Top 100 Chapter Books: 21-30

This is the point of the countdown that you are probably going to really start wondering about some of my selections. You are also going to wonder why some books are not on my list. Well, all I can say is that this is my list and these are the books that I love.

30.  Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

There have been countless books written about World War II and, specifically, the Holocaust, but Number the Stars is an incredibly compelling story of courage and hope. The story centers around ten year old Annemarie Johansen whose family becomes heavily involved with the resistance movement after Denmark is occuppied by Nazi Germany. Annemarie learns firsthand how costly it can be to battle oppression when she must risk her own life in order to save the lives of others.

Lowry spent a  considerable amount of time in Copenhagen researching details for Number the Stars. In fact, she even took the photo that has long been used as the cover.



29. The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

Virginia Hamilton actually won the Newbery Medal in 1975 for her book M.C. Higgins, but I much prefer The House of Dies Drear which was published in 1968. What could be more fun than a spooky old house teeming with secret passages, unearthly specters, and ominous noises. Throw in some mean, nasty neighbors and a strange elderly caretaker and I am sold.  I know that it sort of sounds like the literary version of a Scooby Doo episode, but The House of Dies Drear is a spine-chilling mystery with a fascinating historical twist.

I was such a mystery fanatic as a kid and this is one that I read more than a few times. Hamilton also wrote a sequel to The House of Dies Drear called the Mystery of Drear House which was good, but not as good as the first one.

Ok, I was not sure if I wanted to discuss this because, personally, I believe that The House of Dies Drear is a great book, end of story. Unfortunately, race continues to be a serious issue in our nation, even in the world of children's books and the daily life of a librarian. Now, I am pretty sure that I could write an entire blog post just on this subject and maybe I will, because there is no denying that there is a lack of diversity in children's literature. Also many of the books that feature African American characters are historical fiction books centered around slavery, the Civil Rights movement in the 60s, the Harlem Renaissance, etc. or, specifically, racism. Please do not misunderstand me, children need to understand and experience these stories and their value is beyond measure. What about other genres, though? Where are the fantasies, the mysteries, the horrors, the romances, and the everyday middle school dramas featuring main characters that are African American? Or picture books for that matter. I am bringing this up now, because when I read The House of Dies Drear as a kid I thought that it was am amazing story and I imagined myself exploring secret tunnels right along side Thomas Small. Good storytelling is good storytelling no matter what color you are.

28. Watership Down by Richard Adams

A lot of people consider Watership Down to be an adult book, but I do not know many adults who would choose to read a book about anamorphic rabbits.  Also Watership Down began as stories that Adams told to his daughters on long car rides, so in my opinion that makes it a children's book.  Now, Watership Down is a looooong book that the majority of kids will probably find daunting. Do not be discouraged by the length, though, because the journey of Fiver, Hazel, and their friends Bigwig, Silver, etc. to find a safe, new warren is exciting and captivating reading.  Rabbits are generally thought of as extremely timid and weak, but Adams really turns these stereotypes upside down by making depicting them as courageous and heroic.



27. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

I know that my Top 100 list is a little heavy with fantasy titles, but I can't help it. I am a sucker for a book with dragons, knights, magic, elves, trolls, etc. McKinley wrote The Hero and the Crown in 1984 as a prequel to the 1982 book, The Blue Sword. Both books are outstanding fantasy adventures featuring strong female characters, but I think that The Hero and the Crown just slightly edges out The Blue Sword.

In The Blue Sword McKinley introduces the legendary heroine, Queen Aerin. The Hero and the Crown goes back and tells how the young and friendless Aerin transformed from a shy outcast to the brave ruler of her nation.




26. The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

The twist on the classic fairy tale featuring a princess who does not meet the general stereotype of beautiful, gracious, and desperate for a handsome prince to swoop in is currently a hugely popular genre in children's and teen fiction. Well, M.M. Kaye (The Far Pavillions) pioneered this genre nearly 40 years ago with The Ordinary Princess. Words cannot express how much I adore this little known book that should be on every young girl's book shelf because it is that wonderful!!!

The king and queen of Phantasmorania are shocked when the fairy godmother, Crustacea bestows their seventh daughter, Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne with the gift of ordinariness. Rather than tall, blonde, and stunning Princess Amy (for short) is an ordinary young lady with mousey brown hair and freckles scattered across her slightly upturned nose. Despite her average appearance Princess Amy is friendly, generous, smart, caring, and these are the qualities that lead to true happiness. The Ordinary Princess is just a perfect little story about the importance of inner beauty.

One of my favorite parts of the book unrelated to the them is the recurring motif of the old English folk song, Lavender's Blue. You may not be familiar with it because it is very old, but it has always stuck with me. In fact, it was the one song that I always sang to my kids when they were babies. There are quite a few different versions, but these are the lyrics that I know. Burl Ives sang a version that was nominated for an Oscar, but it has a completely different tune than the traditional version.

