Kids and Classics

Life constantly changes; a trite and true statement. One of the changes for one of the Book Jam Lisas is she's spending a lot of time with 1st graders. This change is challenging, hilarious, and full of opportunities to read with kids. And, it leads to today's topic - really great books for kids and young adults that have stood the test of time. We hope we review them just in time for last minute holiday giving. 

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg (1967). Konigsburg is one of our favorite authors. The View From Saturday and Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth are amazing. But From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a treasure that reminds us museums can be amazing, siblings can be pleasantly surprising, and every kid (and adult) wants to feel special and have amazing adventures.  Re-read it if you haven't in awhile with your favorite fourth grader, or just with yourself. You will not regret it. 

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Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper (2015) - My family discovered this amazing book on a 2015 trip to DC during a visit to Busboys and Poets on 14th Street and the audiobook version was our soundtrack for the car trip back home to Vermont. We have since recommended it to every kid we know. Stella lives in segregated North Carolina. There are stores she can enter and stores she can not; people are kind and they are not. But at least the one constant is that the Klan hasn't been around for awhile. Then late one night she and her brother see something they are not supposed to see and her world is forever changed. ~ Lisa Christie

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Pay Attention Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt (2019). Mr. Schmidt's novel provides a superb look at what happens when tough things occur in life. In this case, the tough things include the unexpected death of a younger brother and a father who has found another family to love and has decided to never come back. But as Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick, a butler who shows up on the family doorstep one day, continually reminds Carter- the young narrator of this gem of a book, life is difficult and one has two choices -- to be a gentleman or a bore. Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick is hanging around to ensure Carter chooses to be a gentleman. Told with humor (e.g., fabulous scenes of learning how to drink a proper tea and play cricket) and love, this tale eloquently describes how the lives of Carter, his three sisters, and his mom are forever changed when a butler arrives on their doorstep. Think of Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick as a portly male Mary Poppins who makes you walk the dog and clean the dishes and ultimately reminds all readers of the importance of how we all choose to embrace our life. I also recommend Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now and many other tales by Gary Schmidt (assorted years). ​~ Lisa Christie

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See you at Harry's by Jo Knowles (2013).  This was the first book we read by Jo, and we are thrilled to say it was not our last. And, we love to say it still holds a most special place in our all time best book lists. It honestly both breaks your heart and expands it. We really can't think of higher praise for a book. As for plot, let's just say that beginning middle school is unfortunately the least worrisome thing happening for 12 year old Fern. ~ Lisa Cadow and Lisa Christie

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Booked and The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (assorted years) – Yes, we love Mr. Alexander’s books. Yes, we have recommended both these books before. But trust us, the youth readers you love will love these books about soccer (Booked) and basketball (The Crossover). They are poetic, perfect for reluctant readers, and both address how life happens while you have your eye on the ball. ~Lisa Cadow and Lisa Christie

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Will In Scarlet by Matthew Cody (2013) -  A FUN tale of Robin Hood and his merry men before they became famous. In this version of this timeless tale, you meet them as a gang of outlaws and watch them find their mission in life. A superb adventure for any middle grades reader and the adults who love them, or who love English legends. You won't think of the band of merry men the same after reading this one. ~Lisa Cadow and Lisa Christie

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Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee (2022). A fun look at how rebellion can be humorous - literally and figuratively as Maisy defies her elders and becomes a stand up comedian. Maizy one visit with her grandparents in Last Chance was so brief it basically did not happen. Suddenly, she is back there for a summer as her Opa is very sick and her Oma needs her mother's help running the family restaurant. Last Chance is completely different from her home in LA. Her mother is completely different in Last Chance --  fighting with her Oma, concerned about her Opa, and flirting with Last Chance's principal. Basically Maizy has no idea how she will survive a whole summer there. Then, she discovers her Opa has amazing stories to share. ~ Lisa Christie

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone (2017). A superb YA novel about being profiled by the police, and how current events, BLM, and politics affect Black youth today.  In this excellent debut novel, a Black student – Justyce McAllister, top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year – is handcuffed by a police officer and released without physical harm. The psychological toll of being profiled is explored as this novel delves into his life at his mostly white prep school and in his mostly Black neighborhood. To help cope, Justyce researches the writings of MLK and writes him letters asking for guidance about how to live today. While Martin obviously never answers, the letters provide a great premise for thinking about how MLK would have handled life as a black man today. The letters also provide grounding once the novel’s action turns extremely ugly. Read it and discuss. I also highly recommend the sequel Dear Justyce; both novels could be considered the boy’s perspective on the situations in The Hate U Give. ~ Lisa Christie (Previously reviewed in some-ya-titles-that-lead-to-great-discussions)

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Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez (2002) – Do not let the small size of this novel fool you; it appears sparse, but says so much about what happens to families when a country’s politics take a dangerous turn. In this novel (based upon Ms. Alvarez’s own experiences in the Dominican Republic). The young protagonist, Anita (named in honor of Anne Frank), is coming of age in a Latin American dictatorship. Most of her relatives have already emigrated to the United States, a few of her relatives have disappeared without a trace or gone into hiding, and the government’s secret police are terrorizing family members who remain because of their suspected opposition of the dictatorship. The power of family and the danger of politics hit home with this slim volume for middle grade readers. ~ Lisa Cadow and Lisa Christie

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