Okay, I'm new to the idea of blog challenges, so this will be an easy one.
I'm trying to help a girl after my own heart -- a total bookworm who reads anything you leave in her path and hopes to be a journalist someday. Her well-intended parents are Israeli scientists -- brilliant folks, but on unfamiliar turf when it comes to directing her reading habits, even leaving aside the language barrier.
Oh yeah, big-time empathy for me, the daughter of a nurse and an accountant who also didn't know what to do with their budding book lover.
Today, I offered to compile a list of childhood classics she can take out of our local library (now that she's finished the Narnia series). Then I thought, hey, I have all those brilliant literary readers, I'll ask THEM for suggestions!
So that's what I'm doing. In the comments section below would you pretty please:
1) Describe the ONE book you believe no highly intelligent, very motivated pre-teenaged girl should grow up without.
2) Limit your reasoning to only one sentence, please, because I have a short attention span (this is the challenge part -- keeping it brief).
3) If someone has already picked your favorite, please pick something else. The idea is to compile a nice, long list to keep her busy all summer.
Is it Black Beauty or Secret Garden or Little Women? Or something more contemporary?
See? Very easy. Anybody can jump in and there is no such thing as a stupid suggestion.
Many thanks in advance for the help.
Now, see, I was going to suggest "Secret Garden", but now it looks as if I'm just copying your initial idea. Still, here's my one sentence justification: It's the world's most perfect children's book, combining mystery, gothic, adventure, and ghostly elements without ever actually tripping headlong into the fantastical.
Posted by: Fuse #8 | May 31, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. It was one of my childhood favorites!
Description: An American Indian girl and her brother struggle to survive after being mistakenly abandoned on an island by their tribe.
Posted by: Heather | May 31, 2006 at 11:30 AM
Harriet the Spy.
Reasoning: Do the words "Best Book Ever" mean anything to you?
Posted by: Leila | May 31, 2006 at 12:16 PM
Hahaha! I'm loving it. I spoke to the girl's mother and she's very flattered and thanks everyone.
Keep 'em coming!
Posted by: Anne | May 31, 2006 at 01:16 PM
"The Last Unicorn" A modern fairytale. & I just loved that book.
Posted by: Carrie | May 31, 2006 at 01:50 PM
Decisions, decisions... but I'm going to go with _Nobody's Family is Going to Change_ by Louise Fitzhugh because it has such excellent life advice for pre-teen girls.
Posted by: web | May 31, 2006 at 03:40 PM
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.
Posted by: Little Willow | May 31, 2006 at 06:48 PM
By the way, if I were to change my answer I'd certainly second, "Harriet the Spy".
Posted by: Fuse #8 | June 01, 2006 at 09:20 AM
Ok, with Jen and your challenges, I have TWO reasons to browse my library shelves for ideas. These things don't just pop into my head y'know.
But just so I don't get left out, I submit Flashcards of My Life by Charise Mericle Harper. It is not a classic, it is darn near brand new, but it totally reflects what a young girl today goes through as she navigates the difficult worlds of school, friends, and crushes. Plus, it is very funny. (would I suggest anything that wasn't?)
Posted by: MotherReader | June 01, 2006 at 11:03 AM
What a nice thing that you're doing! It's so hard to pick just one. But since her parents are scientist, let's go with "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | June 01, 2006 at 12:13 PM
Gotta say "Harriet the Spy," "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," and "The Egypt Game."
Please let us know the winner!
Posted by: Kelly | June 01, 2006 at 06:33 PM
Oh wait, I'm supposed to pick a winner?
Posted by: Anne | June 01, 2006 at 06:38 PM
Oh, I was going to say "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler", but someone beat me to it.
Second choice: Heidi by Johanna Spyri.
Posted by: Carrie K. | June 01, 2006 at 07:13 PM
_First Test_ by Tamora Pierce, book one of the "Protector of the Small" quartet (and the rest of the quartet. ok, really *all* the Tortall books by Pierce)
Because the girl is STRONG, because the world is magical, because my daughter loves these books with a passion.
Posted by: Eliza K | June 02, 2006 at 05:04 AM
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.
What pre-teen girl doesn't love Turtle?
Posted by: Stephanie | June 02, 2006 at 05:59 AM
*Little Women* -- because it marvelously portrays both traditional and nontraditional women (and their roles and interests) as strong, fulfilled, worthwhile and compelling.
Posted by: Karen E. | June 03, 2006 at 05:21 AM
Because "Harriet the Spy" has already been claimed, I'll go with "Because of Winn-Dixie" because it's a funny, inspiring story of a girl coming to terms with a difficult past. And because it stars a lovable dog, too. And -- all the other characters are memorable, too. And -- it's a literary descendent of "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Posted by: Susan | June 03, 2006 at 07:32 AM
I'm a stranger here, but I'm also a bookloving older teenager, so I thought I'd throw in an idea....
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.
A wonderful story of a young girl's transformation from being unable to think for herself to being independent and confident in early 1900s America.
Posted by: Elinor Dashwood | June 03, 2006 at 11:39 AM
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle would be my first choice. I love the message against conformity and for thinking for yourself. I second the nomination of The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
Posted by: Linda | June 03, 2006 at 07:48 PM
Many thanks to all! I know the family is going to love the whole list.
Posted by: Anne | June 04, 2006 at 07:51 AM
'Journey to the River Sea' by Eva Ibbotsen - brilliant writing, vivid evocation and the journey as quest into the soul.
If I were only allowed another I'd say Dianna Wynne Jones's The Ogre Downstairs.
Posted by: Litlove | June 05, 2006 at 03:05 AM
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.
These books helped me sort through the turbulence of adolescence.
Posted by: Lovey | June 05, 2006 at 08:33 PM
Well, since HARRIET THE SPY is taken, how about Betsy Byars' hilarious memoir (and reflection on writing), THE MOON AND I?
Posted by: Barb Kerley | June 06, 2006 at 08:59 AM
Well Anne of Green Gables has been a comfort book for me since I was young, but since it's already been mentioned...L.M. Montgomery also has other books, such as the Emily of New Moon series about a young girl who wants to be a writer.
Posted by: Malinda | June 08, 2006 at 12:09 PM
Pick one book? Ha!
I hereby add to the list: "The Paperbag Princess" by Robert Munsch. A very short, very funny story that's a good twist on the classic fairy tale princess.
My other all-time favorite is "A Town Like Alice" by Nevil Shute. Too old for pre-teen? Not sure. It's a "war romance" written in 1950. The main character is a realistic, strong, woman who is not a princess, magic, or pretend but survives difficult situations, recues herself and still lives happily ever-after.
Posted by: Amy | June 11, 2006 at 10:11 PM