Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Matilda is an extraordinary girl in a less than ordinary family.  They don't understand Matilda, so she learns to shut up while they ignore her.  Matilda turns to books for solace and finds support there.  This works for everyone until Matilda starts school.  In Miss Honey's class all children learn and grow and blossom.  Unfortunately the school headmistress is Miss Trunchbull, who delights in torturing children.  Matilda finds the courage and strength to master her growing powers and stand against injustice.

Audience
This story is on the dark side.  Newly fluent readers-4th grade or so, will be able to read this one.

What I Love
1) Roald Dahl has a sarcastic sense of humor that leaves me chuckling.
2) This book is all about the power of the oppressed-what you can do when you stand up for yourself.
3) The ending makes me happy.

Cautions
1) This is a dark story, it could creep some kids out.
2) The adults are the bad guys.
3) There is some British speak. 

American Girl

Various Authors

This is another set that reads differently to children than adults.  They are all about pre-teen (9-11 year old) girls at different points in American history.  When I grew up there was just Felicity, Kristen, Molly, Addy, and Samantha.  I'll do my best to outline all the current ones here.

Addy-She and her mother escape slavery, leaving the other half of the family behind

Felicity-Lives with her grandmother in the American Colonies.  She must decide where she stands in regards to the war for independence

Molly-Molly is an irrepressible girl struggling on the homefront of World War II

Kristen-A Sweedish immigrant in the midwest during the 1800's

Samantha-A young Victorian lady who struggles between societal expectations and her own vivacious nature.

Josephina- A Mexican American girl during the Spanish American War who struggles to find her own culture

Kit- The trials of the Great Depression are the perfect place for Kit to stretch her imagination and see what she can do with the world around her

Caroline is afraid of being separated from her father during the War of 1812, but determines not to let it happen

Julie-in the face of her parent's divorce, Julie struggles to follow her dreams amid the sexism of the 1970s

Ivy Ling- an American Girl of the 1970s must decide how to incorporate the traditions from her rich past with her dreams of the future

Rebecca moved from Russia to the land of opportunity in 1914, but finds that being Jewish in America leads to other problems and unexpected joys for her and her family

Kaya, a Native American from the Naz Perez tribe loves her fast horse, but quickly learns that bragging will get in the way of everything she wants to do in life and in racing

Marie-Grace lives in 1853 New Orleans.  Amid the flurry of color and spectacle she dreams of being a singer, but how can she overcome her shyness and pursue a life on stage?

Audience
These are great first chapter books.  As soon as the child has mastered something like Frog and Toad are Friends or Magic Tree House is a great time to introduce your daughter/student to the American Girls

What I Love:
1) The stories feel genuine to me, very natural as opposed to feeling contrived or made up
2) The struggles of these girls pull at my heartstrings.  Things like trying to keep a family together and fear of an uncertain future
3) There's always a 'Looking Back' section at the end of each book to give a true picture of historical fact
4) The setting is pretty accurate to history without the Looking Back section

Cautions:
1) There are lots of pictures (appropriate for a first chapter book)
2) Each girl deals with real issues (i.e. slavery, child labor)
3) I've never known a little boy to get enthused about these.  Almost all the characters are girls.
4) There is a booming franchise of expensive dolls and doll accessories to go with every character, and your girl will almost definitely want them after reading the books.

All the girl's stories follow this same format:
Meet Addy: An American Girl
Addy Learns a Lesson: A School Story
Addy's Surprise: A School Story
Happy Birthday Addy: A Springtime Story
Addy Saves the Day: A Summer Story
Changes for Addy: A Winter Story

*Note: I've done one American Girl from each time period.  Now the series includes two girls from each period, one from a privileged class and one from the underclass of the day

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

by Joe Steptoe

This is a Cinderella story with an African twist.  There are two sisters (Mufaro's beautiful daughters) who are the fairest of all the women of the village.  The elder is selfish and spoiled, while the younger is kind and good.  When the prince comes to choose a bride, the elder sets out to make sure she is chosen.  It backfires and the story leads to poetic justice for all involved.

