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A Rat's Tale by Tor Seidler
Appeals to mid grade school.

A Wise, Blue Autumn by Donald S. Smurthwaite
His two books, Fine Old High Priests and A Wise, Blue Autumn are very fine depictions of the life changes we all go through as we get older. Written especially for fine, old high priests like me, I think even Relief Society sisters would appreciate his smooth and reflective style. Not many books make me cry, but these two both did. (review by Dave L.)

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Appeals to late grade school.

All-of-a-kind Family by Sydney Taylor (series)
Story of a Jewish immigrant family of 5 girls living in New York, around the turn of the century. Just old-fashioned wonderful reading, and gives beautiful detail on Jewish life, customs, and holidays. Appeal to girls in mid grade school.

All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriott
Rural veterinary experiences. (review by Angela W.)

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.
Stegner is a master at character development and has a keen understanding of human relationships. Anything by Stegner is worth reading. (review by Mike M.)

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery (series)

Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink
Old-fashioned story of 2 girls who are in a shipwreck, end up in a life boat with 4 babies, land on a deserted island, and figure out how to survive. Wonderful story. Appeal to girls in mid grade school.

Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman
About a 16 year old boy and his struggle to climb the mountain that claimed his father's life. Reprinted in 1995 by Harper Trophy. Won a Newbery Honor in 1955. Appeal to boys in late grade school.

Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
Another science fiction classic. This immense book (well over 1000 pages in paperback) is far and away the best thing that Hubbard ever wrote. Don’t let the fact that Hubbard also wrote Dianetics and founded Scientology keep you from reading this book. And also, don’t let the recent awful film adaptation scare you away. This book is at times brilliant and always riveting. It’s a page turner from start to finish. (review by Steve B.)

Belles on Their Toes by Frank B. & Ernestine Gilbreth
Real life story of a family with 12 children. See Cheaper by the Dozen. Appeal to late grade school.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Appeals to mid grade school.

Catcher with a Glass Arm by Matt Christopher
Matt Christopher is a boys author. He writes about sports, the players, and keeps their interests. The reviewer likes his fiction better than his biographies. Appeals to boys in mid grade school.

Cats of Bubastes by G.A. Henty
Appeals to boys late grade to to early high school. Great family read aloud.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Appeals to late grade school.

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. & Ernestine Gilbreth
Real life story of a family with 12 children. See Belles on Their Toes. Appeal to late grade school.

Children of the Promise by Dean Hughes
I also enjoyed "Children of the Promise", although I don't know that I would call them great literature. (review by Christy S.)
This BYU English professor is a good story spinner. His series (Children of the Promise) about LDS people in World War II was well done, though the fifth and final volume dragged a bit. (review by Dave L.)

Christy by Catherine Marshall
A young teacher's experience in backwoods of the Smoky Mountains. Fiction. (review by Angela W.)

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card.
    I'm generally not a fan of sci-fi fiction, but this book is a real gem. (review by Mike M.)
    A classic science fiction story of how one boy saves the world. It is incredibly thought provoking. This is the book that made Card famous and it is by far his best. Originally this book was written as a stand-alone novel. The subsequent books in this series (The Speaker For the Dead and Xenocide) are not as good (although not without merit) and need not be read to enjoy this book. (review by Steve B.)

Exiled! by Helene Holt
Based on true story of John Lathrop - exciting and testimony building - a story of the search for religious freedom and coincidences bringing them to America - many of us can trace ancestors to this group. (review by Christy S.)

Fine Old High Priest by Donald S. Smurthwaite
His two books, Fine Old High Priests and A Wise, Blue Autumn are very fine depictions of the life changes we all go through as we get older. Written especially for fine, old high priests like me, I think even Relief Society sisters would appreciate his smooth and reflective style. Not many books make me cry, but these two both did. (review by Dave L.)

Fire of the Covenant by Gerald Lund
I felt that this was much more tightly written in terms of a novel with an interesting story and also contained so many "true stories" from pioneer journals....Loved it. (review by Christy S.)

Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
There may be a sequel or two to this book. Appeal to late grade school.

Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter
Appeal to teens.

Gathering Christmas by Larry Laycock
Great book for the holidays, a quick read. I really love this one. (review by Mary B.)

Ginnie and Geneva by Catherine Woolley
Wonderful stories but out of print. Appeal to girls.

Girl of Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
Appeal to teens.

Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley edited by Virginia H. Pearce
Who would think a book full of collections of.... well..... just thoughts would be such a powerful book? This is one book that I don't think will ever be sold as a parenting book, but I believe belongs there. After reading this book I wanted to be a better mother, sister, friends and wife not to mention got some great ideas for when it is my time to be a grandmother. What a wonderful life she has lived and still lives. She is a shining example in a world where we need one. Sister Hinckley has so much to offer us and her daughter (the editor) put this collection together in one of the best packages I could imagine. I just hope I can be a tenth of the lady Marjorie Pay Hinckley is. I literally couldn't put it down. (review 6/03 by Doreen B.)

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
Sequel is Return to Gone-Away. Appeals mid grade school.

Granny's Wonderful Chair by Frances Brown
A book of original fairy tales, as told by the Chair. First published in 1856 so it may be hard to find.

Growing Up; Gospel Answers about Maturation and Sex by Brad Wilcox
~back to Human Body~
    When our eldest reach the ripe old age of asking questions and physical maturity, dad sat down with him and explain a little about what was going on to his body and that of his peers. Even though we thought we had it covered, we really wanted to cover our bases so we (both mom and dad) read this book and then handed it to our son.
    Our personal comment to each other was "Where was this book when we were young?" Never has a book put doctrine, science and said it so well. It is hard to argue when it is the Lord and/or prophet that is speaking. There is no "gross parts", only beauty in this book. I believe this is a MUST read for parent and child, especially if the family believes in the sanctity of chastity and purity of virtue. Every LDS home with young children should have a copy or two on their shelves. (reviews 4/03 by Doreen B.)

Hearts of the Children by Dean Hughes
His new one about those characters' children in the 60s is an interesting study of that period. I just finished the second volume there. (review by Dave L.) He has also written several youth novels (the Lucky Ladd and Scrappers series), fun to read for younger teenagers or even pre-teens.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri
And don't forget the other sequels. Appeals to girls in mid grade school.

Her Father's Daughter by Gene Stratton-Porter
Innocent, Beautiful and endearing older story. Fiction. (review by Angela W.)

Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
My favorite series is the one about Llewellen, Prince of Wales. (review by Lynda N.)

Horatio Hornblower by C.S. Forester (series)
Great adventure story with some great historical fiction (and fact) thrown in. A late teen boy's adventure on the high seas in the late 1700's. Eleven books in the series. Appeals to boys in middle school and beyond.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Appeals to mid grade school boys.

In the Heart of the Sea by Nat Philbrick.
A true life adventure story unlike anything you've read. (review by Mike M.)

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
This is the story of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a fictional Saxon nobleman living during the time of King Richard’s crusade. It’s a wonderful adventure/love story and a brilliant piece of historical fiction. It’s full of knights, ladies fair, evil men and the brave men who resist them. A&E produced a wonderful film based on this book. Read the book and then watch the film. You'll be glad you did. (review by Steve B.)

Jane Eyer by Charlotte Bronte
Fiction

Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny by Jan Karon
Beginning chapter book. Appeal to early grade school.

Johnathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Back
This is the book I vote is most likely to be read in one afternoon and still change your life for the better. One of the few I re-read. (review by Mary B.)

Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park (series)
Many books in the series. Appeals to girls in early grade school.

Les Miserable by Victor Hugo
President Kimball once said that it was the most inspired book ever written next to the scriptures, and kept it on his bedside table. Jean ValJean, the main character, is a type for Christ, who experiences and portrays mercy over justice. But DON'T rent the latest video/movie or go by the play, because they have made drastic changes to the original book, and weakened the power and beauty of the story and intent of the writer. (review by Lynda N.) Appeal to late high school.

Little Bo: The Story of Bonnie Boadiciea by Julie Andrews Edwards
A hit with little girls. A beautifully illustrated beginning chapter book about a kitten. Also wrote Mandy. Appeal to early grade school.

Little Britches by Ralph Moody (series)
Appeals to mid grade school.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A nine book series about life on the frontier. Appeals to mid grade school girls.

Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Appeal to teens.

Lost Horizons by James Hilton.
A whimsical tale about the mythical city of Shangri-La. (review by Mike M.)

Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne (series)
"I love to read the time travel adventures. Mom says they are a great way to introduce a time period as we study history," (eight year old boy). A number of books in the series and it continues to grow. Appeal to boy in mid grade school.

Maniac McGee by Jerry Spinelli
Newberry Award - Story of racism and ignorance - good moral and fun. (review by Angela W.) Appeal to teens.

Middlemarch by George Eliot
Is a wonderful character study of what true goodness is. There are several characters in the book who profess to it, but "look beyond the mark" in their efforts to attain it. Others are purely hypocritical in their protestations to goodness. It invites the reader to search their own motives in their behavior and treatment of others. (review by Lynda N.) Appeals to high school.

