Who knew the author of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse could write one of the best coming-of-age novels ever written?
After 12-year-old Martha Boyle reads a page from the diary of a quiet, little-known classmate who was killed in an accident, she is haunted by thoughts of what could have been if Olive hadn’t died. During her family’s vacation on Cape Cod, Martha experiences her first kiss, her first betrayal, and her own brush with death. The sensitivity and insight of Henkes’ characters will appeal to any girl who is just beginning to face the uncertainties of growing up.
Peter and the Starcatchers, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
For ages 9 and up
Barry and Pearson have written the perfect prequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. This hilarious, action-packed adventure filled with pirates, cannibals, mermaids, and dolphins explains how Peter learned to fly, why the crocodile ate Hook’s hand, and how Peter and the Lost Boys found Neverland. To top it off, one of the main characters is a brave, strong, smart, and pretty 14-year-old named Molly. It’s a thick book, but it’s so exciting, you’ll wish it were twice as long.
The Shadows of Ghadames, by Joelle Stolz
For ages 11-14
This short, but beautifully written, novel explores the life of an adolescent girl in late-nineteenth-century Libya, where women were confined to their homes and rooftops. Malika longs to travel, like her father, but when her father’s two wives take in a wounded stranger, she realizes there is more to a woman’s life than she previously realized.
The themes of questioning authority and looking beyond one’s own family are universal, but this intimate picture of a traditional Muslim family is especially poignant in light of current world events and the increasing liberation of Muslim women.