I grew up reading all kinds of stories, but I was also a big fan of playing outdoors. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was always a favorite of mine, but as an adult, I realized somethingâŚthe one main female character who was my age, Becky Thatcher, didnât seem to like adventure at all! I loved the idea of Becky being as much of a mischief-maker as the boys â and that became my first novel, The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher. I love retellings of classics and how they respect the original story, but are also able to imagine a new path! I hope all readers have adventures, inside and outside of books!
I wrote
The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher
More to the Story by Hena Khan is a retelling of Louisa May Alcottâs classic novel, Little Women. This version features four Muslim Pakistani-American sisters who live in Georgia. Their experiences and personalities both mirror and bring new light to the characters that I read and appreciated as a child. The novel delves into the personal challenges and joint effort of being a family in ways that are authentic and familiar. The details of setting and culture make the characters and story truly stand on their own. The importance of empathy, individuality, and support are all things that I loved about this book.
From the critically acclaimed author of Amina's Voice comes a new story inspired by Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic, Little Women, featuring four sisters from a modern American Muslim family living in Georgia.
When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of her middle school newspaper, she's one step closer to being an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather. The problem is her editor-in-chief keeps shooting down her article ideas. Jameela's assigned to write about the new boy in school, who has a cool British accent but doesn't share much, and wonders how she'll make his story gripping enoughâŚ
Rump by Liesl Shurtliff is a funny and poignant fractured fairy tale based on Rumpelstiltskin. It breathes new life into a character that has been typecast in the past as somewhat one-dimensional. I love that this author made tweaks to the original tale and brought another fairy tale character, Red Riding Hood, into the mix as a support system. I love the idea of origin stories that make readers think twice about judging supposed villains. Imagination abounds from this author, and the reader learns so much about Rump throughout his journey; both strengths and internal wounds that can be healed. This story has it all: humor, adventure, and heart.
2
authors picked
Rump
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This book is for kids age
8,
9,
10, and
11.
What is this book about?
This funny fractured fairy tale goes behind the scenes of Rumpelstiltskin. New York Times Bestselling author Liesl Shurtliff "spins words into gold [Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor winner]."
In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and sheâs right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.
The Real Boys of the Civil War
by
J. Arthur Moore,
The Real Boys of the Civil War is a research about the real boys who served during the war, opening with a historiography research paper about their history along with its 7-page source document. It then evolves into a series of collections of their stories by topic, concluding with aâŚ
A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat is a retelling of Victor Hugoâs Les MisĂŠrables set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. I cannot say enough about the gorgeous setting details and atmosphere that support the characters in this novel. From the very first pages, I felt drawn into the world of Pong and Nok. This novel will feel familiar in theme and plot to those familiar with Victor Hugoâs classic, but it also stands alone as a new story that needs to be read and shared.
A boy on the run. A girl determined to find him. A compelling fantasy looks at issues of privilege, protest, and justice.
All light in Chattana is created by one man â the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars.âŚ
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu is one of my very favorite books to read over and over. Itâs a modern-day story inspired by Hans Christian Andersenâs The Snow Queen, a classic fairy tale. Hazel and her best friend Jack have gotten to a point in their age where they feel as though theyâre drifting apart. Hazel feels very isolated and alone, but when Jack goes missing, Hazel sets out on a dangerous adventure to save himâŚand their friendship. This story touches on so many topics: growing up, friendship, adoption, grieving, change, and above all, hope.
The winner of numerous awards and recipient of four starred reviews, Anne Ursu's Breadcrumbs is a stunning and heartbreaking story of growing up, wrapped in a modern-day fairy tale.
Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Breadcrumbs is a stunningly original fairy tale of modern-day America, a dazzling ode to the power of fantasy, and a heartbreaking meditationâŚ
Nick Townley has lived his entire lifeâall eleven yearsâat Black Butte Ranch, nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains. While his parents push him to study, practice sports, and make friends, Nick prefers to retreat into his superhero universe and create exciting Adventures of Click comics. When aâŚ
Midsummer Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca is a favorite for my whole family. Inspired by Shakespeareâs A Midsummer Nightâs Dream, this tale incorporates the delectable combination of food and magic. The main character, Mimi, is part of a highly-relatable Indian-American family, and her love of baking is deliciously clear on every page and in every recipe. The plot points that relate to Shakespeareâs classic work are both clear and clever. This story will leave you hungry for more from Rajani LaRocca!
A Kirkus Best Book of 2019! An Indies Introduce Selection for 2019! An Indie Next Pick for Summer 2019!
"A delectable treat for food and literary connoisseurs alike." Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
"What a wonderful, intriguing, and magical book. And wow, did it ever get my tastebuds going! Each time I picked it up, I felt the urge to head to my kitchen. . . . What I loved most was the smartness of it. It never once doubted its young readers." Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor- and National Book Award-Nominated author
"Midsummer's Mayhem is an enchantment of a novel, burstingâŚ
Tom Sawyerâs and Huckleberry Finnâs adventures are legendary, but what about the story you havenât heard? In 1860, eleven-year-old Becky Thatcher spends much of her time on her own, getting into mischief. Before long, she joins the boys at school in a bet to steal from the Widow Douglas, and Becky convinces her new best friend, Amy Lawrence, to join her.
But the theft doesnât go as planned, and Widow Douglas ends up being unfairly accused of grave robbing as a result. So Becky concocts a plan to clear the Widowâs name and find a hidden cave treasure to boot! In this retelling of Mark Twainâs classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Becky might just get away with it allâŚthat is, if that tattletale Tom will quit following her around.
Mal's older brother has disappeared into thin air. Laura's parents went away for the weekend and when she gives them a call, they have no idea who she is. In pursuit of answers, the teens become entangled with two others similarly targeted by a force they don't understand and now,âŚ
This series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.
âSpine-chilling and creepy!â âMax Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth, on Escape From Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, Book 1).