Mistres Masham's Repose by T.H. White
An orphan girl discovers an island inhabited by the descendents of the original Lilliputians. Appeal to girls.

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
Appeals to mid grad school.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien
Newbery Award winner and rightly so! Appeal to mid grade school.

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald (series)
Many books in this series. Appeals to early grade school.

Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman (series)
Mrs. Pollifax innocently gets involved with many difficult and intriguing situations as an undercover, elderly agent. Mystery (review by Angela W.)

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (series)
First in series (Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland) Newbery Honor in 1949. Appeal to both genders in mid grade school.

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (series)
Appeal to girl mid grade school.

One in Thine Hand by Gerald Lund
A Novel about modern Israel.

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary is great children's author! She appeals to both girl and boy with her stories. She has won many awards for her books. Appeals to mid grade school.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The nightmare of being a second, young wife returning to the home of the first with all the accompanying "ghosts" she found there. Mystery (review by Angela W.)

Samuel by Clair Poulson (series)
Appeal to teens.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Appeals to girl mid grade school.

Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise McGraw
The story of a boy who was a trick horse rider in the circus, who is orphaned, and ends up living with a farm family, but can't quite drop or forget his training. Out of print. Appeal to boys.

Scrappers (series) by Dean Hughes
Appeal to young boys.

Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Appeal to teens.

Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James
Appeals to mid grade school.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
A true story of a 12 year old Norwegian boy and his friends who undertake a daring rescue of 9 million dollars worth of gold, sneaking it right under the eyes of Nazi troops in 1939/40. Appeal to late grade school boy.

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi
[Ursula Hegi] teaches English composition in one of the local colleges - I think Central Washington. This book is not pristine pure. She wanted to write about the fact that each of us are different and "unacceptable" to general society in some way, and that impacts our life. She didn't want to use beauty, weight, race, money, etc. but chose to use a dwarf (zwerg) and set it in Germany at the time just prior and during World War II. Much of the material is taken from journals of family members and friends who lived in Germany at that time and from other historical accounts - but it primarily focuses on the dwarf and her circumstances and how her family, friends, playmates, etc. reacted to her, and her response - she does encounter some rough situations, but eventually learns from her challenges to be a mature person who acts out of love and caring motive. (i.e. - the stones in our river of life cause us to make corrections and changes and adapt) You may not want to put this on your list however. (Caution--Has one story portion where boys attempt to rape her and how it affects her view of people and herself.) (review by Christy S.)

Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Appeals to mid grade school.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Appeals to boys in middle school.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Appeals to boys in middle school.

The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope (series)
Appeal to mid grade school.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
"My dad read these to me when I was 8. What a treat!" ten year old boy. Appeals to late grade school.
Lewis’ classic series of seven children’s fantasy books is an allegory of Christ’s mission on earth. It is sweet and insightful. Every child should have read this series by their twelfth birthday. If you’ve never read it then GET ON WITH IT! YOU’RE LATE! (review by Steve B.)

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander (series)
A set of five fantasy books: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King. Appeal to boys in middle school.

The Compleat Enchanter by L. Sprague de Camp
Yes, that’s spelled correctly. This book is a light and humorous romp written by one of the old guard science-fiction writers. This is the first science fiction/fantasy book that I ever read. It’s not the best book ever written but it’s a great read and it has a soft spot in my heart. (review by Steve B.)

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.
An extraordinary story of repentance and redemption. The movie did the book a disservice. (review by Mike M.)

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (series)
A Fantasy series of five books that have a link to the Arthurian legends. Silver on the Tree, The Grey King, Greenwitch, The Dark Rising, Over Sea, Under Stone. Appeals to late grade school boy.

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell, M.D
Having trouble connecting to a child? I was and then I read this book. Things finally made sense to me as I struggled with my six very unique and individual children. I highly recommend this book to any parent...and the sooner the better. (review 6/03 by Doreen B.)

The Good Master by Kate Seredy
About a country cousin (10 year old boy), and city cousin (girl, about the same age), set in 1930's Hungary. Gives lots of detail of the culture and life there. Newbery Honor in 1936. Appeal to boys in late grade school.

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald (series)
Appeals to mid grade school boys.

The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon (series)
"My dad read them and now I am. I enjoy them," Ten year old boy. Appeal to boys.

