Essential Reads
To the Kids: Welcome to Essential Reads! Check out our reviews, add your own and enjoy your summer reading! Pick a username so that your personal contact info will never be seen by anyone but me. After you submit your review, I will need to preview it and post it to the site — it will not show up immediately, but I will email when it is on-line. There is a large age range reflected here, in general between the ages of 6-14, so browse the full list, there is a little something for everyone! Have fun and thanks in advance for your opinions!
To the Parents: My kids love a good book…but they HATE to write. This summer my torture of choice to keep their brains engaged will be to have them review the books they read — and I am requiring that in order to get a new book, they first have to write a quick summary of what they’ve read. Below we’ll feature book picks from my favorite 9 and 12 year olds (oh, and their mom too) and if your kids get so inspired, send us their picks too! Fill in the form below and submit. Terms and conditions? By submitting content, you agree that we can use your child’s words, content, and opinions on EssentialMom. If you want to motivate YOUR kids to write — let them have at it here!
Submit your favorites here!
Even if you see another review of the same book, feel free to submit, we’d be happy to feature a variety of opinions.
We’ve removed our submit form for the moment as we were getting hit by spammers…if you want to submit, email us your review at gretchen@essentialmom.com.
If you’re child is not a crazy reader (yet) — read up on our suggestions on encouraging them and getting started on the path to making them life-long readers. Click here.
And for the slightly younger set — our preschool book favorites. Click here.
Little Joe’s Books, a great bookstore for kids and teens in Katonah, NY. Little Joe’s is the only bookstore devoted just to young readers in Northern Westchester and carries 1000s of titles, along with games, toys and puzzles. They host regular in-store events, including a weekly “Story Hour With Miss Kathy”, a monthly series “Reading with Whoopsie Daisy, the Reading Dog”, and frequent author visits and book signings, special-themed parties, and more. See below for reviews from “friends at Little Joe’s” (kids who frequent the store) or the Pick of the Month from Genevieve – Little Joe’s fabulous and knowledgeable book source. Visit www.littlejoesbooks.com, or find them on facebook.
Visit our Library Page to find your local library or go to www.summerreadingnys.org for suggested book lists, games, and resources.
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Reviewed by Ashley Gambareri
The book is about 4 kids: Benny, Violet Jessie and Henry. Benny is 5 years old. Violet looks around 8 years old. And Jessie and Henry look around 12 years old. The story is about the 4 of them going on many fun experiences.
In the beginning there was a big snow storm and a family was driving across country and ended up stranded on the 4 kids’ road. The stranded family went up to the 4 kids’ door and asked to stay for awhile. In the family there were two kids and they were close in age to the 4 kids. Their names were Meg and William. They had a puppy named Joe. Benny loved Joe, they were best friends. Meg and William’s parent’s names are Sarah and Jake. The family stayed for a long time because their car broke down. The six kids loved playing together. They even made a circus.
Then a little bit later the piece Jake needed to fix his car arrived. That meant they could journey back home. The kids were very sad to leave each other but then they remember that they would be back in town next year to visit. They all said goodbye and they were off.
Later that day Mama and Papa set out to deliver treats. Then they did not return their neighbor Rubin and the police came down to their house and said that their parents had been killed in a bad car accident. The kids were very sad. They didn’t want to be separated so they ran away. They wanted to go visit Meg, William, Sarah, Jake and Joe and so they were off.
Author: James Preller
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 12+)
For the kid who is neither the bully or the victim, the question is “what do you do” — do you stand and watch, quietly walk away, or stand up at the risk of becoming the next target. The book talks about the in-between ground and where we all stand in the contest of Middle School social rules.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Review by Essentialmom (ages 10+)
A significantly emotional retelling of a boy who joins the army during the Vietnam War and his role as a dog-handler — told from the perspective of the dog and the man. This is a great novel about the love between a man and his dog, the fear and craziness of war, and a tale of courage and bravery on both sides.
Rating 4 out of 5
Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Review by lpmb114, age 10
A book about a boy who is afraid of eleven. With the help of Caroline he learns what eleven means and why he is afraid of it. This is a great book for kids (8 +) who like mystery.
Rating 4 out of 5
Author: John R. Erickson
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 5+)
Hank, a lovable but goofy ranch dog, is the narrator in these tales of adventure. Hank “polices” the farm and talks about the ways in which he is often called on to “save the day” around the homestead. He is just funny enough for adults to get a giggle, and goofy enough for kids to understand his silly exaggerations. Hank is a completely lovable character and the books are a joy to read.
Rating 4 out of 5
Author: Wendy Mass
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 11+)
A beautiful book about a boy’s quest for ‘the meaning of life’ as he approaches his thirteenth birthday. His deceased father has left him a locked box and he must follow adventures to find the key and get it open in time for his birthday. It is a stunning story about loss, friendship, and the people who surround you in life.
