Winter break is a great time to curl up with a good book but it can be hard to choose something for readers in the nine- to 13-year age range. Here are some great novels for kids in a variety of genres.
• Echo: A Novel by Pam Muñoz Ryan: Part fairytale, part historical fiction, this moving story follows the journey of an enchanted harmonica as it touches the lives of three musically gifted young people who live under very different and challenging circumstances before and during the Second World War. The different story threads are masterfully woven together at the end in a powerful and satisfying conclusion. An amazing read for older teens and adults too, this story will stick with you for a long while.
• Dragon’s Green by Scarlett Thomas: The first book in a new fantasy series, Dragon’s Green will appeal to fans of Harry Potter. Effie lives in a world where most people don’t believe in magic but Effie’s grandfather hints that it does exist. When he suddenly dies, Effie is thrust right in the middle of a magical struggle between good and evil. New friends help Effie to navigate this strange new world while she tries to save her grandfather’s rare and powerful books from falling into the hands of a dark and mysterious bookseller.
• The Ninja Librarians (The Accidental Keyhand and Sword in the Stacks) by Jen Swann Downey: This is a fun two-book adventure series about siblings Dorrie and Marcus, who accidentally open a portal to a secret inter-dimensional library. In Petrarch’s Library, warrior “lybrarians” train in unusual subjects such as swordplay and deception in order to protect threatened writers and their works in any time or place. Dorrie and Marcus are able to stay and train as apprentice lybrarians but discover there are lots of secrets and mysteries in the Library. They must also face an evil organization known as the Foundation that is trying to reverse the Library’s successful missions.
• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate: Inspired by a true story, this novel will especially appeal to animal lovers. It is told from the first-person perspective of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who lives in a glass-walled cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Ivan accepts his life at the mall until the arrival of a baby elephant named Ruby. Ruby’s memories of being born in the wild and then enduring the hardships of circus life before coming to the mall changes Ivan’s view of his world and his life in captivity. With ingenuity and creativity, Ivan is determined to make changes and give Ruby a better life. It’s a powerful and moving read for any age.
• Fish In a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt: Middle schoolers who feel like they don’t fit in will identify with Ally, a sixth grader who is trying to hide the fact that she can’t read. Ally is brilliant at math and art but has a hard time making friends, spends a lot of time acting out in class to hide her reading problem and is bullied by some of her peers. Finally, a new teacher, Mr. Daniels, recognizes that Ally has dyslexia. He sets out to show her that not only can she learn to read but she’s smart and has tremendous gifts and talents to share. Ally’s frustration at being “dumb” and her feelings of hopelessness capture the reader’s heart. This book skillfully weaves together themes of diversity, friendship and empathy.
Visit your local library to ask staff for more recommendations for young readers.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Robyn Weisner works at Terry Fox Library in Port Coquitlam.
