Great Books for Teens & Tweens

This month's list has Girl Heroes who have completely amazing stories to tell for both boys and girls. I would recommend any of these books for an adult book club as well. These books bridge the gap between chapter books and young adult novels.

Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury). Set in the steppes of Central Asia, the maid Dashti serves the Lady Saren, born of nobility, and writes of her days in a journal. The novel begins when the two women are locked in a high tower with all the food they need to live for seven years - - all due to the disobedience of Lady Saren. It is due to Dashti's intelligence, hard work and honor in serving the helpless Saren that the two survive at all. Readers are taken up by this foreign land and will be greatly impressed by this bright and plucky heroine. (Ages 12 & up)

Keturah and Lord Death, by Martine Leavitt (Boyds Mill Press). A National Book Award Finalist, this fairy tale answers the question "What if death came for you?" Keturah is the town beauty and the favorite story teller. As mystery surrounds Keturah's survival after being lost in the woods for three days, the town sees her as bewitched. Her friends Gretta and Beatrice stand by her side. A story filled with romance, friendship and courage set in the feudal village of Tide-by-Rood, this book will touch your heart. A fabulous book to read aloud. (Ages 10 & up)

A Drowned Maiden's Hair, by Laura Amy Schlitz (Candlewick). Set in the early 1900s, little dynamo Maud Flynn has been adopted by three sisters who are con artists. Although she is now showered with ice cream and dresses and fancy things, she must keep her identity hidden to the world. As Maud's young mind distills the truth about her new "family," the reader is drawn into her escape. The book expertly illustrates the period's craze for spiritualism and séance, and sees the child's mind as the one who is reasonable and truthful. (Ages 10 & up)

Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kadohata (Simon & Schuster). Winner of the Newbery Medal, this story is set in rural Georgia in the 1950s. Kira-kira means "glittering" and Lynn Takeshima sees everything around her that way. The younger sister, Katie, tells the story of trying to understand this world where their parents work tremendously hard in brutal conditions. As Lynn becomes ill, Katie must keep the family together, to bring kira-kira back into their lives. (Ages 12 & up)

City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau (Random House). The underground City of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race hundreds of years ago. But now, resources are running out for all who dwell there. The secret instructions on leaving Ember have been lost, and the corrupt mayor wants the emergency supplies for himself. Twelve year old Lina and her friend Doon, who find the lost instructions, are racing to save the city while the whole town goes dark. Do they find the "outside" world? Read it and find out! The sequel City of Sparks continues the story. The movie premiers this fall. (Ages 10 & up)

A tweenager at heart, Julie Hubble lives in Leawood.