Audience:
Preschool through 3rd.  It's a little too cliche above that.

What I Love:
1) The illustrations are great.
2) The message about kindness never gets old

Cautions:
1) It is cliche, your average Cinderella story.
2) The dad falls into the "stupid adult" category
3) I don't know if this really is an African folk tale or a European one dressed up in different colors

Knots on a Counting Rope

by Bill Martin Jr. and Ted Rand

I'm just going to copy and paste the ALA review here-It's more eloquent than I would be.  

Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses begs his grandfather to tell him again the story of the night he was born. In a question-and-answer litany, the boy and his grandfather share the telling of the events on that special nightthe wild storm; the frantic ride for the grandmother/midwife; the birth of the frail, sickly boy; and the blessings of the blue horses.- Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library

Audience 

The website says Kindergarten thru 4th grade.  I'd stick with late kindergarten.  I think 5th graders would still be into this book.

What I Love:

1) The illustrations are gorgeous and gripping.  They tell the story as much as the words.

2) I love the portrayal of a successful disabled character.

3) The voices of the grandfather and boy are distinct and interesting

4) This story is heartwarming and can lead to so many interesting conversations

Cautions:

1) This story is told from a Native American voice and perspective

2) It tackles the tough issue of children with disabilities.  But I recommend it above any other disabled child book I've ever read.

The Witches

by Roald Dahl

Witches are a threat to global security.  They are out to destroy all the world's children, and they could soon succeed.  So why doesn't anyone know about them?  The grandma in this story does.  She tells her grandson they are easy to find if you know the signs-they're bald, so they all wear wigs.  Their feet are huge so it's painful for them to wear their high heels.  Grandma wants to teach him the signs so he can fight the witches with her.  Unfortunately, when Grandma gets pneumonia the boy gets in over his head.

Audience:
Any fluent reader.  My 4th graders love it, my 3rd graders would have too, if they'd read it.  Any child who is able to read this should be fine with it.

What I Love:
1) It's so funny.  Dahl is seriously sarcastic
2) I was genuinely surprised by how things turned out-I didn't see it coming

Cautions:
1) Adults are usually portrayed as the bad guys by this author, The Witches is no exception.
2) It's come under criticism for sexism-all witches are women.

Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

This is one of those classics that never gets old.  A young boy (10) decides he needs a dog.  Or, more specifically, two coon hounds.  He earns the money by doing odd jobs.  It takes him a year, but he keeps at it.  At last he gets the long awaited dogs.  Learning to love and care for his dogs helps Billy Coleman learn who he is and who he wants to be.

Audience

Age 12 or so should be fine.  This is for people who love animals and or tear jerkers in a modernish (1960's) context.

What I Love:

I love that the story is all about love.  Billy comes from a loving family, and he is excited to take care of his dogs. The crux of the story is about how the two dogs take care of each other.  And once again, we have smart adults.

Cautions:

It's a slow story, not action packed at all.  SPOILER!!!  It's a very sad story.  One of the dogs is attacked and the other dies trying to save his companion.  It's a sob story that will probably leave you wrung out.

Beast

by Donna Jo Napoli

Beauty and the Beast told from the Beast's side.  He was a Persian prince who was trying to convert to Islam.  He knowingly broke a sacred commandment, and this caused him to get turned into a beast, specifically a lion.  He tries to reach out to his family, but they don't know who he is.  With no where specific to go, he just starts heading west (Europe.)

Audience
I wouldn't go lower than 7th grade on this one, for content reasons

What I Love:
1) The story of the Beast is so touching.  I can see his flaws, and I can see how the punishment could be just.  In spite of everything, I still love him and wanted him to find joy.
2) The meshing of different cultures (Hindu, Islam, and European) was just plain fascinating.
3) This is a classic story of someone fighting their own worst self and winning

Cautions:
1) There is sexual content.  In his beast form, he cannot overcome the urge to mate.  This is one scene, but it's more graphic than I expected
2) The end left me unsatisfied.  I want to know more of the story, and I felt like it stopped at a bad place.
3) There are a lot of religious and cultural references.  Sometimes it was hard for me to keep up.