Give Me Summer! Give Me (More) Books!

~post by Children’s Book Buyer Meghan G.

Continuing our summer reading recommendation series, I thought I would write about books featuring some of my favorite female protagonists. There are so many more books that I would love to add to this list, but in the spirit of brevity, here are a half dozen old favorites and new essentials for young readers ages 8-12.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
This is the story of how orphan Anne (with an e) Shirley arrives on sleepy Prince Edward Island and shakes everything (and everyone) up for the better. Feisty, romantic, irrepressible, and a little too outspoken for her own good, Anne is a breath of fresh air for her adoptive family and the island in general. One of my all-time favorite books!

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami
Readers will adore the endearingly spunky Dini, whose grand plans to fix everything never go exactly as planned. Set against the vibrant backdrop of provincial India, and infused with the fun film culture of Bollywood, this charming novel explores such classic themes as friendship, moving, and learning to adapt to new circumstances. Also, my husband (who, I should disclose, is Indian himself) tells me that “Indian kids rock!” And in Dini’s case, he’s definitely right. *New in paperback.

Keeper by Kathi Appelt
I highly recommend this tender tale filled with the mythical, magical allure of the sea. 10-year-old Keeper loves her life on the Gulf Coast. She loves Signe, who has taken care of her since her mermaid mother swam away seven years ago. She loves BD (Best Dog) and Captain the seagull. But on the day of the Blue Moon, when everything goes wrong and everyone she loves is mad at her, she realizes her only option is to find her mermaid mother and set everything right again. She knows she’ll be alright at sea — she’s half mermaid after all, right? A heartfelt rewarding adventure!

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
by Catherynne M. M. Valente
Valente’s archly narrated fairy tale enchanted me from its first sentence, and I relished every moment of its plucky heroine’s strange and perilous journey through fairyland. Slyly winking at many of the greatest stories ever told, this remarkable novel deftly weaves hints of those familiar tales into a boldly original adventure filled with a menacing and beguiling magic that’s decidedly and joyously its own. This is truly a fantastic read for kids and adults alike.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Intrigued by the different grasshoppers inhabiting her backyard, eleven-year-old Callie Vee finds herself suddenly enthralled by the natural world–a fascination that leads her to bond with her famously reclusive and standoffish grandfather. Voracious in her newfound love of science, Callie launches herself on a summer of exploration that leads to many new discoveries, not least of which is what it means to be a girl in love with science in turn-of-the-century Texas. *Local Austin author!

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Sixth grade was supposed to be the best year of Lucy Wu’s life. But between her parents moving her great-aunt into Lucy’s bedroom and insisting on Chinese school over basketball, life has never felt more unfair. Readers from all backgrounds will fall in love with Lucy’s hilariously dramatic yet achingly relatable attempts to overcome her cultural frustrations and forge a path that feels truly her own. *New in paperback.