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Back in my days as a school age specialist librarian, I created a booklist that was part of a reading program for older kids who wanted a serious reading challenge. It has hundreds of books, hence me breaking it up into many parts. I couldn’t choose just 50, or even 100! There are too many amazing books out there. Lexiles are included if available. A lot of these are great books to share with kids who are at a high reading level, but not mature enough to read young adult materials yet. As always, read these books yourself first if you have any concerns about content.
- Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet the Spy. (760)
Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she’s written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?
- Fleischman, Sid. The Whipping Boy. (570)
A Prince and a Pauper . . . Prince Brat and his whipping boy inadvertently trade places after becoming involved with dangerous outlaws. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like each other. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.
- Forbes, Esther. Johnny Tremain. (840)
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse-boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper The Boston Observer and as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren.
- George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves. (860)
To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.
- Grahame, Kenneth. Wind in the Willows. (920)
On the idyllic banks of the river Thames, the quiet Mole lives in harmony with the adventurous Water Rat, the grumpy but kind Badger, and the eccentric, impulsive Toad. When Toad’s reckless behavior gets him in serious trouble, an exciting adventure awaits the idle animals of the riverbank in the Wild Woods and beyond.
- Hamilton, Virginia. M.C. Higgins the Great. (620)
Mayo Cornelius Higgins sits on his gleaming, forty-foot steel pole, towering over his home on Sarah’s Mountain. Stretched before him are rolling hills and shady valleys. But behind him lie the wounds of strip mining, including a mountain of rubble that may one day fall and bury his home. M.C. dreams of escape for himself and his family. And, one day, atop his pole, he thinks he sees it—two strangers are making their way toward Sarah’s Mountain. One has the ability to make M.C.’s mother famous. And the other has the kind of freedom that M.C. has never even considered.
- Henry, Marguerite. Misty of Chincoteague. (750)
On the island of Chincoteague, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely-seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can’t live without her.
- Howe, James. Bunnicula. (700)
Before it’s too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household — a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits…and fangs!
- Jacques, Brian. Redwall. (800)
Welcome to Mossflower Wood, where the gentle mice have gathered to celebrate a year of peace and abundance. All is well…until a sinister shadow falls across the ancient stone abbey of Redwall. It is rumored that Cluny is coming—Cluny, the terrible one-eyed rat and his savage horde—Cluny, who has vowed to conquer Redwall Abbey! The only hope for the besieged mice lies in the lost sword of the legendary Martin the Warrior. And so begins the epic quest of a bumbling young apprentice—a courageous mouse who would rise up, fight back…and become a legend himself.
- Juster, Norton. The Phantom Tollbooth. (1000)
For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason. Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams!
Thought Provoking Reads 