Rating 5 out of 5
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 6+)
This is the perfect first experience with chapter books for kids — either read them out-loud to younger kids or, for children who are ready for more of a challenge, they can be read alone. There are TONS in the series, and each covers a very different story line (and you can read them out of order). The main characters are siblings, Jack and Annie, who discover a magic tree house filled with books — and each book allows them to travel to a different time, leading to many historically based adventures, so a little something new in every book.
Rating 4 out of 5
Author: Elise Allen
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 14+)
Cara’s moving to a new school for high school and she and her best friends make a pact to figure out how to become one of “those girls” at the new school — stylish, popular, and ready to enter a new world socially. The experiment starts to work and you watch as Cara navigates a new social life that she alternately loves and hates, while you love and hate HER as a character. Interesting twists and turns, humor, and a peek (or a reminder) of the world of high school girls — ouch. Contains some more high school appropriate content.
Rating 4 out of 5
Author: Priscilla Cummings
Review by: EssentialMom (for ages 12+)
For more mature readers, this story about a thirteen year old’s experiences with death, loss, and “doing the right thing” — it brings up BIG questions and even more discussion. The main character Brady and his friends experience a tragedy that causes them to challenge their life choices, their sense of right and wrong, their families, and more. This is great as a read along with the kids or as a book club discussion book. There are topics about death and making good choices that are better discussed, not read in isolation!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Author: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
Review by tbfarm, age 9
This book is about a secret team of agents on the RBI team who are from Ripley high school and are on a mission to report back to base about a sighting of a lizard creature. While on the mission they are chased by a group of agents from DUL, RBI’s enemies.
Rating 3 out of 5
Author: Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 12+)
A serious story about a boy who, while camping in Maine, is abandoned by his mother, who has a mental illness. The story is about his struggle to understand his mother, his place in the world, and the way to safety for himself. The story chronicles his journey as he figures out how to survive and where he wants to end up.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Author: Maile Meloy
Review by tbfarm, age 9
This book is about a young girl about 13 who moves to London to get away from the government watch list which her parents are on. She then meets a boy about the same age as her who’s father is an apothecary and together figure a whole lot of things they didn’t know while being chased by a group of soviet spies.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Author: Gertrude Chandler Warner and L. Kate Deal
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 6+)
A classic book set that continues to resonate with children today. Four orphaned siblings run away and live together in an abandoned train car — the stories detail their adventures, their relationships, and how they learn to survive on their own.
Rating 3 out of 5
Author: Chris Rylander
Review by Essentialmom
An interesting twist on the topic of bullying — you cheer for Mac and Vince who are a modern day mafia — but one that takes care of people’s problems. They exact a fee, and sometimes run afoul of the school rules, but their hearts are in the right place when it comes to protecting kids, doing people favors, and trying to run their school from a kids’ point of view. Questions of allegiance, bending the rules, and friendship all come to play as well as life choices, gray areas, and interesting interpersonal consequences and challenges…all while making the reader laugh along with the snarky author’s voice. A great Midde School read.
Rating 3 out of 5
Author: Jody Feldman
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 9+)
Gil Goodson’s father has been accused of stealing from the Golly Toy and Game Company and it is up to Gil to both prove his innocence and to win their recently announced competition so that the family can move away from the town where Gil believes his friends and neighbors have turned against them. Gil competes and learns many lessons along the way. The book is full of puzzles, rhymes, and brain teasers that you can attempt to decipher as you go along with Gil in the contest. Although there is a moral to the story, it is generally just a fun read and a good interactive adventure.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Author: Jacqueline Davies
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 8+)
An interesting take on sibling rivalry and summer boredom. Two siblings set out to create a lemonade stand and enter into a competition with one another over who will be the most successful. Full of tips and trials adding a little something to the reading, this story may even inspire your own kids to get a little business going this summer.
Rating 3 out of 5
Author: Emily M. Danforth
Reviewed by Isabelle Pierce as a sneak preview for Little Joe’s Books
The Miseducation of Cameron Post, by Emily M. Danforth, is about an orphaned lesbian growing up with her ultra homophobic aunt. This book is very good because it is real. It is not one of those books where love is always mutual and destroys all, because that is not how life works. Cameron falls in love with a straight girl with a perfect boyfriend, who can not love her back because of her beliefs. It is a story about being able to love yourself, despite all your flaws. I recommend this book to lovers of realistic fiction, especially John Green readers.
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 10+)
A new take on a historical time travel series leads a group of kids to find where they come from and where they are going and maybe save the world on the way. Cliff hangers from the very beginning, these are great historical reads, but with a great new twist.
Rating 4 out of 5
Author: Wes Moore
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 12+)
This is a very intense book which we read in our mother-son book club. It is best read in discussion and I would say that it is ages 12+ but with a more mature group. It is an inspiring and educational story about two boys — one who ends up in jail for murder, one who becomes a White House Fellow and Rhodes Scholar. Both boys start their lives in the same area of Baltimore, poor, disadvantaged, and with single mothers. The story leads us through big life questions — what happens with the choices we make, what makes a success, how can you fight to earn your place in the world and what are some barriers that people face to this success. A great book, but with the disclaimer that there are real life scenarios that are discussed as the boys make their choices — drug trade, poverty, and other roadblocks to these mens’ futures. A great piece for discussion.