The Hiding Place by Corrie TenBoom
It is the story of a Christian family who hides Jews during WWII. They are put into a concentration camp where the father and older sister die. Corrie remains alive to tell their story. It is a tremendously uplifting story about seeing God's hand in everything - even fleas in a barracks. The best part of the story is when Corrie is able to extend forgiveness to one of the German guards who tormented she and her sister. She does it through the strength and atonement of Jesus Christ. I like to read this book about every year or so ... (review by Lynda N.) Appeal to high school.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The story of Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, Gandalf and “the One Ring” that binds them all together is a fantasy classic. Indeed it spawned the entire fantasy genre. The Hobbit is the most approachable of the books, having been initially written for a younger audience. The trilogy is long and complex and masterful. And it offers but a tiny glimpse of the incredibly complete world of Middle Earth that Tolkien created. The other Middle Earth books (the most notable being The Silmarillion) read too much like history books to be recommended to all but the most diehard fans. (review by Steve B.)

The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter
Appeal to teens.

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz.
Perhaps the most amazing true life story I've ever read. Man's will to live overcomes all obstacles. (review by Mike M.)

The Merlin Series by Mary Stewart
The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day This is a fine modern retelling of the Arthurian legend from Merlin’s point of view. Mary Stewart does a great job of trying to bring together the best elements of the often-conflicting early Arthurian works and she weaves them into a modern narrative. Of all the versions of the Arthurian legend that I have read (and I’ve read several), I found this one to be the most readable, believable and appealing. (review by Steve B.)

The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
Set in a Carolina hill town - unfolding saga of a delightful minister and various and sundry parishioners and their lives & foibles.....(review by Christy S.) Seven books so far.

The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
Was recently reprinted. Appeal to girls.

The Richest May in Babylon by George S. Clason
All right, this is a book on financial management, but it is a delight to read. Very Fun adn informative. (review by Mary B.)

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
an exchange of letters between Satan and one of his minions.

The Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbot (series)
Appeals to mid grade school.

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
A young, talented vocalist breaks away from the local culture and prejudice to find her gift and herself. Fiction. (review by Angela W.)

The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Another one of my all-time favorites, needs more than just a few words of praise. This book not only contrasts humanity/inhumanity, but also exalts self-sacrifice for the good of others. Dickens is a master at creating characters and expressing the emotions of the human heart. This book is an ultimate in good vs. evil! (review by Lynda N.) Appeals to high school.

The Trumpet of the Swans by E.B. White
Author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. Appeal to boys in late grade school.

The Tune is in the Trees by Maude Hart Lovelace
It's about a little girl that gets magically shrunk and lives with the birds for a month or so while her father, a pilot, is recuperating. Out of print. The author also wrote a Betsy Tacy series. Appeal to girls

The Way Baseball Works by Dan Gutman (Simon & Schuster, 1996; ISBN 0684816067)      ~back to baseball unit~
    This six chapter book is an excellent book for an overview of the wonderful sport of baseball. It doesn't go into great detail of the history, but it does cover these areas:
Chapter 1--Equipment
Chapter 2--The Science of Baseball
Chapter 3--Playing the Game
Chapter 4--The Ballpark
Chapter 5--The Structure of Baseball
Chapter 6--Behind the Scenes
    In reading this book you get a sense that baseball is more than just a bat, glove and a ball. One must really know the game to play it well. It brings out that though the game that you see on TV looks like just about anyone could play....they really can't. There is so much to learn and do to be a great ball player. If you are doing a unit on baseball this is a must read. (reviews 4/03 by Doreen B.)

Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka (series)
A great way to introduce history. They are not very accurate, but Joe, Fred and Sam sure have fun traveling through time. Appeal to boys in mid grade school.

Trust William trilogy by Robert Farrell Smith
Funny, funny, LDS humor stories. After reading all his books, there is a bit of redundancy, but still humorous. Best is the Trust Williams trilogy about a young mission during and after his mission in the wackiest ward in the Church.

Uncle Arthur's Bedtimes Stories by Arthur Maxwell
Appeal to early grad school.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Is a triumphant book of the power of simple goodness in the midst of conflict and evil. (review by Lynda N.) Appeals to high school.

Who Invented the Game? by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns with Paul Robert Walker ~back to Baseball unit~
In our unit on Baseball we used this as our read aloud book. It is the condensed form of the PBS television Series titled Baseball and the accompanying book Baseball; an Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns (Alfred A. Knopf). It tells the history of baseball and the most interesting stories of players and other events that shaped the game as we know it today. Very thorough, yet never boring or too vague. If you are doing a unit on baseball this is a must read. (reviews 4/03 by Doreen B.)

Winkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
There are other great books written by L'Engle; A Wind in the Door, Many Waters to name just two. Appeals to late grade school.

Zemindar by Valerie Fitzgerald
Rebellion in India against East India Co.; the suffering and heroism of an India torn apart by a brutal upheaval. Historical Fiction. (review by Angela W.)

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