Respectable kids fiction
Discover a curated list of respectable kids' fiction books that inspire, educate, and entertain young readers. Find timeless stories and wholesome tales perfect for nurturing young minds.
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A Map of Nowhere
by Gillian Cross
Finding a note in Joseph's lost wallet referring to dungeons and warriors, Nick becomes involved in a fantasy game which takes a dangerous turn when gang members send him on a quest which involves betraying Joseph.
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Homecoming
by Cynthia Voigt
"IT'S STILL TRUE." That's the first thing James Tillerman says to his sister Dicey every morning. It's still true that their mother has abandoned the four Tillerman children somewhere in the middle of Connecticut. It's still true they have to find their way, somehow, to Great-aunt Cilla's house in Bridgeport, which may be their only hope of staying together as a family. But when they get to Bridgeport, they learn that Great-aunt Cilla has died, and the home they find with her daughter, Eunice, isn't the permanent haven they've been searching for. So their journey continues to its unexpected conclusion -- and some surprising discoveries about their history, and their future.
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Cheaper by the Dozen
by Frank B. Gilbreth
What do you get when you put twelve lively kids together with a father -- a famous efficiency expert -- who believes families can run like factories, and a mother who is his partner in everything except discipline? You get a hilarious tale of growing up that has made generations of kids and adults alike laugh along with the Gilbreths in Cheaper by the Dozen. Translated into more than fifty-three languages and made into a classic film starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, Cheaper by the Dozen is a delightfully enduring story of family life at the turn of the 20th century.
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The Chronicles of Narnia Rack Box Set (Books 1 to 7)
by C. S. Lewis
Collection includes all seven of the novels in the series.
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The Giver
by Lois Lowry
In a future society, young Jonas is given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
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The Outsiders
by S. E. Hinton
Over 50 years of an iconic classic! This international bestseller and inspiration for a beloved movie is a heroic story of friendship and belonging. No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friendsâtrue friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on âgreasersâ like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expectâuntil the night someone takes things too far. The Outsiders is a dramatic and enduring work of fiction that laid the groundwork for the YA genre. S. E. Hinton's classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published. "The Outsiders transformed young-adult fiction from a genre mostly about prom queens, football players and high school crushes to one that portrayed a darker, truer world." âThe New York Times "Taut with tension, filled with drama." âThe Chicago Tribune "[A] classic coming-of-age book." âPhiladelphia Daily News A New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Book A Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book An ALA Best Book for Young Adults Winner of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award
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Westmark
by Lloyd Alexander
Winner of the American Book Award (now known as the National Book Award) An ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year When Theo agrees to print a traveling showman's pamphlet, he only thinks of the money it will bring in. Instead, it sets off a chain reaction that results in the smashing of the press and the murder of his master. Caught on the wrong side of the law, Theo must flee the city. Soon, he has teamed up with the traveling showman Count Las Bombas (who is actually a con artist) and his servant. The trio is soon joined by Mickle, a clever, strong-willed girl with a mysterious past. Performing feats that astound and amaze, the motley crew falls into a trap set by Chief Minister Cabbarus, who is determined to wrest power from the grief-stricken king. Now they must not only save themselves-they must save the kingdom... This is the first volume in Lloyd Alexander's classic Westmark trilogy.
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Tangerine
by Edward Bloor
12-year-old Paul who is visually impaired starts to play soccer for his school, and begins to remember the incident that lost him his sight.
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The Devil's Arithmetic (Puffin Modern Classics)
by Jane Yolen
30th Anniversary edition with a new introduction from the author Hannah is tired of holiday gatheringsâall her family ever talks about is the past. In fact, it seems to her that's what they do every Jewish holiday. But this year's Passover Seder will be differentâHannah will be mysteriously transported into the past . . . and only she knows the unspeakable horrors that await. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award "A triumphantly moving book." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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The Stuttering Bard of York
by R. Purdy
Ben Transom is a simple farmer who sings off-key to his horse and wishes he were a bard. But when a goblin raid from the Shiddow Mountains destroys Ben's simple life, he is sent to petition the king for justice and is thrown into an adventure greater than he ever dreamed. Along the way, Ben meets the warrior-princess Jess and the pacifist wizard Ernie. Soon they learn that the evil wizard Rimmah has enslaved Jess's parents and seeks to conquer the entire kingdom of Tarn, and Ben finds himself caught up in events more dangerous than he ever imagined. Although Ben has a weak understanding of economics and public restrooms, it is his kind and honest nature that keeps the band together despite goblins, rogues, and creatures far more foul that Rimmah sends their way. He is just a simple farmer, but he soon discovers that both the princess and the wizard are depending on him to get them to the city of Galdoron and attempt a daring rescue of the king and queen.
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Anastasia Krupnik
by Lois Lowry
She's smart, sassy, and totally unique! She's anastasia Krupnik! To Anastasia Krupnik, being ten is very confusing. For one thing, she has this awful teacher who can't understand why Anastasia doesn't use capital letters or punctuation in her poems. then there's Washburn Cummings, a very interesting sixth-grade boy who doesn't even know Anastasia's alive. Even her parents have become difficult. They insist she visit her ninety-two-year-old grandmother, who can never remember Anastasia's name. On top of all that, they're going to have a baby -- at their age! It's enough to make a kid want to do something terrible. If she didn't have her secret green notebook to write in, Anastasia might have never make it to her eleventh birthday.
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Creepers
by Keith Gray
Two fourteen-year-old friends pursue the game of Creeping through the back yards of homes in their neighborhood, hoping to prove their courage and ingenuity while trying to avoid getting caught.
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The Sword of Shannara Trilogy
by Terry Brooks
For the first time in one elegant collectorâs edition hardcover, and featuring an introduction by New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks, here are the first three novels of that classic series: The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannaraâthe beginning of a phenomenal epic of good and evil. The Sword of Shannara Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil ruined the world. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles. But the supposedly dead Warlock Lord is plotting to destroy everything in his wake. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara, which can be used only by a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline, rests the hope of all the races. The Elfstones of Shannara The magical Ellcrys tree is dying, loosening the spell that bars the Demons from enacting vengeance upon the land. Now Wil Ohmsford must guard the Elven girl Amberle on a perilous quest as she carries one of the Ellcrysâ seeds to a mysterious place where it can be quickened into a powerful new force. But dark on their trail comes the Reaper, most fearsome of all Demons, aiming to crush their mission at any cost. The Wishsong of Shannara An ancient Evil is stirring to new life, sending its ghastly Mord Wraiths to destroy Mankind. To win through the vile growth that protects this dark force, the Druid Allanon needs Brin Ohmsfordâfor she alone holds the magic power of the wishsong. Reluctantly Brin joins the Druid on his dangerous journey. But a prophecy foretells doom, as Evil nurses its plans to trap the unsuspecting Brin into a fate far more horrible than death. Thus begins Terry Brooksâs thrilling Shannara epic, an unforgettable tale of adventure, magic, and myth.