A Journey to the New World: The Diary Of Remember Patience Whipple
- Kathryn Lasky
Reading Level: Grade 3-6
Publisher: Scholastic, 1996
Twelve year old Remember Patience Whipple documents in her journal a two month voyage aboard the Mayflower and the hardships and loss of friends in the months that follow. She works helping her father with the land, and nurses the sick but more than anything she wants to meet the feathered men.
The Scarlett Letter - Nathanel Hawthorne
Reading Level: Grades 10-12
Publisher: Penguin Classics, 2006 (reprinted)
The Scarlett Letter is set during the 17th Century in a Massachusetts Puritan community. This classic piece of literature tells the tale of a woman, Hester Prynne, who has been ostracized from the community because of an of an adulterous affair that resulted in the illegitimate birth of her daughter Pearl. Written in a old world century language, I found it interesting but very difficult to get through.
Biographies in picture book format
The Boy on Fairfeild Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to be Dr. Seuss
- Kathleen Krull
Reading Level: Grade 4-5
Publisher: Random House, 2010
Specifically written for the younger fans of Dr. Seuss, this book focuses on his childhood and college years. Never studious, he won popularity contests such as, "Class wit" and "Lease likely to succeed". Such a famous figure from of everyones childhood, truly had a rough start.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - Mordicai Gerstein
Caldecott Award, 2004
Reading Level: Grade 1-3
Publisher: Roaring Book Press, 2003
The story of Philippe Petit, a french juggler/street preformer who walk between the two tower of the world trade center in 1974. The poetic illustrations pay tribute not only to the daring man who felt free as he dancing and walked on the wire, but the majesty of the towers as well.
Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, A Civil War Hero
- Marissa Moss
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2011
At nineteen, Sarah disguised herself as a man in order to fight in the Civil War. As "Frank Thompson" in the confederate army, she excelled on the battlefield and became a nurse to wounded solders, only to be asked to become a spy. Her character and morality always remembered to help those who helped her. I accidentally ran across this in the library when I pulled out a book next to it, and it fell at my feet. An extremely exciting and interesting read.
What to do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!
- Barbra Kerley
Reading Level: Grade 3-5
Publisher: Scholastic, 2008
This is a fun and unusual biography about Theodore Roosevelt's biggest problem, his daughter. She loved life, yearned to travel the world, and wanted nothing to do with being proper. The illustrations, awkward placement of text, and use of different fonts keep the biography of the first daughter as exciting as her life. This is an excellent introductionary book to get a child interested in reading biographies.
Picture books for older readers
The Houdini Box - Brian Selznick
Reading Level: Grade 3-4
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001
Like any other child Victor is captivated by magic, especially the work of Harry Houdini. He soon discovers he can't escape from trunks, walk through walls, or hold his breath for very long, leaving him baffled and defeated. But one day he has a chance encounter with the great Harry Houdini himself, and clobbers him with questions. Houdini promises to send Victor a letter, and weeks later that the letter read, "A thousand secrets await you. Come to my house..."
Stardust: Being a Romance Within the Realms of Faerie
- Neil Gaiman & Charles Vess
Reading Level: Grade 8-10
Publisher: Vertigo, 1999
In the town of Wall, Tristan is in love with Victoria, but she is not with him. She promisis her hand, if he retrieves the fallen star and brings it to her. To do that he must pass though the hole in the wall on the outside of town, a hole which is actually a passageway into the realm of faeries, More than one person is looking for this star, because it can get what you desire. Unknowingly, Tristan is connected to this world more than he realizes. This is a beautifully illustrated adaption of the original novel.
Reading Level: Grade 3-4
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001
Like any other child Victor is captivated by magic, especially the work of Harry Houdini. He soon discovers he can't escape from trunks, walk through walls, or hold his breath for very long, leaving him baffled and defeated. But one day he has a chance encounter with the great Harry Houdini himself, and clobbers him with questions. Houdini promises to send Victor a letter, and weeks later that the letter read, "A thousand secrets await you. Come to my house..."
Stardust: Being a Romance Within the Realms of Faerie
- Neil Gaiman & Charles Vess
Reading Level: Grade 8-10
Publisher: Vertigo, 1999
In the town of Wall, Tristan is in love with Victoria, but she is not with him. She promisis her hand, if he retrieves the fallen star and brings it to her. To do that he must pass though the hole in the wall on the outside of town, a hole which is actually a passageway into the realm of faeries, More than one person is looking for this star, because it can get what you desire. Unknowingly, Tristan is connected to this world more than he realizes. This is a beautifully illustrated adaption of the original novel.
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