Fiction, Ages 9-12
Bud, Not Buddy (1999) by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by James Avery Of all the selections discussed in this post, this one is my favorite. While the situation ten-year-old Bud Caldwell finds himself in is heartbreaking, the author tells the story with much warmth and affection. Bud’s mother died when he was six, and he has set out to find his father. Bud has some jazz band flyers that his mother kept which lead him on an adventure from Flint, Michigan, to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along the way, Bud meets a whole cast of characters which the narrator brings to life with his rich voice and expression. The author also works humor into the story, often in the form of Bud’s set of rules for navigating the grown-up world, which made us laugh out loud. This novel could be considered historical fiction as the reader will get a glimpse of the hardships of the Great Depression time period, and it has also won numerous awards including the Coretta Scott King Award and the Newbery Medal. Although you may need a tissue along the way, the story does end on a hopeful note.
Number the Stars (1989) by Lois Lowry, narrated by Blair Brown This is also a historical fiction selection with the novel being set in 1943 during the German occupation of Denmark. While the subject matter is serious and there are some tense moments, there is no violence on-stage. What I like about the novel is that it brings to life this grave time in history for young people. The world and the changes happening in it are described through the eyes of the main character, ten-year-old Annemarie. When the Germans begin gathering up all those of Jewish descent, Annemarie’s family offers protection and assistance to their Jewish friends. Even Annemarie is called upon to be very courageous in this effort. This is a great tale of bravery and friendship, and I love how caring for your neighbor is exemplified in this story. This selection has also won many awards including The National Jewish Book Award and the Newbery Medal. If you listen to the afterword, the author explains her inspiration for writing the story and discusses which elements of the story are true and which are fictionalized.
This novel has science fiction and fantasy elements, and with the release of the 2018 movie adaptation, it is being enjoyed by a new audience. The story follows Meg Murry, and her extraordinarily bright brother, Charles Wallace Murry, as they try to find their missing father. Mr. Murry is a scientist who disappears while researching travel between planets along the space-time continuum. With the help of three supernatural beings who can take human form, the children (Meg, Charles Wallace, and Meg’s friend Calvin) travel to new planets and through time and space to rescue Mr. Murry. Along the way, they meet many unique characters and learn about the forces of good and evil in the universe. We enjoyed going along on this journey to newly imagined planets and exploring new ideas. I also admired the strong family relationships portrayed in the novel and Meg’s willingness to risk it all for her loved ones. This audiobook was recommended to our family several years ago by an Edwardsville Public Library youth staff member, and it became one of our favorites! It is the first in the Time Quartet series and is also a Newbery Medal award winner.
If you love nature, you may enjoy this selection. The story follows fourteen-year-old Sam Gribley as he lives on his own for a year in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Sam wants to get away from living in a crowded apartment with eight siblings in New York City. Sam learns that his grandfather has an abandoned farm in the Catskills and Sam’s dad agrees that Sam can live there for a while. After Sam locates his grandfather’s property and finds the house is no longer standing, his survival adventure begins. Simply following Sam in nature was enjoyable for us. He learns to make fire, craft shelter, find food, raise and train a peregrine falcon, and much more. While in the wilderness, Sam has some human friends that come across his camp as well as some amusing animal friends which keep things lively. After proving to himself that he can survive on his own, Sam begins to realize what is really important in life. This book is the first in a trilogy, and it was also named to the Newbery Award Honors List as well as the ALA Notable Book List for 1959.
Fiction, Teen
Where the Red Fern Grows (1961) by Wilson Rawls, narrated by Anthony Heald This is another novel that nature lovers may enjoy, and it may also appeal to dog lovers. The story is set in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma around the 1920s. The main character is ten-year-old Billy Colman. Billy lives with his family on a farm in rural Oklahoma and has a desire to get some hunting dogs. Since Billy’s family cannot afford to buy the redbone coonhounds, Billy works and saves his money for two years to buy the puppies. Once he has the puppies, Billy begins training them and discovers they are a special pair. The larger puppy, Old Dan, is very brave, and the smaller one, Little Ann, is very intelligent. Billy and his dogs are loyal to each other and spend many days together in the woods and on hunting trips. Listening to these adventures was pleasurable for us, and we also admired Billy’s character. He is devoted to his family and dogs, and he displays perseverance and a great work ethic in the story. I would warn that there are some graphically described fights between animals and an accidental death that happens, and I would also warn that you may need tissues handy for this one.
This selection is a tale of survival and, according to the author’s note, was inspired by the true story of a woman who lived alone for eighteen years on an island off the coast of California. The story begins with twelve-year-old Karana living peacefully in her family’s village on an island near California around the 1850s. Soon the lives of Karana’s people are turned upside-down as Russian fur hunters arrive to hunt sea otter and battle Karana’s people. Later missionaries arrive to take those that are left on the island; however, through a series of events, Karana ultimately ends up by herself on the island. She must learn to survive on her own, get food, make shelter, and defend herself against wild dogs. She must also learn to live in solitude which may be the largest challenge of all. Karana is a great example of strength and self-reliance, and we enjoyed listening to her survival story, especially admiring her close and respectful relationship with nature. There are deaths that happen in the story, but the violence is not described. The narration by Tantoo Cardinal is spoken beautifully, and this title won the Newbery Medal in 1961.
I highly recommend this historical fiction novel that takes place in Mexico and Southern California around the 1930s. The story follows thirteen-year-old Esperanza from her privileged life on a large ranch in Mexico to a very different life in the United States. Due to a tragic series of events, Esperanza and her family migrate to the U.S. to find work in the agricultural fields of Southern California. Life for the farm workers is hard, and the conditions of the labor camp are poor. This is a sharp contrast to the life Esperanza has known. Through the telling of Esperanza’s story, the author sheds light on many real-world issues of the time such as class inequalities, racial tensions, and other complexities surrounding striking workers, poverty, and immigration, many of which are still relevant today. Although Esperanza is faced with much adversity, she is able to grow and learn a lot from her experiences. I found this book to be very inspirational, poetic, and beautifully written. I love that each chapter focuses on a fruit or vegetable in the agricultural cycle, and each has relevance to the story. The spoken word by Trini Alvarado is lovely, and any Spanish words and phrases are translated in the text. This selection won the Notable Book for a Global Society in 2001, was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book in 2002, and won the Pura Belpré Medal in 2002, among others. If you listen to the afterword, the author explains how her grandmother was the inspiration for this story.
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