Kids Fiction
ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis
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Elijah was the first free Black child born in the Canadian town of Buxton. His parents—as well as most of the adults in his town—were once enslaved in the United States who escaped to freedom in Canada. For Elijah and his friends, ringing the freedom bell when a new escapee arrives in Buxton is always exciting, but the true meaning of freedom becomes more real as Elijah grows toward adulthood and has some dangerous adventures of his own.
By exploring the history of slavery through the characters of a free town, Christopher Paul Curtis captures the utter joy of freedom in a rare and beautiful way. Even with enslavement such a recent and raw memory in his community, growing up in a free town, Elijah (like most of his readers) is somewhat naive and ignorant of what a captive life really feels like. This novel is Elijah’s coming-of-age story by which he comes to understand and appreciate more fully his family’s and community’s history. And through his story, the reader will come to experience the same. Curtis does not shy away from the horrors of slavery nor does he rely on violence and drama to propel his plot. I highly recommend this novel to middle grade readers who want to read some really good, character-driven historical fiction.
MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
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The first time Timothy fell ill, he had been a tiny mouseling and Jonathan Frisby had still been alive. But when Timothy falls ill with pneumonia, the widowed Mrs. Frisby must care for Timothy all on her own. The doctor mouse, Mr. Ages, advises Timothy to stay in bed for at least another month. Unfortunately, the Spring comes early and the Frisbys will be forced to move out of their home in the field before the farmer begins to plow. Fearing that the move will kill Timothy, Mrs. Frisby is prepared to take drastic measures to find a solution to her problem–even if it means visiting the wise old owl in his lair in the forest. But the meeting with the bird of prey is nothing like Mrs. Frisby expected. Although the owl is initially unwilling to help her, as soon as he learns her husband’s name, his demeanor changes. He advises her to visit the colony of rats living in the rosebush and to tell them her husband’s name. Confused, Mrs. Frisby does as the owl says. What she finds behind the rosebush is beyond anything she has ever dreamed, and she quickly learns that the rats of Nimh are no ordinary rats–and Jonathan Frisby was no ordinary mouse.
It is clear why this book has remained so popular for so long. The winner of the 1972 Newbery Medal is a brilliantly imagined book with an intricate and creative animal world and a thread of mystery and suspense that keeps the reader engaged to the very end. Through the actions of Mrs. Frisby’s family and the rats of Nimh, O’Brien illustrates the value of love, friendship, and self-sacrifice. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy animal stories, the inventors/scientists/gadgets side of science fiction, and stories where strong but ordinary characters act heroically.
If you liked Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, you might like Mousenet, I, Freddy, Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat, and Babe: the Gallant Pig.
WOLF BROTHER by Michelle Paver
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Torak can remember the exact moment that his life changed. He and Fa had been setting up camp, happy and laughing, when the bear exploded from the forest—the great demon bear that no hunter could destroy—and attacked Fa. Numb with shock and grief, Torak swears to Fa’s dying request. He will find the mountain of the World Spirit that no man has ever seen. He will trust the guide that the spirits send him, whoever or whatever it may be. And he will stay away from the clans, avoiding people at all costs, so that they do not hinder him. He will fulfill his quest or die trying.
The guide is certainly not what Torak expected. Almost as soon as Torak finds the orphaned wolf cub, he feels a connection between them. Though he does not know how, Torak can communicate with the wolf, understanding his wolf speech and speaking back with grunts, whines, and growls. Realizing that the wolf must be his guide, Torak follows the cub through the forest, hoping that the young wolf will lead him to the mountain of the World Spirit. But Torak forgets his father’s hunting advice—“Look behind you, Torak”—and before his quest is fully underway, he is captured by hunters from the Raven clan. Yet if he had not been captured, he never would have met Renn, learned about the prophecy, or discovered the secrets of his father’s past and the demon bear. Now, Torak is more determined than ever to find the mountain of the World Spirit—but first he must escape the clutches of the Ravens. . . .
I cannot recommend this audiobook highly enough! Sir Ian McKellen’s narration is phenomenal. The story itself is dark, suspenseful, and very exciting. It has all of the story elements you could ask for: action, mystery, complex and evolving characters, friendships and rivalries, puzzles to solve, and evil to defeat. I especially recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and/or high fantasy and to dog lovers. Wolf Brother is the first in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series.
