A recent trip to Edinburgh led to my TBR list expanding by twelve books – in no time – many of them could be described as being for young people or YA as they tend to be categorised nowadays, some of them I had never even heard of but I reasoned that if a book is a Newbery Medal winner it should be a good read – for all ages.
The Giant Baby by Allan Ahlberg
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
The Kirk of the Corrie by Isabel Cameron
White Bell Heather by Isabel Cameron
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
The Dividing Sea by Ruth Elwin Harris
The Eleventh Orphan by Joan Lingard
Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Mail Royal by Nigel Tranter
Horned Helmet by Henry Treece
Legions of the Eagle by Henry Treece
Have you read any of these ones?
Hi Katrina,
Aha! I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. It was years ago, even back when I was teaching 11-12 year olds, but I thought it was a wonderful, charming read.
I was so sure before reading your wonderful list of new acquisitions that I wouldn’t know any, but…so it is.
I’ll love hearing what you think about every one of these.
Judith,
I had never even heard of Avi before so I’ll be reading that one soonish I think.
Ballet Shoes! I loved that when I was little. Celia read and reread The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle when she was a bit younger. I am pretty sure she still has it on her shelves.
Jennifer,
I kept seeing copies of Ballet Shoes and for some reason thought I already had a copy at home, I only checked recently and was surprised to see that I didn’t have it. If Celia enjoyed The True Confessions I’m sure that I will too although I don’t suppose it features pirates!
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett is the only one I have read. It is very good, and sort of humorous, but not as good as The Maltese Falcon. I have read it twice, though, and enjoyed it more the second time.
Someday I am going to have to read something by Noel Streatfeild.
tracybham,
I really want to read The Maltese Falcon, I love the film. It’s rare to find a vintage crime book in the shops I frequent in Edinburgh, they get snapped up fast.
The Thin Man is a huge favourite! Hope you like it! đŸ˜€
kaggsysbookishramblings,
I’m fairly sure I will love it!
You definitely got some good ones! The Ruth Elwin Harris is part of a really good quartet – it is either book 3 or 4 but each tells the story from a sister’s point of view, so I don’t suppose it matters which one you read first, although the first book, The Silent Shore, was my favorite and provides a lot of backstory. I remember buying just one on my first trip to the UK and then wishing I had bought the whole set. You will really like these!
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is good, although I find the author annoying because he sometimes makes dumb American mistakes which a little research would prevent.
I don’t know that Joan Lingard but I liked her series about Kevin and I think Sadie, which I read a long time ago. Michelle Magorian is very talented; I just wish she would write more! I don’t know Isabel Cameron but I can tell from the titles what she writes and I am sure I would enjoy them. Tranter is hard to find here but I think I read one book by him. I never read Henry Treece because it seemed disloyal to Geoffrey Trease, his neighbor, which I know is silly!
And of course I love Ballet Shoes! I have a Streatfeild project this summer so am doing a reread of several books.
Constance,
I was fairly sure that you would have read several of these books! Tranter is a painless way of learning history, I believe he’s accurate.
I think I will try to get a copy of The Silent Shore first as you say it contains a lot of backstory. I haven’t read anything by Michelle Magorian before. I’ve just realised that I mixed up Henry Treece with Geoffrey Trease! I’m sure I’ll find your Streatfeild project interesting.