Rating 3 out of 5
Author: Rick Riordan
Review by Essentialmom (for ages 7+)
We LOVED this series — the writing was engaging, quick and interesting. The story pulls you in and you can’t wait to get to the next book the minute you put down the first. There are definitely some scarier parts (with mythical monsters, gods, etc as an integral part of the books) but this is even a great read-aloud for slightly younger kids. I’d probably advise for kids 7+ in general though. The basics are that the children in the book (modern day kids) are descended from the Gods on Olympus — and Riordan somehow perfectly integrates modern situations with historical Greek Gods. Fantastical and fun.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Author: Bianca Turetsky
Reviewed by Holly Cambareri as a sneak preview for Little Joe’s Books
(Publish date: September 18, 2012)
The book, The Time Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antoinette, was a good book. It is about Louise Lambert, a twelve year old girl from Fairview, Connecticut. Louise is a normal twelve year old girl. Her only quirk is her vintage style. Louise’s style is unique. Nobody understands it! Her mother complains about how her style of wearing “used” clothes is weird and her father probably doesn’t know what vintage means! She finds out someone does understand when she goes to the Traveling Fashionista sale. Maria and Glenda run the Fashionista sale and Louise is certain she can find something to wear to her best friend, Brooke’s, thirteenth birthday party. But, what happens when a dress takes Louise back to the times of Marie Antoinette in Versailles! Louise explores the past as beautiful Gabrielle, also known as Duchesse de Polignac. Louise finds the true story of the times and tries to change history. She finds out who Marie Antoinette really is. She goes around as Marie Antoinette’s best friend. Louise also meets sweet Princesse de Lamballe who later is going to get killed and have her head paraded through Versailles! Louise meets Adelaide, the King’s daughter. Adelaide has a secret identity too! Louise looks for her magical dress, hoping to get back to the 21st century before the revolution. Louise finds her dress and goes back to Fairview but the memories still haunt her. It was a great book with everything it needed: fights between friends, creativity and quirks. It was a good book, but some spots were a little boring. If you powered though the boring parts you had a great part ahead of you. The ending was great and I wanted more!!! I’d give this book 4.5 stars. I’d recommend it to anyone who always likes to learn something new and loves creativity. Bianca Turetsky did a great job on the book. I loved it!!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Author(s): Hena Khan, David Borgenicht, and Robert Zubrin
Review by slsstorm268, age 12
This book is very unique, much like the Choose Your Own Adventure books. You are sent on a mission to Mars and you are to live in the Mars Base for a year and a half. But what is different about this book is that when you are faced with a decision, YOU get to decide what to do about it. Now, unlike the Choose Your Own Adventure books, where there is normally a happy ending, this book has only ONE route to survival and the ultimate goal. I may mention, that there are other books in this series that I have read, but this one was my favorite. This was because it was right along the lines of one of my favorite genres, futuristic space. It was not fatasy though, for there were no aliens or non-scientific being in the book, it was just a portrayal of what may happen in about 17 years or so. So, I would definitely recommend this to creative readers of all ages!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Author: Erin Hunter
Review by slsstorm268, age 12
This is a VERY large series and has a big number of characters, so it is definitely not a book to be read by a parent – BUT… These books are absolutely incredible! I have read about 40 of the Warriors books. These books are in fact all part of the same series, but you need to know one thing before you start reading these books. For one thing, they are broken up into four individual ‘series’. The order that it goes in is: Warriors, The New Prophecy, Power of Three, and Omen of the Stars. I tell you this because I learned from making the mistake of buying the first book of the wrong series. Okay… Back on topic. The plot is that there are 4 clans; ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan. In the first series, you meet a kittypet, or house cat, who goes from being a pampered kitten named Rusty to become one of the greatest Warriors ever, the great leader Firestar. The warriors are the cats who live within the Clans and fight against predators, other Clans, and evil cats outside of the Clans. These four series within the series are packed full of adventures, sadness, joy, and PLENTY of twists, turns, and just…cats.
Rating 6! out of 5
Author: R.J. Palacio
Review by EssentialMom (for 9-13 year olds)
A heart-breaking, uplifting, and amazing story about a boy with several facial deformities who faces going to school for the first time in fifth grade. A must read for anyone entering middle school, fifth grade, or for those going through “transition” years. Makes you remember how very lucky you are and helps the reader to think about the challenges that other people face every day. There are definitely sad parts and tough parts, but many, many uplifting bits to help along the way.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Author: R.J. Palacio
Review by tbfarm, age 9
This book is about a child named August Pullman. He has a few facial deformities and has never been to school. But this year thats all going to change. His mom and dad decide that hes ready for school. And while at school he has a bunch of exciting adventures.
Rating 5 out of 5
