Once a month, The Edge of the Forest talks to a group
of kids about their favorite books.
This month, Jen Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page,
talks with an Austin, Texas girl scout troop. The eleven- and twelve-year-old girls
attend different middle schools, and are learning about Women Owned Businesses in girl scouts. In Austin visiting friends,
Jen had the opportunity to talk with the girls about blogging and about books. The
troop leaders asked the girls to each name two recent books they
had enjoyed, and they talked with Jen about the books. Some had trouble limiting themselves to two choices, however.
Here are their recommendations:
Carina enjoyed Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan, and especially loves The Black Stallion,
by Walter Farley.
Claire prefers humor, and liked My Chimp Friday: The Nana Banana Chronicles, by Hester Mundis,
and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, by Roald Dahl.
Amanda recently enjoyed Street Magic, by Tamora Pierce, (the second book in The Circle Opens
series), The Wright 3, by Blue Balliett and Brett Helquist, and The True Confessions of Charlotte
Doyle, by Avi.
Erin loves books about magic. She especially recommends Eragon and Eldest, by Christopher Paolini,
and The Lost Years of Merlin series (The Lost Years of Merlin, The Seven Songs of Merlin, The Fires
of Merlin,The Mirror of Merlin, The Wings of Merlin) and the first two books of The Great Tree of
Avalon series, by T. A. Barron.
Charlotte, like Erin, recommends Eragon and Eldest, by Christopher Paolini.
Olivia liked Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise
Rennison, and Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan.
Eliana recommends Lois Lowry's The Giver and The Messenger (though she didn't enjoy Gathering
Blue as much as the other two).
Katie likes to read about historical figures, including Anna of Byzantium, by Tracy Barrett,
Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, by Kristiana Gregory, Mary, Bloody Mary: A Young Royals Book,
by Carolyn Meyer, and Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey, by Ann Rinaldi.
Courtney reads lots of books, and recently enjoyed Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, Artemis
Fowl: the Lost Colony, by Eoin Colfer, and The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine.
There was surprisingly little overlap among their lists. In an
embarrasing revelation, Jen had to admit to having only read seven of
the twenty-seven books the girls recommended. But she's happy to
have their suggestions for future reading choices. She was also pleased
to have the girls say that they thought that Jen's list of
Cool Girls of
Children's Literature would one day reach 500!
The Edge of the Forest welcomes Kid Picks submissions. If you are
interested in submitting a Kid Picks column, please send an e-mail to
kherold@theedgeoftheforest.com
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