Amy wants squeaky clean books. Judy Blume was recommended to her, but you know about Blume. Good writer, can't trust her content. (Are you there, Reader? It's me Blume, and sometimes I'm sketchy.)
I have some ideas, but I'd love some more before I post a list for Amy. Can anyone with kids this age give us some ideas?
5 comments:
My girls are 10, 12 and 12. All read beyond (some way beyond) their grade level, so I understand the challenge. The older two have really loved historical fiction, like the Dear American series, or Miss Spitfire by Sarah miller. The older ones LOVED the Mysterious Benedict Society series--I read the first one and enjoyed it. May be a touch advanced for 7 (amazon says grades 5-9, but it's one to keep in mind). The Main Street series by Ann M. Martin is good too.
My oldest was a very precocious reader so I understand how difficult it can be to find good age appropriate books.
My advice: I have found that even among my friends who have common beliefs, there are sometimes vast differences in what we think is squeaky clean, scary, violent, or okay. And often it's the specific sensitivities of a child that have to be taken into account. So I recommend that your friend research or pre-read all books if she really wants to make sure they are squeaky clean.
I agree that Blume is sketch. I never introduced my kids to her books even though I read all of her books as a kid. Patterson is another sketchy one although we have enjoyed her books. Funke is also sketchy.
Here are a list of books, we have used in our book clubs for 7-12 year olds. Some may be on the advanced side for a 7 year old.
Little House on the Prairie series
The Cat Who Went to Heaven
Understood Betsy
Call It Courage
The Cay
Esperanza Rising
Angel on the Square
Charlotte's Web
Where the Red Fern Grows
Winnie the Pooh
House at Pooh Corner
When We Were Very Young
Now We Are Six
Homer Price
Ella Enchanted
The Double Life of Pocahontas
Peter and the Starcatchers series
The Great Good Thing
The Door in the Wall
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Crispin: The Cross of Lead
The Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain series)
The Chocolate Touch
A Little Princess
Over Sea, Under Stone (Dark is Rising series)
Chronicles of Narnia
The Little White Horse
I don't know about grade level but my 9yr old has loved reading the American Girl books, Island of the Blue dolphin, The witch of Blackbird pond, The Sisters Grim series, The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Little Princess, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Borrowers series.
That is all I can recall off the top of my head. Right now she just finished reading Sarah Plain and Tall and is starting Skylark.
Such a great list! I'll add a few of my 7 year old duaghter's favorites that haven't been mentioned yet:
"Twig" by Elizabeth Orton- an imaginative book about a girl, fairies, and animals
"Dr. DoLittle" by Hugh Lofting- another fun read
"Henry Huggins" by Beverly Cleary
"Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" series by Betty MacDonald
And, finally, for the book she keeps by her bed for evening reads, "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids" by Sean Covey.
deborah, how did I just discover this blog of yours? You are a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!! I love you. Unfortunately, I don't have anything to add to the list, but I'm going to start Taylor Ann reading these. Thank you!!
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