Chrysalis Academy Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I think my dd would enjoy more books like Matilda by Roald Dahl. She's read Pippi Longstocking. What are other books at the 3rd-6th grade reading level, at the interest level of an 8 year old, that feature brave, spunky, scrappy girls battling against evil adults or charting their own course in the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Igraine the Brave - Cornelia Funke My 8 yr old loves that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 American Girl books are better than I thought they would be. Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Kit, Molly are our top recs for AG books. Caddie Woodlawn Little House in the Big Woods Little House on the Prairie In Grandma's Attic series (a bit more moralizing than I like, but my girls enjoy them) If your daughter liked Pippi, look for The Children of Noisy Village, by the same author. Misty of Chincoteague (but the men & boys ride, while the women & girls cook) All of a Kind Family (but the father is happy to FINALLY get a son) HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Lower reading level... but DS really liked Sara Pennypacker's "Clementine" books. Captain Nancy in the "Swallows and Amazons" books is more than spunky enough to offset the more gender typical characters. These last 2 are only going to be of interest to any 8yo if they have a strong mythology/fantasy background. Phillip Pullman's "Golden Compass" series meets all your standards, but I would wait 2 or 3 years since it is just a little too dark for an 8yo, especially if you happen to be religious. Nancy Farmer's "Sea of Trolls" series has a strong girl as the co-lead. Thorgil is a tough berserker and the Jack is a sensitive bard apprentice. Sort of an interesting stereotype inversion, as each seeks to find balance and a place in the wider world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The prequel Peter Pan books by Dave Barry? The Secret Garden, The Little Princess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The first Tiffany Aching Discworld book "Wee Free Men" could also work. The later 2 get slightly more YA with minor romance themes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug's Mom Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The Books of Elsewhere series by Jacqueline West. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I've always gone back to this list from A Mighty Girl bloghttp://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=539 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kfamily Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Maybe The Good Master by Kate Seredy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Scavenger, which I believe just came out. Sky Jumpers. Nobody's Family is Going to Change. Yolanda's Genius. Rapunzel's Revenge. Akata Witch. The Grand Plan to Fix Everything. The entire Amulet series So You Want to be a Wizard Cat Girl's Day Off. Foiled. How Mirka Got Her Sword. Breadcrumbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Lower reading level... but DS really liked Sara Pennypacker's "Clementine" books. Captain Nancy in the "Swallows and Amazons" books is more than spunky enough to offset the more gender typical characters. These last 2 are only going to be of interest to any 8yo if they have a strong mythology/fantasy background. Phillip Pullman's "Golden Compass" series meets all your standards, but I would wait 2 or 3 years since it is just a little too dark for an 8yo, especially if you happen to be religious. Nancy Farmer's "Sea of Trolls" series has a strong girl as the co-lead. Thorgil is a tough berserker and the Jack is a sensitive bard apprentice. Sort of an interesting stereotype inversion, as each seeks to find balance and a place in the wider world. I think she is going to adore Clementine! Swallows & Amazons was a hit as a read aloud. I love the Golden Compass series too, but I'm going to hold off on that one till later. I'm looking forward to reading it with my older dd, though! I will check out the Nancy Farmer book. I was just previewing The House of the Scorpion and I was impressed with her writing style. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Thanks to everybody else, too! I'm putting a bunch of these on hold. She was so sad when she finished Matilda! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Maybe The Good Master by Kate Seredy I'd forgotten that book since we did it as a read aloud when DS was ~4yo but it is a fabulous book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 For crying out loud, I just remembered. If she liked Matilda, she really ought to read The BFG, which of course is also by Dahl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Maybe The Good Master by Kate Seredy On a similar theme. Fisher's "Understood Betsy" is one of the better books I've ever read. It is the same spoiled child goes to the country theme as "The Secret Garden" and "The Good Master" but is set in Vermont and written by someone who was both a local, an avant garde, artist and an early advocate of Montessori Education. I think it captures the stoic New England nature as well as anything I've read. Avi's "Secret School" is also very good. It is more of rural girl takes on unexpected burdens and makes good sort of book. ETA: on the spoiled child makes good front... "Heidi" is rather saccharine and preachy but could be enjoyable for some kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 If she likes fantasy, I think she might enjoy Dealing with Dragons, Patricia Wrede. It's listed as a fifth grade level, but you said she was an advanced reader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 If she likes fantasy, I think she might enjoy Dealing