Are you looking for great books for your nine and older child? It seems that is the on-going question for all of us as we search for great reads for kids – and to read aloud to them. Here are some outstanding books that will be difficult to put down and I’ve included several types of genre. One of these books just might possibly be the book to get that reluctant reader reading.
Capture the Flag, by Kate Messner, is another adventure that’s full of excitement. Three kids in an airport, who are complete strangers to each other, become fast friends when they discover that the flag that inspired our National Anthem has suddenly gone missing. The events that unfold take the friends in and around the entire airport as they attempt to capture the thieves.
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny-Detective Extraordinaire!, by Polly Horvath, and wonderfully illustrated with ink by Sophie Blackall, is a fun and funny mystery involving two very enjoyable rabbits who have decided to take on detective work. When Madeline gets home one day after school, she finds her parents are gone. She employs the bunnies and they soon discover the parents are being held by foxes. Between the pictures and the story-line, this book is great fun.
Now for some great adventure books. Some of these cross-over into science fiction and fantasy. Storm Runners: Eruption, by Roland Smith, is actually the third book in this exciting series. (This book stands alone but you’ll want to read the other two as well). Chase is heading down to Mexico to locate a missing circus, but he experiences a horrific earthquake and now a volcano is about to erupt due to the earthquake. This page-turner will keep you up all night reading, so make sure you begin reading in the daylight.
Chronal Engine, by Greg Leitich Smith, and sprinkled with illustrated drawings by Blake Henry, is an exciting adventure when three siblings have to live with their strange grandfather. He has told them he has built a time machine – which they don’t believe. Until one of the siblings goes missing, at the exact time that grandfather predicted. Now they must venture into this machine to find their sister.
I’ll end this review with a book about a different culture and a historical fiction. Laugh with the Moon, by Shana Burg, has the heroine spending time away from friends and living for two months in a remote village in Africa with her doctor dad. He’s helping the community and she can’t believe how these people live without modern conveniences. She learns many valuable lessons – most importantly that of becoming friends with the kids who live there.
Glory Be, by Augusta Scattergood, takes place in 1964 and centers on segregation in Mississippi. When a new girl from the North moves into town the entire community becomes upset about whether or not to keep the segregated public pool open or not.