For as long as I can remember I was aware that children were treated as second-class citizens. As a child certain rules seemed ridiculous and I was unsatisfied with how adults defended those rules. Authority for the sake of authority upset me greatly. I vowed pretty early to treat children as human beings when I was an adult and therefore in a position of power. So the books I write are always about the insanity of being a child in a world ruled by adults. I hope you like the books on my list as much as I do.
This is the story of feisty eleven-year-old Veronica Morgan a professional worrier. Veronica believes that a beagle from the neighborhood pet store will be the solution to the endless anxiety she has about life in general and friendship in particular. She is determined to have this dog but her bumbling psychiatrist parents won’t buy it or stop meddling in her life at her challenging new school. But things never turn out the way you plan, particularly if you are accustomed to expecting the worst to happen, and never took a chance on being a true friend yourself.
Because Harriet is adventurous, lonely, and resourceful. Harriet taught me that friendships and life are hard, that community and relationships and valuable, necessary, and always worth fighting for. She showed me that when your own family doesn’t feel safe you can create another family comprised of whomever you choose. She also taught me ways to be in a relationship with myself so that I never needed to feel bored. Harriet the Spy was great, great company. I never looked at alone time the same after reading about her. She is a bonafide heroine to me, even today.
First published in 1974, a title in which Harriet M. Welsch, aspiring author, keeps a secret journal in which she records her thoughts about strangers and friends alike, but when her friends find the notebook with all its revelations, Harriet becomes the victim of a hate campaign.
I loved When You Reach Me because it touched on what being a tween was for me. I was proud of the independence associated with being a latch key kid but I wasn’t totally comfortable with it either. There was always a foreboding sense of danger roaming the city streets alone after school. So many children are left to their own devices after school because parents work and in the case of the protagonist of When You Reach Me, being an only child of a single parent accentuated it all. I tend to love books about friendships and imagination without a strong presence of social media. So this was a wonderful world for me. The relationship between the main character and her mother was beautiful. And as if the world of the book wasn’t ripe enough, there is an added element of time-bending too!
Miranda's life is starting to unravel. Her best friend, Sal, gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The key that Miranda's mum keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives: 'I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I ask two favours. First, you must write me a letter.'
The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realises that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she…
Fern was my very first social justice warrior-heroine. She advocates for the little runt piglet no one cares about. Fern, Charlotte, and Wilbur expose the reader to a world beneath the world known to grownups. All around us plants and animals communicate with us, each other, and form bonds that are deep and meaningful. I am very small, 5 foot barely two inches, and Charlotte is the tiniest heroine I ever encountered. Using her last life’s breath to save Wilbur and bring new life into this world. I think Charlotte’s Web is a feminist masterpiece. Fern and Charlotte are so strong and so overlooked because they are small, young, and female.
Puffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.
On foggy mornings, Charlotte's web was truly a thing of beauty . Even Lurvy, who wasn't particularly interested in beauty, noticed the web when he came with the pig's breakfast. And then he took another look and he saw something that made him set his pail down. There, in the centre of the web, neatly woven in block letters, was a message. It said: SOME PIG!
This is the story of a little girl named Fern, who loves a little pig named Wilbur - and of Wilbur's dear friend,…
I recommend The Egypt Game because it is another book about the ingenuity of one’s imagination in the company of a good friend. The friendship between Melanie and April is so satisfying and fun! I love made-up language. I love mystery. I love ritual. These two girls are left to their own devices and they embody the process of making lemonade of lemons. They help each other turn long stretches of time into adventure, connection, and creativity.
The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she's not sure they have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard, Melanie and April decide it's the perfect spot for the Egypt Game. Before long there are six Egyptians, and they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. Everyone thinks it's just a game until strange things start happening. Has the Egypt Game gone too far?
Injustice is the battle cry of Claudia Kincaid. She is exhausted growing up in her own family, so she takes matters into her own hands and runs away. What an adventure she and her little brother have! They repurpose the fanciest and most glamorous museum in the city of New York to build a better life for themselves. This book satisfies so many itches! There is the pain of not feeling appreciated by those who brought you into this world, the anguish of being away from your family, and the thrill of taking your own life into your own hands. Yay for Claudia Kincaid.
For decades I have volunteered in different capacities, helping the hurting and those living on the margins by tutoring and teaching literacy to the formally incarcerated or homeless, teaching parenting in a maximum-security jail, and teaching ESL to resettled immigrants. Because my own suburban father fell into homelessness at the end of his life due to depression, job losses, divorce, and more, I feel tremendous compassion for anyone in this situation. And as the mother of four grown sons, we filled our home with books—especially books that taught compassion so our sons would grow into men with big hearts towards others. I believe we succeeded.
Eleven-year-old Sierra just wants a normal life. After her military mother returns from the war overseas, the two hop from home to homelessness while Sierra tries to help her mom through the throes of PTSD.
When they end up at a shelter for women and children, Sierra is even more aware of what her life is not. The kind couple who run the shelter, Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin, attempt to show her parental love as she faces the uncertainties of her mom’s emotional health and the challenges of being the brand-new poor kid in middle school. The longer she stays at the shelter, the more Sierra realizes she may have to face an impossible choice as she redefines home.
Eleven-year-old Sierra just wants a normal life. After her military mother returns from the war overseas, the two hop from home to homelessness while Sierra tries to help her mom through the throes of PTSD.
When they end up at a shelter for women and children, Sierra is even more aware of what her life is not. The kind couple who run the shelter, Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin, attempt to show her parental love as she faces the uncertainties of her mom’s emotional health and the challenges of being the brand-new…
Interested in
New York City,
farms,
and
imagination?
10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them.
Browse their picks for the best books about
New York City,
farms,
and
imagination.
