I received an *overwhelming* response from middle school media
specialists on the topic of age-appropriate books for 8th grade girls.
It seems that many of us are struggling with content problems while
trying to encourage/please reader demand. Here is a beginning list of
books that will appeal to 8th grade girls (while being o.k. for 6th
graders). Thanks to everyone who sent me suggestions! I have not read
all the books on the list. Please email me at lpals@jeffcityschools.org
if you have read one of these and see content problems. Also please
email me if you have any good titles to add. I'm going to be reading
during Christmas break to continue working on the list.
Abbott, Hailey. The Bridesmaid
Avi. Romeo and Juliet: Together (and alive!) at Last
Ayres, Katherine. North by Night
Barkley, Brad and Heather Hepler. Scrambled Eggs at Midnight
Bauer, Joan. Thwonk
Birdsall, Olivia. Notes on a Near-Life Experience
Bluford Series. www.townsendpress.com
Brian, Kate. Fake Boyfriend (alcohol refs.)
Byers, Betsy. Bingo Brown
Cabot, Meg. All American Girl
Calonita, Jen. Secrets of My Hollywood Life series
Cannon, A.E. The Loser's Guide to Life and Love
Carter, Ally. I'd Tell You I Love You but Then I'd Have to Kill You;
Cross my Heart and Hope to Spy
Clements, Andrew. Things Not Seen
Conford, Ellen. Crush
Conford, Ellen. Seven Days to a Brand New Me
Cooney, Caroline. Both Sides of Time (& sequels)-
Danzinger, Paula. Remember Me to Harold Square-
Dessen, Sarah. That Summer; The Truth About Forever; Assorted titles
Dokey, Cameron. How Not to Spend Your Senior Year
Draper, Sharon. Forged By Fire; Double Dutch
Gabel, Claudia. In or Out series
Guarente, G.P. Hook, Line & Sinker
Hale, Shannon. Princess Academy, The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River
Secrets (anything)
Han, Jenny. Shug
Joan Bauer (anything)
Johnson, Maureen. 13 Little Blue Envelopes (more mature)
Jones, Jenny B. (she is an Arkansas teacher) In Between, On the Loose,
and The Big Picture
Kantor, Melissa. If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?
Break-up Bible
Kantor First Kisses series (var. authors)
Kaseley, Judith. The Kissing Diary
Korman, Gordon. Son of the Mob
Law, Ingrid. Savvy
Leavitt, Martine. Keturah and Lord Death
Levine, Gail Carson. Ella Enchanted, Fairest (anything)
Lore, Cynthia. Rules
Lubar, David. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
Lurie, April. Brothers, Boyfriends and Other Criminal Minds
McDaniel, Lurlene. (anything)
Mackey, Weezie Kerr. Throwing Like a Girl
Miller, Kirsten. Kiki Strike series
Mosher, Richard. Zazoo
Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. Dairy Queen
Oke, Janette. All titles
Paratore, Coleen Murtagh. The Wedding Planner's Daughter
Parker, Jade. To Catch a Pirate
Freitas, Donna. Possibilities of Sainthood (very sweet)
Rallison, Janette. Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Free Throws; any
titles
Roberts, Laura Peyton. Queen B; Queen of Second Place
Romano, Christy Carlson. Grace's Turn
Shaw, Tucker. Flavor of the Week
Shulman, Polly. Enthusiasm
Sparks, Nicholas. A Walk to Remember
Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl; Love,Stargirl
Steeple Hill publishes a series called "Love Inspired" advertised as
"Heartwarming Inspirational Romance."
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Flipped.
Voight, Cythina. A Solitary Blue; Bad Girls series
Williams, Dar. Amalee
I've also been following the Twilight conversation. After reading
Twilight, I've been shocked to see girls as young as 3rd and 4th grade
with these books. While most say they have no problem with the 1-3
books, I found worrying issues with the series from the start. So much
of the book sets up young girls for abusive relationships. Examples:
hot/cold emotions from male (including signs of intense hatred/rage),
friends/family ostracized because of male, well-meaning/kind males are
made to look stupid/inept/boring, girl made to feel special/different
(and better) than others because of relationship, no one besides male
"understands" her, male nonchalantly puts female in dangerous situations
(ex. car speeding-how would episodes translate if he were mortal?), male
is under constant compulsion to kill female (but girl has to conquer
fear of his words/actions), female can't control self (relies on male to
maintain control), girl has to overcome revulsion at violent acts of
male, suicidal/self-injury undertones, and stalking/watching. I know
Twilight is nothing new--it actually reminds me of gothic-loving
Marianne in Austen's Sense and Sensibility. However, the psychology of
Twilight scares me when I think of its lack of consequences for my
impressionable middlers. As one of my friends (who lived through an
abusive childhood) told me, "Sure, let them read Twilight, but make sure
you give them a copy of the book "The Gift of Fear." I know they'll
find other ways of getting the books, but meanwhile, I'll work on
stocking my shelves with books that will give them other ways to think
about relationships. Exchange a Willoughby for a Colonel Brandon. :)
Lindy Pals, Library Media Specialist
Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson GA
lpals@jeffcityschools.org
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