Reading List for Emma

First of all, here's a list of great authors. Anything written by them will probably be excellent:

Here's a list of books I recommend to you:

Shabanu, by Suzanne Fisher Staples  This book is favorite of lots of girls--it's been checked out many, many times. It's about a girl growing up in Pakistan and how she deals with the rules of her culture. It has a sequel, Haveli, which is also excellent.

Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman  This is one of my very favorite kids books because the main character has an excellent sense of humor. I highly recommend it!

Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson  I would put this book in the Teen category. It's one of the very best books I've read in a long time! Aside from being extremely well-written, it has mystery, a wonderful and unique leading character, lots of great supporting characters, and a plot with lots of important messages.

Dear America Series, various authors  All of these books are great because they're written by the best authors for kids and teens, like Gary Soto, Lawrence Yep, and many others. You learn about history, different regions of the US, and different cultures of the immigrant groups that make up the country.

Who Am I Without Him?, by Sharon Flake  This is definitely a teen book by a great author (she also wrote Money Hungry and Begging for Change). It's written in the real language and voice of urban teens.

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott  This is a classic of American literature that lots of girls LOVE and read their whole lives. It's challenging because it was written a long time ago and the language is different than we're used to. I still highly recommend it and think you would love it. If you decide to try it, ask your parents if you can rent the video (the one with Susan Sarandon and Winona Ryder) and watch it first--it will make reading it easier. I'll totally undderstand if you don't read it now, but you should read it some day!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith  This is another American classic that I read SO many times! Like Little Women, it's very long and might be challenging, but you should keep it in mind as a great book for you to read someday.

The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros  This book is short and almost like poetry. She writes about the importance of having a home and an education and about rising above poverty and the temptations that urban girls have to face.