Lavender's blue

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so

Call up your friends, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork

Some to the hay, dilly dilly,
Some to thresh corn
Whilst you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so.

25. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende and translated in English by Ralph Manheim

I do not think that many Americans are aware that the 1984 movie, The Neverending Story, was based on a book of the same title by German author, Michael Ende that was published in 1974. Now, I do not know about you but I do not read German. Luckily, The Neverending Story was translated into English in 1983, because it is one of the most magical and interesting fantasies ever written for children.

I grew up loving the 1984 movie (even though the kid playing Bastian is a bit of a whiner and Atreyu is supposed to be a Native American and the actor is paler than a Swedish albino) and I have probably watched it a few hundred times. However, if you have only watched the movie you are seriously cheating yourself because the movie only tells half the story!!!

After Bastian names the Empress and saves Fantastica (which is the name of the imaginary land in the book) from the Nothing the movie basically ends. Suddenly Bastian is riding Falcor, the luck dragon, and everything is immediately back to normal. Well, in the book this is basically the halfway point of the story. As they say "Rome was not built in a day" and Fantastica cannot be rebuilt in a single day either. Bastian must rebuild it one story, one wish at a time.

It goes without saying, that the book has so much more depth and detail than the movie ever could. The characters are more fully realized with complete back stories and there are so many amazing characters and adventures that you do not even see in the film. The Neverending Story is an absolute MUST READ!

****I understand that a couple of sequels were made the 1984 film. They were atrocious though, so let's just pretend that they do not exist. This is how I also feel about that last Indiana Jones movie, the third Mummy movie, and the sequel to Speed. Sometimes movie makers just need to quit while they are ahead.

24. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The Chronicles of Prydain were published a book at a time from 1964-68 and I think that it still stands as one of the best fantasy series written for kids. Even though the second book, The Black Cauldron, won a Newbery Honor and the final book, The High King, won the Newbery Medal my list only has book 1 on it. I mainly did this because I thought that all five books in the series were equally good.

Disney made an awful animated movie called The Black Cauldron, but the events in the movie actually mirror those in The Book of Three. It is in this first adventure in Prydain that you are introduced to HenPen, the Oracular Pig; Taran, the assistant Pig Keeper; Gurgi; Eilonwy; and Fflewdur Fflam (my favorite character). You should definitely skip the cartoon and read the whole series.








23. Goodnight, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian

At first glance Goodnight Mr. Tom is a historical fiction novel about the evacuation of children from London to the English country side during the Blitz. The book also delves into the very serious issue of child abuse. Widower Tom Oakley is just an elderly curmudgeon living alone when a malnourished and skittish young boy from London is placed in his care.   Mr. Tom, as he is dubbed by Willie, learns that the boy has suffered years of physical and emotional abuse from his religious fanatic mother. While living in the country with Mr. Tom, Willie gains strength, confidence, and the ability to trust. When the danger in London passes will Willie be forced to leave the only loving home that he has ever known? Goodnight, Mr. Tom is a beautiful and touching story about what it means to be a real father. I dare you not to have tears in your eyes by the end.




22. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Book three of the Chronicles of Narnia really stands out in that it takes place before the ending of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe while Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan are ruling as the kings and queens of Narnia. Rather than featuring English children that are pulled into Narnia by magic, The Horse and his Boy revolves around characters that are already living in Narnia and the neighboring countries of Archenland and Calormen.

Shasta is a young boy who has been raised by a Calormene fisherman that treats him more as a slave than a son. When Shasta encounters Bree, an enslaved Narnian horse, he convinces Shasta to escape with him. The two soon join up with another pair of runaways, Aravis, a wealthy girl fleeing from an arranged marriage, and her talking horse, Hwin.

The two horses and their young riders must learn to trust one another as they face many dangers on their way to freedom in Narnia.

21. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

It is amazing that a book that begins with a young boy being orphaned when his parents are trampled to death by a stampeding rhinoceros can be so uplifting and funny. The only author that could accomplish such a feat is the incomparable Roald Dahl.

After being orphaned poor James is forced to live with the absolutely horrid Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. With the help of a little magic a humongous peach grows in the yard and James discovers giant talking bugs living inside the pit. The odd group of friends set the peach rolling and are soon having some equally odd adventures. This story is so quirky and bizarre but, strangely, Dahl makes it all work together in a peachy keen magical way!

The  film based on James and the Giant Peach and produced by Tim Burton is actually quite marvelous. The combination of live action and stop-animation suits the story perfectly. Of course, there are several hilarious parts of the book that are left out, but it is still a pleasure to watch.