If you liked Wolf Brother, you might like The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner, Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, or Dreamwood by Heather Mackey.
EMMY AND THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING RAT by Lynne Jonell
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Emmy used to be happy, back when people noticed her, before her parents got rich and forgot she existed, traveling sometimes for months at a time and leaving Emmy with her terrible new nanny, Miss Barmy. Now the students in her class seem to look right through her; her teacher can’t even remember her name. In fact, the only creature who notices Emmy is her class pet rat–and for some reason, Emmy can hear him speak. One day, in a fit of rebelliousness, Emmy sets her rat free and decides to skip her gymnastics class and explore her town instead. That is how she happens upon Professor Vole’s rodent shop and sees Miss Barmy place a mysterious, secret order for rodents. What’s more, she finds a caged rat in the shop that is identical to the rat she set free. And the twin rat, along with all of the other rodents, are labeled with strange special powers. Sure that something sinister is happening, Emmy is determined to find out the secret of the rats and to stop Miss Barmy and Professor Vole from whatever evil they might be plotting. Unfortunately, Miss Barmy is on to her and it will take all of Emmy’s cleverness–and a lot of help from her friends Joe and the Rat–to solve the mystery before it’s too late.
This book is a fun, silly, and suspenseful story. It has plenty of mystery and intrigue to keep you turning pages, as long as you have a taste for the absurd and unbelievable. Personally, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to middle grade readers who like fantasy set in the real world.
If you liked Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat ,you might also like Mousenet and Whales on Stilts.
THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron
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Because of her job cleaning up after the various “anonymous” meetings in her tiny California town, Lucky gets to hear a lot about how the alcoholics and smokers and gamblers hit “rock bottom” and found their Higher Power. Unfortunately, they never share the specifics of exactly how they found their Higher Power. Still, while she deals with her sadness over her mother’s death, her fears that her Guardian, Brigitte, will leave her, and her dreams of becoming a World Famous Scientist, Lucky is determined to find a Higher Power of her own.
Winner of the 2007 Newbery Award, The Higher Power of Lucky is a quirky, heart-warming coming-of-age story that focuses on themes of family and community. Although it is a slender book, it is intended for a middle grade audience.
If you liked The Higher Power of Lucky, you might like Rebel McKenzie by Candice Ransom, Savvy by Ingrid Law, Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool, and Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay.
THE EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION OF NICHOLAS BENEDICT by Trenton Lee Stewart
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When Nicholas Benedict first arrived at a new orphanage he had high hopes for new friendships and adventures. But when he cleverly outwits some bullies during his first few days, he makes powerful enemies who are determined to make his life miserable. To make matters worse, because of his narcolepsy and night terrors, the head of the orphanage insists on locking him into a private bedroom every night. But Nicholas will not let these challenges keep his spirits down. Fueled by a new friendship with a boy called John and the secret knowledge that a treasure might be hidden somewhere on the orphanage’s grounds, Nicholas Benedict is determined to escape his prison and defeat his bullies once and for all.
If you liked the Mysterious Benedict Society trilogy, you should definitely read this fun prequel! It is full of all of the puzzles, mystery, and suspense of the original series–though falling short of The Mysterious Benedict Society’s cast of quirky characters.
BABE: THE GALLANT PIG by Dick King Smith
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When Farmer Hogget wins a piglet at the fair, he isn’t quite sure what to do with it. Mrs. Hogget is excited for the prospect of a nice ham at Christmas. But the piglet, Babe, has other ideas. After watching his adopted mother, the sheepdog, do her work and befriending one of the sheep himself, Babe discovers that he has a talent as a sheep pig. When Farmer Hogget notices the same talent, he begins to get new ideas for the pig’s future.
This classic story is short and sweet, with a touch of humor. Readers who enjoy animal stories will love reading about Babe and his friends on the farm. Babe would also make a great family read aloud.
If you liked Babe, you might like I, Freddy, Mousenet, or The Incredible Journey.
(Also, the 1995 film adaptation of the same name is truly excellent–very close to the book with just a bit of added drama.)