with Dragons, Patricia Wrede. It's listed as a fifth grade level, but you said she was an advanced reader. Yep, 5th grade level is fine. She reads across a pretty wide range of levels, which I'm fine with - I think it's good to combine easy reading for fluency practice with harder reading, I don't think she always needs to be reading at the top of her game or anything. She's been on an audio book jag lately, which I'm also fine with, but I want to keep her reading with her eyes, too, so I've been looking for some high-interest titles to tempt her! She is back to reading aloud to me every day, which is good, and she devoured Matilda so quickly I am scrambling to put a few more things in front of her. She's picky about the books she reads, just like she is about the food she eats and the writing she does! So I like to give her a lot of choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald Stoker Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 How about the Howard Whitehouse series? The Faceless Fiend, The Strictest School in the World, and The Island of Mad Scientists (actually, I can't remember the order any more--I may have the order mixed up). Those are a hoot. ETA: The John Fardell series has a boy for a main character, but two feisty girls in his gang of kids who keep saving the world from the forces of evil (they're James Bond for the younger set); those books are a lot of fun, too. The Seven Professors of the Far North, Flight of the Silver Turtle, and The Secret of the Black Moon Moth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The ones I didn't see mentioned here that I would add are Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Harriet the Spy, and Ella Enchanted (though all of them are on that Mighty Girl list... though some of the Mighty Girl list aren't books I would give an 8 yo - not inappropriate, just worth saving, even for a good reader). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald Stoker Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Catherine Storr, Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf; Polly and the Wolf Again. Some of the Noel Streatfeild books? Eva Ibbotson would fill the bill nicely, particularly if your daughter likes animals as well. ETA: Lloyd Alexander's Vesper Holly series. In most of the E. Nesbit books, the boys and girls are fairly equally important. Polly Horvath, When the Circus Came to Town. Kate is a strong character in The Mysterious Benedict Society books (I didn't like those as much as my kids did; the first one was the best of the series, I thought). Maybe better in a year or two in any case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Jessica Day George - Dragon Slippers trilogy Shannon Hale - Princess Academy (first book, especially) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Tharp Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Joan Aiken--The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Also Amulet by Kazuo Kibuishi. It has a strong female protagonist and my seven year old son loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Dipping back into the category of read alouds we did way too soon... Lenski's "Strawberry Girl" is a great girl centered book about Florida "crackers". Violence, drunkeness, nothing that an advanced 8yo can't handle. ETA: and I don't quite recall, but I remember it having a very soft come to religion moment as a resolution... if that is a plus or minus for folks. George's "Julie of the Wolves" is also great. It is deeper and be aware of the attempted rape scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Tuesdays at the Castle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 My dd is really into what Katy did and Anne of green gables lately. She is also enjoying the ranger's apprentice, and loved escape from mr. Lemoncello's library recently. She adored the Sophie and the shadow woods series. Some other suggestions: Alice in wonderland Girl who circumnavigated fairyland... Princess and the goblin Narnia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I can't recall the reading level, but the Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is fabulous too. So many of DD's favorites are on these lists! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I can't recall the reading level, but the Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is fabulous too. So many of DD's favorites are on these lists! I just finished Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and it takes place close to where I live. I read about "Lockhart" and "Bastrop" And "Elgin" and can picture the places in my head. Just gives it an extra oomph here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Shannon and I both adore Calpurnia! I'm looking forward to reading it with Morgan at some point, but I think I have to save it for a read aloud because I love it so much!! Some books are like that, KWIM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Hattie Big Sky. We listened to it on audio and were so sad when it ended. Another vote for Caddie Woodlawn, too. I'm so happy that I have 4 girls (3 different age groups), so I get to read these books three times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Is historical/mystery fiction okay? These might be too old for her Enola Holmes Rowen Hood and this one is a bit younger Theodosia both of these feature strong willed intelligent girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink National Velvet? I haven't read it in ages though and it might be for a bit older reader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 There are a lot of great books and short stories by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Most of the themes are about girls (sometimes boys) facing