MORE 'TOP-100-CHILDRENS-NOVELS-2012' POSTS
#8 Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (1908) 182 points Oh how I wanted to be Anne Shirley growing up! I could relate to her so much-I was imaginative and had a temper to match, so I always felt as though Anne was a kindred spirit. And who wouldn’t want to end up with […]
#9 The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (1978) 169 points It seems smarter and funnier, and altogether more perfect every time I reread it. – Jenne Abramowitz Simply stated the best book ever. It stands the test of time, and I give it to kids every year. Turtle, while incredibly unlikeable, is loveable just the […]
#10 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977) 128 points I had read many other books where characters died, but it was always for a “good” or “glorious” reason. This was the first time I read a book that reflected real life, where death is sudden, pointless, and gut-wrenching. I was so upset that I […]
#11 When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (2009) 102 points I sell this to kids in the library by saying it’s a cross between Beverly Clearly and Lost. And I always say “the ending will BLOW YOUR MIND.” Because it does. – Sharon Ozimy This is a book you can give to any kind […]
#12 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (1999) 101 points After all these years, this one is still my favorite: it’s the last true Middle Grade novel of the bunch, and it’s got everything: adventure, scary sequences, a daring escape, and time travel. And I can’t beat that my kids still […]
#13 The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (1997) 93 points I wish this series had been out when I was a kid! One of the best written ever. – Martha Sherod A classic adventure story that’s still less than 20 years old. I love Gen, and loved being completely surprised by the ending the first […]
#14 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) 89 points I know this isn’t exactly a children’s book, but I first read it when I was nine, and I loved it so much I read it and the LOTR trilogy over and over until I was “grounded” from checking them out anymore. – Anna Ruhs Probably […]
#15 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911) 88 points This the very first book I read by myself, and my dad insists I read this book to him over 1000 times. It’s one of the few picture books I keep on my shelf, rather than my son’s. – Erin Moehring Back before having […]
#16 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (1975) 87 points Imagine coming upon a fountain of youth in a forest. To live forever–isn’t that everyone’s ideal? Babbitt asks profound questions about the meaning of life and death, and leaves the reader with a greater appreciation for the perfect cycle of nature. Intense and powerful, exciting and […]
#17 Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh (1964) 83 points Obviously. – Denise Rinaldo More brilliant and sophisticated than most any adult novel, and yet still captivating for my 7 year old. – Lee Behlman I don’t know which I like best, the people on Harriet’s spy route, the fact that she makes up a […]