Comments on: Listmania! Best Books for Older Children

By: MisMash

MisMash — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:28:01 +0000

(Eek. That would be “for a while now.”)

By: MisMash

MisMash — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:55:51 +0000

As it happens, I have been meaning for awhile now to recommend this one to Manolo, because I think he would find it most charming: Mistress Masham's Repose, by T.H. White It is for young and old alike (especially if you enjoy your fiction sprinkled liberally -- and humorously -- with architectural, historical, literary, and Latin references), and I have adored it since I discovered it at age 10. The original illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg are a must. Fortunately, it has been reprinted in its original format as part of the NY Review Children's Collection. THW Fan Site Description of MMR Amazon Reviews At Amazon you can also read the first few pages. (And -- psst -- an adult looking for a great detective/suspense novel will probably enjoy Darkness at Pemberley, also by White. Out of print but can be found used and often at libraries.)

By: julia

julia — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:27:25 +0000

The Long Summer (sequel to Harriet the Spy) – Louise Fitzhugh
The Little Princess – Frances Hodgson (?) Burnett
The Black Fox of Lorne – Margurite De Angeli
More than A Queen

for older
Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack

anything by Paul Zindel

By: dangster

dangster — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:37:25 +0000

I am a huge fan of the BFG, or any Roald Dahl book in general. Also, book by Beverly Cleary (any Ramona book is hilarious).

And for the tween girls, I recommend the books from the American Girl Collection, although I can’t recommend the ones written after Mattel took over and corrupted the Collection.

By: Kit

Kit — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:25:45 +0000

This makes me want to raid my parents’ house so I can reread all of my favorite books from elementary school…

My absolute favorite – that I have reread recently and it definitely stands the test of time – was The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:22:39 +0000

Anything by John Bellairs! Brad Strickland has been writing books based on the stories by John Bellairs that are as good if not better than the originals. I recommend them all. Also did anyone mention Joan Aiken yet! I loved her books too.

By: JaneC

JaneC — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:11:41 +0000

Arabian Nights tales are good for older children–I think I was about 11 when I first read them–especially if you get an edition with good illustrations (mine has stunning Maxfield Parish pictures). Charles Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare is a classic–I remember being excited to read the proper Shakespeare versions when I got older, because I had loved Lamb’s versions. E. Nesbit’s Five Children and It was mentioned above–the sequels The Phoenix and the Carpet and The Enchanted Castle are also good.

How old is “older children”? I can think of some books that I read when in 8th grade or a freshman in high school that I really enjoyed, but not sure if the 12-15 age group is covered here. I read most of Jane Austen’s novels, the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy, and the Horatio Hornblower series when I was 13-15, but I was a good and eager reader. I imagine that Christopher Paolini’s books Eragon and Eldest would appeal to kids in their early teens as well.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 06:22:41 +0000

hmmm… my niece’s favourite books were the Molly Moon series, Artemis Fowle (1st one), Lemony Snickets. re-read over and over.

By: megaera

megaera — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:41:29 +0000

The Hero and the Crown/The Blue Sword- Robin McKinley (I kept a group of 5-14 yr olds enchanted with these books)
King of the Wind-Marguerite Henry
The Dark is Rising Sequence- Susan Cooper. I know the movie is crap, but the book series is GREAT! (of note, all three of these authors won Newberries for at least one of the books listed)

By: Chicagolo

Chicagolo — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:06:41 +0000

also, I just saw these on the bookshelf, The All-of-a-kind Family series, by Sydney Taylor

also The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, and really, anything by Dianna Wynn Jones- she wrote Howl’s Moving Castle, which was made into a Miyazaki film a few years ago.