Kids are always on the lookout for great fiction books to read – and parents and teachers are always on the lookout for great fiction books to read aloud. Below are some out-standing books of several genres that will have all readers turning pages faster than thought possible!
Let's first begin with four historical fiction books. The Captain's Dog: My Journey With the Lewis and Clark Tribe, by Roland Smith, is a fantastic adventure story told through the eyes of Meriwether Lewis' Newfoundland dog, Seaman. It begins with a reunion of members of Louis and Clark 's group along with Seaman. As they reflect back on their famous journey, they read from a red leather journal of Captain Lewis and the adventure begins. The incredible experiences with the Native Americans and surviving the elements, (including raging rivers), hunger and wild animals are just part of this amazing story. Telling the story from a dog's viewpoint, makes it a good read for ages 11 through adult. A map of the directions traveled across the country is also included.
The Baptism, by Shelia P. Moses, is a quaint telling of life sometime before the civil rights' movement. Told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Leon, the events leading up to his baptism shed light on life as the black community struggles to live with all of the prejudices and racial tensions that surround their daily lives. The story is a quick, but powerful, read with much insight to the difficulties of the day. But there is humor throughout because of Leon 's quirky and funny personality that helps to lighten the subject matter. The author's note, found in the back, sheds further light on the background of the story.
The Floating Circus, by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, takes place during the 1850's when twelve-year-old Owen runs away from an orphan train. He discovers a circus boat as it heads down the Mississippi River and he soon becomes employed thanks to a freed black man, Soloman. However, his will and loyalty will soon be put to the test when he encounters slave catchers and finds that's Soloman's life is in danger. There is much history to learn from the flavor of this trip during a time that passenger travel was very popular on this huge river. There are, unfortunately, a few mild swear words sprinkled throughout. The author's note at the back will shed more light on the actual circus boat in the mid 1800's. This book is good for ages 10 and up.
Dead Reckoning: A Pirate Voyage with Captain Drake, by Laurie Lawlor, is a harrowing story that follows fairly closely Sir Francis Drake's traveling around the globe aboard his ship, The Pelican. Young Emmit has just been hired by Drake to become his servant, but he's unprepared for what lies ahead as he soon discovers that the purpose of the trip is to plunder and steal, turning this ship into a pirate ship. This documented account is a bit dark, but true to the events that took place back in the late 16 th century. This book is good for ages 11 and up.
Now for an animal tale: Mogo, The Third Warthog, by Donna Jo Napoli, and illustrated by Lita Judge. This great read-aloud has all of the elements for adventure and character building at the same time. Mogo is the runt of the litter and soon finds that he is now on his own and must leave his family to fend for himself. Life in Africa can be hard and scary at times as Mogo must avoid the many predators that await him. The baboon he befriends, and the giraffes that help him, make this book a winner for ages 7 through 12.
The last three books are fantasy and are page-turners from beginning to end. The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters, by James Dashner, is a journey for thirteen-year-old Tick. When he receives a strange letter in his mailbox, he decides to rise to the challenge in the letter to help protect against the evil power that is about to take over. But take over what? Tick is confused as to what exactly he's actually taken on and is quite nervous as this powerful entity is already trying to get to him. He must decode mystery riddles and cryptic messages as soon as he receives them in order to get to the answers needed. The author has masterly developed the protagonist with hero traits and likeability, and furthermore the evil characters seem almost real. The ending is also setup for a sequel. This book is good for ages 10 through adult.
Blood Tide: A Never Land Book, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, and illustrated by Greg Call, will grab you on the first page and never let you go. These authors make a great pairing because I love all of their “Peter Pan” escapade books! The lost boys suddenly feel an earthquake and from there it seems everything is going wrong. One thing is evident: something is drastically wrong with the mermaids. This quick read is perfect for a weekend read-aloud completion. This book is good for ages 7 through 12.
And the last book, Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest, by Matt Haig, is a wonderfully inventive book that takes place in Norway with Norwegian based mythical creatures. Twelve-year-old Samuel and his little sister have gone to live with their Aunt Eda in Norway after losing their parents in a car crash. They are told to never go into the forest. Samuel soon learns why his aunt is so emphatic about this rule, but he's about to learn all about this forest that swallowed up his uncle 10 years before. The story is exciting and definitely a page-turner. But it's unfortunate that the author had to write the first chapter a bit too gripping with the parents' car accident. That part could have been handled much more delicately. Nevertheless, this book is good for ages 9 and up.
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