Book List Suggestions!

Happy New Year!

During our learning conferences in December, some students made reading in depth or improved reading comprehension one of their goals. With this in mind, I have been looking for book suggestions as well as websites with recommended titles. Stay tuned as I add to this information over time.

Below, please find information on:
INDIE NEXT LIST
KIDSBOOKS
MIGHTY GIRL
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
CBC
COMMON SENSE MEDIA

These titles are suggested by INDIE NEXT LIST, which lists top books from Independent Booksellers. Suggested age for these titles is ages 9-12. I have not read all titles, but these lists are generally reliable for great reads. Non-fiction/fiction mix! Please see their website for back issues, teen titles for advanced readers, and more information about each of these books.

Backyard Bears: Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife by Amy Cherrix
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel Jose Older
The Darkdeep by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs
The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (also recommended by KidsBooks)
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophia Anderson
Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan
The Law of Finders Keepers (Mo & Dale Mysteries) by Sheila Turnage
Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Squirm by Carl Hiaasen
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier (available in class)

Another place to look for books is KIDS BOOKS School and Libraries Recommendation Lists. The store is located on West Broadway and the website has a search function. They have a large selection of amazing books, as well as games and puzzles my class has liked. Check out their recommended titles according to age. Ask their knowledgeable staff about book selections!

There is an excellent selection of best books for 2018 on the MIGHTY GIRL Website. This website is dedicated to listing the best books, TV shows, movies, and more for strengthening the character of girls. But to be honest, I think the books they recommend are great for anyone, as titles like Resistance and Children of Blood and Bone have received universal praise.

There is another great list on National Public Radio’s Website of Best Books for 2018. I recommend this website to look for titles for all ages!

Finally, here is one more great list which has quite a variety and includes many more Canadian author titles! CBC Best Middle Years Books of 2018. You can also search “CBC Best Young Adult” for those students who are more advanced readers and can handle mature themes.

15 Classics 9-12 Year Olds Say You Should Read. I especially like the inclusion on this list of Swiss Family Robinson, 21 Balloons, Peter Pan, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and Where the Red Fern Grows.

Common Sense Media has a list of 50 Books Kids Should Read Before They Are 12. I have read so many on the list, that this seemed like a good one to recommend to you! I also think Common Sense Media is a good resource if you want to look up a book and evaluate it for mature content, themes, etc. Good Reads is another website that can help with determining whether reading is appropriate for your child.

Okay, as I think of more titles I will let you know! Always remember, there are tons of titles in the classroom library I recommend that you may not have tried yet, including many classics! Don’t forget about READING AROUND THE WORLD and the free lunch! Hope this helps!

Ms. D