THE HOBBIT, OR THERE AND BACK AGAIN by J.R.R. Tolkien
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Bilbo Baggins was a polite and respectable hobbit who lived in a neat little hobbit-hole in the Shire and never, ever did anything unexpected. That is, until the wizard Gandalf the Grey and a company of thirteen dwarves show up on his doorstep and suddenly sweep him off on an adventure. The dwarves have been wandering for years since their home under the Lonely Mountain was conquered by Smaug the dragon. Thorin Oakenshield believes the time is right to lead his followers back to the mountain and reclaim his grandfather’s treasure. For reasons he does not fully explain, Gandalf has chosen Bilbo as the “burglar” who will help the dwarves reclaim their home (although poor Bilbo has never stolen anything in his life). The quest begins with unfortunate encounters with mountain trolls and goblins, and Bilbo worries that he may not be cut out for adventuring after all. But when a misadventure in the Misty Mountains leads him to discover a magical ring, Bilbo’s luck turns for the better, and he may become a successful burglar at last.
Tolkien’s classic precursor to the Lord of the Rings trilogy is truly a children’s book–lighthearted and full of adventure, humor, and magic. Elementary-age readers who enjoy fantasy such as Harry Potter or the Redwall books will love The Hobbit, although younger or less skilled readers may prefer it as a family read-aloud since it is not an easy text. It is an engaging book, however, and many reluctant readers find that the story motivates them to read it again and again despite the initial struggle.
If you liked The Hobbit, you may also enjoy The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Charmed Life, The Secret of Platform 13, Magyk, Peter Pan, Peter and the Starcatchers, Gregor the Overlander, and Redwall.
THE MISSING MANATEE by Cynthia DeFelice
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Skeet Waters loves living in his small Florida town. He loves going fishing with his father, listening to his eccentric Memaw sing karaoke, and speeding out on the water in his own little boat, going nowhere in particular. But over Spring Break, two things happen that threaten Skeet’s peace of mind. First, his mother kicks his father out of the house for good. Second, Skeet discovers a dead manatee with a bullet wound in his head. Horrified that anyone would kill such a gentle creature, Skeet hurries to fetch the sheriff. When they return to the scene of the crime, however, the manatee’s body is gone. Without evidence, there is nothing much the sheriff’s office can do. And so Skeet forces his parents and his homework out of his mind and decides to solve the mystery himself.
There is a bit of suspense in this mystery story, but The Missing Manatee is primarily about relationships, particularly family relationships. DeFelice blurs the line between right and wrong and forces her protagonist to accept that many situations–and all people–are more complicated than they seem. A fun mystery and coming-of-age story, sure to be enjoyed by middle grade readers who like mysteries and/or the great outdoors.
If you liked The Missing Manatee, you might like The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.
THE DRAGONFLY POOL by Eva Ibbotson
Tally Hamilton was perfectly happy living in London with her father and her aunts. But when another world war looms on the horizon, Tally’s father takes advantage of a scholarship to send her to a “progressive” boarding school in the country. Although initially homesick, Tally wastes little time in making friends and shaking things up at Delderton Hall. When she sees a tourism advertisement for the Eastern European country of Bergania, whose brave king stood up to Hitler, Tally feels called to visit the beautiful place. And when Delderton Hall is invited to participate in a folkdance festival in Bergania, it seems too good to be true. Tally, her friends, and their inspiring yet enigmatic biology instructor, Matteo, travel to Bergania full of hope.
Karil, the prince of Bergania, lives an unhappy life. He feels stifled by his royal lifestyle and he rarely gets to see his father. But when Karil meets Tally, the folkdancer from England, his perspective on his father changes. Maybe his father is a hero for standing up to Hitler. Maybe the role of a king can be important in the world. Then, Karil’s father is assassinated, and Karil and Tally find themselves swept up in a dangerous political game as the try to smuggle Karil safely out of the country.
As you can probably tell from the two paragraphs of summary, this is a long and complicated story–but a wonderful one! Bergania is a fictional country, so readers should not assume that every detail of this historical fiction is accurate. But the characters are wonderful and the plot a beautiful blend of school adventures, historical, and suspense. It is a coming-of-age story for both Tally and Karil which approaches themes of friendship, family, and personal and national identity–and woven throughout, the theme of finding beauty and peace in nature. Because of its complexity, The Dragonfly Pool does not hang together as well as The Star of Kazan or some of Eva Ibbotson’s other work, but Ibbotson fans and historical fiction readers should definitely check this book out! Personally, I loved it.
The audiobook performed by Patricia Conolly is phenomenal.
If you liked The Dragonfly Pool, you might like The Star of Kazan or The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.
Susan the Librarian 