challenges. The Anne of Green Gables series, Emily of New Moon, The Story Girl, and many, many others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Most of the books I thought of, I already saw mentioned here. I love Nancy Farmer and if your dd likes fantasy, definitely try her Sea of Trolls series. The one book I haven't seen mentioned that fits your requirements perfectly is Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley Blume. It was an absolute favorite here. We read it a bit older than your dd, but I'm sure it is within her reading level range. ETA: The Dealing with Dragons series is charming for girls who are not girlie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaceeM Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. Their reading level might be a little low but they're great books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. Their reading level might be a little low but they're great books. According to Book Wizard, they vary between a second grade level (Ramona's World) and a fifth grade level (Ramona and her Father), most of them hover somewhere in the middle of third grade to the middle of fourth - which puts them right on target for an eight year old. Incidentally, that same site lists Dealing with Dragons on a seventh grade level. Of course, you shouldn't take reading levels too seriously. Different leveling systems all seem to disagree with each other, sometimes wildly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 ETA: The Dealing with Dragons series is charming for girls who are not girlie. I resembles that remark... :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald Stoker Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I had another idea--Kaye Umansky is rather Dahl-esque, I would say (and prolific--bonus!). ETA: I'm thinking mainly of the Clover Twig books and the Solomon Snow books (Solomon has two female partners in adventure). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 The prequel Peter Pan books by Dave Barry? Peter and the Starcatchers. All my kids loved that series and yes, there is a strong female character. Echoing Caddie Woodlawn Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis Trixie Belden mysteries You might find some good recommendations on amightygirl.com. Not all recommended there will be what you're looking for, but you might get some good ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I mostly read books about boys. When there were both I identified with the character I liked most. Do girls really need heroines or boys heroes? Wouldn't a good book about boys be just as good? I ask this because i have to be careful not to make this assumotion with my sons. Anyway yes Wolves of Willoughby Chase and also some of Joan Aitken's other books but the only one that comes to mind is Midnight is a Place, I enjoyed Baby Island and Swallows and Amazons, I enjoyed Enid Blyton's school stories which only had girls, Harry Potter, Ramona, the Roman Mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Wouldn't a good book about boys be just as good? In principle, probably. In practice, literature is the one aspect of the media where children have even a slim chance of seeing even representation of girls and women. Might as well take advantage of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Guess so. Maybe I just never really identified as a girl. There are certainly a lot more options now than in 1970 something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Does Anne of Green Gables apply? She always fueled my imagination, especially as she got older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 We had a pretty long involved conversation on why girl protagonists matter a while back. Apparently, they do. I was actually quite surprised at how many women admitted to "writing in" a female character into the story that they could identify with when reading stories with male protagonists. But I get you kiwik. They never mattered to me either when it came to reading. I tended to prefer stories with male protagonists simply because they got fulfilling adventure and quest plots, and usually had to work for their goals. Girls always had too much help, or ended up finding out that "they had it in them all along". Just not my favorite. When I liked a book with a girl as the protagonist, it was often because she was identified in the story as "not your typical girl--or NOT Girly." :sad: It had nothing to do with whether the girl was smart or capable or caring--it had to do with the kinds of adventures that boys get to go on and girls don't. I think it has to do with character journeys in the plotting. But that's my personal soapbox. It's not that finding books where the girl is bright and spunky and strong is the problem. In fact, you end up with some pretty caricatures of the girl that is so much smarter than all the boys that she never has to use her body for anything, so you can always count on the hero having to come up with the heart and muscles to save them all at the end. It's harder finding the girl in fiction who has her flaws, but uses her whole character to overcome the obstacles, spends plenty of time making mistakes and having to atone for them, and battles her way to the victory. And if it's really good, gets the man who is worthy of her. :rant: Back to our regularly scheduled programming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 I hear what you both are saying, and we don't discriminate against boys in our reading choices! But I think it really matters to my dds to have strong and interesting girl characters in their books. It doesn't mean they can't have boys in them, or even have boy main characters - they both love Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, and those