old Minnesota boy lied about his age and ended up participating in most of the war's major battles. Young readers will be impressed with the remarkable portrayal of Charley, who is transformed from an innocent boy into a seasoned -- but not hardened or embittered -- soldier.