Anne of Green Gables series, L.M. Montgomery.
I love Anne. Anne is so wonderful, so vibrant, so colorful. I like the first book the best, but the others (Anne of Avonlea, etc) are good as well. I do have to admit, though, that I don’t like Anne as much as she grows up.

All-of-a-Kind Family, Sidney Taylor.
A good little story and interesting tidbits about a Jewish familyof all girls in New York City. There’s a series to this one, but I’ve never read any of the others.

Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt
Okay, not really a girl book, but there was no other place to put it. A profound little book about the nature of forever. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but it sticks with you. It’s a very simple, but not simplistic, tale of a family that has become immortal and the consequences of their action. An excellent book.

Summer of My German Soldier, Bette Greene
I really can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read this book. It was a wonderful tale of people who truly care, even if they are supposed to be enemies. Truly, a classic.

Understood Betsy, Dorothy Canfield Fisher
A great book about a city girl coming into her own in the country. Good for those who like the Little House books.

Shadow Spinner, Susan Fletcher
An interesting twist on the Shahrazad tale. This time, to get her through the 1001 nights, she enlists the help of a peasant girl who has a knack for telling tales.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi
Fun, and surprising. Good, strong heroine.

Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley
Good feminine take on the Robin Hood story. But then, I’ve never read a bad McKinley book.

The Sherwood Ring, Elizabeth Marie Pope
Fun little mystery/romance.

Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
A fun little story about a girl and a dog and finding friends.

Pirates!, Celia Rees
A fun book about early-18th century girls who become pirates (in the Carribean, of course), and their adventures. A fun read.

Esperanza Rising, Pam Munoz Ryan
A good little book about a rich Mexican girl who loses everything and immigrates to America with her mother to begin again. Based on the author’s grandmother’s life.

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
A good book on being an individual and retaining that individuality.

Shiva’s Fire, Suzanne Fisher Staples
Interesting story set in India. About a girl who is destined to dance and how she finds her place in life.

I heard a report a while back on NPR about funny books to read during the winter. The one that I found the most appealing was The Bear Went Over the Mountain, by William Kotzwinkle. And it was… well, odd. There were parts that were amusing, though I never laughed out loud (Russell did). The basic premise: a bear steals an author’s book and pretends to be the author and becomes wildly successful while the author ends up turning into a bear. Sounds funny, right? It turned out to be one of those books, I think, that are much funnier talking about it than actually reading it.

I finished …and now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold, the 1954 Newbery Medal winner. It was an interesting read, not a “typical” novel. It was very introspective, and not very plot-driven. I don’t usually like books like that, but this one drew me in. The story is very simple (it’s a very simple book, all around): a boy, Miguel, wants to go to the mountains with the men in his family when they go to put the sheep to summer pasture. The whole book is about his desire, his plan — a prayer to San Ysidro, and the outcome of his prayer. The back of the book reads “And his prayer is answered… but with devastating consequences”, which left me expecting something grand. There are consequences, but I don’t think they are devestating (but I’m neither 12, nor is it the 1950s). Instead it’s a look at selfishness, wishing, growing up and accepting change. A good little read.

Galileo’s Daughter, by Dava Sobel is a A fascinating, and well-written, biography of Galileo’s life, scientific and other accomplishments, and relationship with his oldest daughter. I learned much that I didn’t know about Galileo (though I admit, I didn’t know much) and thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this book.

I figured, since I seem to gravitate toward the same author eventually reading everything she writes (it’s usually a she), that I’d have a woman-only post.

Karen Cushman: She writes historical fiction. I’m not usually a historical fiction person, but I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything Ms. Cushman has written. It’s not my absolute favorite stuff, but it’s good, consistent storytelling. She picked up a Newbery for Midwife’s Apprentice; Catherine, Called Birdy picked up a Newbery Honor.

Her Books (that I’ve read, of course):

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple — a good, but not great, story of the Gold Rush in California as told by a 14-year-old girl.

Catherine, Called Birdy — It’s written as a diary of a 14th-century girl. Trite, but fascinating historical details.

Matilda Bone — A fascinating book about a medieval girl who was raised by priests and how she deals with becoming a bonesetter in the “real world”.

Rodzina –Not one of my favorite Cushman books, but still a good tale of orphans and getting along.

Sharon Creech: She’s a general fiction writer. I didn’t like Walk Two Moons, her Newbery winner, very much. But I have liked others that she’s written quite a bit.

Her Books:

Chasing Redbird — A good, fun, simple book. (Though right now, I can’t remember what it is that it’s about. I do remember liking it, though.)

The Wanderer — I liked this even better than her other ones; it was intriguingly written (in the form of journals of two teenagers) and wasn’t heavy handed in its dealings with death and difference and change.

Joan Bauer: I went through a Joan Bauer phase this summer. Her books are quick reads, mostly dealing with the lives of teen-age girls. But she writes boys pretty well, too.

Her Books:

Hope Was Here — This one has the most spunk of her books. It was a fun take on life seen through a 16-year-old trying to find a place to beling.

Rules of the Road — Fun interesting coming of age story.

Standing Tall — I could say the same here as with all her books (a fun, interesting coming of age story).This one is about a 6 foot 3 inch 12 year old boy and his dealing with being tall and his recently divorced parents.

Sticks — My favorite of her books: a great combination of acceptance, math and pool!

Gail Carson Levine: I haven’t been as impressed with her work, aside from Ella Enchanted, which I loved. It seems to me that she gets stuck in a rut, telling the same story over and over. I didn’t include here her princess-fairy tale series (of which my favorite is Cinderellis and the Glass Hill). My daughter, Megan, read them all and loved them.

Her Books:

Dave at Night — Her least “magical” book; there’s no magic in it at all! A good story about change, finding and making a home, adapting to harsh circumstances and making a difference.

Two Princesses of Bamarre — Not as good as Ella Enchanted, but still an interesting story of a princess who defies what she thinks she is and is able to save her kingdom and her sister.

Edith Nesbit: Okay, so I know women like Laura Ingalls Wilder and L.M. Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott aren’t here. I have read all of their books (well, the “big” ones anyway) and love them all. It seems silly to put them here. Anyway, Nesbit is right up there with them for me.

Her Books:

Enchanted Castle — A very fun, lighthearted story. Truly engaging. One that someday I’ll read to my girls.

The Railway Children — Her stories are always mostly sweet, with a little bitter thrown in. This was about city children in England who suddenly become poor when their father was taken away. They move to the country, and because they’re so sweet, kind and good they make friends with everyone and after a few adventures everything turns out all right in the end. Typical Nesbit, and very enjoyable.

Five Children and It — Again, a very Nesbit story: Five children on holiday discover a creature who can do magic. All about their adventures that follow their discovery.