are both series with male protagonists, but strong girl characters that they can identify with. For this particular child, at her age and where she is in her life, she needs stories of girl underdogs beating the odds. She's the youngest in the family, the youngest in a lot of the new activities she has started, she has a very capable and popular older sister (who is also a much easier, conflict-free child to parent). She sometimes feels like she's alone against the world. I think reading stories about girls she can identify with, who have to take on the mean, unfair world and win - like Matilda - is very reassuring for her. That's why I was asking specifically for plucky young girl books in my OP. Carry on with the discussion and suggestions! I love these book talk threads. I always come back to them when I'm looking for a new book for the girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 We had a pretty long involved conversation on why girl protagonists matter a while back. Apparently, they do. I was actually quite surprised at how many women admitted to "writing in" a female character into the story that they could identify with when reading stories with male protagonists. You have the same problem, but more so, when it comes to characters who aren't white, or who have disabilities, or who have a named religion that isn't a. Christian or b. Jewish (and if you're interested in, say, historical fiction it can be darn hard to find books about Jews which aren't set during the Holocaust). As an example, the books suggested in this thread. To my knowledge, two of the suggested books/series - All of a Kind Family and Hereville (How Mirka Got Her Sword) feature Jewish main characters. I know for certain that twelve feature non-white main characters - and I suggested half of those. Forty three of them have for certain white main characters, which leaves a small handful of books - eight - where I either haven't read the book or I can't remember what the protagonist looked like at all. Some of the books suggested (Caddie Woodlawn, The Secret Garden, Narnia) are old enough that they're frequently cited as having racist subtext - and I'm not starting this all up again, you can darn well google it. E. Nesbit is great, and I adore her overall, but she's another one - The Story of the Amulet, in particular, has such a virulently anti-Semitic scene that as a child I used to hurriedly skip past those pages and pretend they never happened. Edit: Since I made this post, two more have been added. Three of the suggested books definitely have white protagonists. I don't know about the fourth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Nim's Island. Loved the movie, too. I'm not sure, but I think there's a strong female in the Sister's Grimm books. They are fun, anyway, but your child needs an understanding of fairy tales. Oh--how about some fairy tales/myths/legends that have a strong female? Prob Celtic? Not Grimm. Idk--maybe worth a moment of research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountains27 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 The Courage of Sarah Noble http://www.amazon.com/Courage-Sarah-Noble-Alice-Dalgliesh/dp/0689715404 I just got this for my 8yo girl for Xmas so we dont have a review on it yet but I read the back and a couple pages and it looks like a good story. Currently she is reading The Birchbark House along with White Fang and a bunch of other horse books (she likes to be reading lots of things at the same time for some reason?) Also Sarah Plain and Tall might be a good one, thinking of giving that one to my daughter once she catches up on all the books she's reading now and getting for Xmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I mostly read books about boys. When there were both I identified with the character I liked most. Do girls really need heroines or boys heroes? Wouldn't a good book about boys be just as good? I ask this because i have to be careful not to make this assumotion with my sons. Anyway yes Wolves of Willoughby Chase and also some of Joan Aitken's other books but the only one that comes to mind is Midnight is a Place, I enjoyed Baby Island and Swallows and Amazons, I enjoyed Enid Blyton's school stories which only had girls, Harry Potter, Ramona, the Roman Mysteries. AS a kid, I never cared if the characters were boys or girls. (The Great Brain, Encyclopedia Brown -- for two) I notice from my son (And my husband confirms it applies to him as well) that they are more interested in books where there is a main character who is a boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 It's not the hero or heroine aspect as much as how much the character drives the plot. This came up recently with one of my boys who tends to prefer writing a female protagonist (she's a little dog, but he really likes her and she figures in most of his stories). He wrote an adventure story but got her out of the predicament via a secondary character. I asked, why? His response was that "she wasn't strong enough" to get herself out of it. She's super smart, she leads the action all through his book, but she simply couldn't pull the trigger because she "was a girl." We discussed how important it was in adventure for the protagonist to be powerful enough to drive the plot, and given how the next adventure is going I hope we are going to get a much stronger more competent female protagonist out of this one. He's very good at writing his little girl convincingly. It makes me smile when he is sure to give her plenty of dog-like flaws, and let's them show up in his story. For instance, in a house full of dogs, this little female is the only one who sneaks into the bathroom to drink out of the toilet. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.