Results for family life
Age 9+Wild Girl
Horse tale with more depth and a strong girl lead.
Review Date: 10/8/2009
Age 10+Little Women
Classic still charms despite outdated gender roles.
Review Date: 7/29/2009
Age 14+King of the Screwups
Enchanting stereotype-bending novel; teens only.
Review Date: 6/18/2009
Age 9+City Boy
AIDS orphan adjusts to the country life in Malawi.
Review Date: 5/28/2009
Age 9+The Beef Princess of Practical County
Moving, nontraditional farm story with heartland values.
Review Date: 5/28/2009
Age 14+If I Stay
Gripping, unsentimental look at teen in coma.
Review Date: 5/21/2009
Age 9+Sassy Series
Fun, family-oriented series for middle schoolers.
Review Date: 4/28/2009
Age 9+Forever Rose
Eccentric family still charms in Casson series finale.
Review Date: 4/1/2009
Age 12+Secret Keeper
Cultural peek into 1970s India through a girl's eyes.
Review Date: 3/16/2009
Age 9+I, Lorelei
Poignant and funny family tale for tweens.
Review Date: 2/24/2009
Age 11+Ways to Live Forever
Touching but not maudlin story about a dying child.
Review Date: 2/21/2009
Age 9+Waiting for Normal
Moving portrait of a neglected child.
Review Date: 2/15/2009
Age 14+Mexican Whiteboy
Finding multiethnic identity; moving but violent.
Review Date: 2/11/2009
Age 7+Piper Reed: Navy Brat
Energetic story of family, change; great for young readers.
Review Date: 12/29/2008
Age 4+Big Words for Little People
Empowering words, spectacular artwork, stupendous concepts.
Review Date: 11/15/2008
Age 8+Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head
A fun young heroine reminiscent of Ramona Quimby.
Review Date: 10/20/2008
Age 14+Would You
Poignant story about a car accident's aftermath.
Review Date: 9/24/2008
Age 4+Mail Harry to the Moon!
Humorous take on a big sibling's jealous feelings.
Review Date: 8/26/2008
Age 3+Let's Eat!/A Comer!
English/Spanish call to the family dinner table.
Review Date: 8/26/2008
Age 11+My One Hundred Adventures
Adults may enjoy this poetic nostalgia trip more.
Review Date: 8/25/2008
Age 6+Going, Going, Gone! with the Pain and the Great One
Classic picture book revamped for new readers.
Review Date: 8/12/2008
Age 8+Julian Rodriguez, Episode One: Trash Crisis on Earth
Fans of Wimpy Kid will enjoy this one, too.
Review Date: 7/22/2008
Age 12+Wish You Were Here
Scattered, quirky summer vacation drama.
Review Date: 7/13/2008
Age 14+The Year My Sister Got Lucky
A standard plot strengthened by sisterly bonds.
Review Date: 6/25/2008
Age 11+Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress
Moving story of early adolescent changes.
Review Date: 6/24/2008
Age 12+Imaginary Enemy
Main character is hard to like in disjointed tale.
Review Date: 6/23/2008
Age 12+Outside Beauty
Golddigger mom takes daughters along for the ride.
Review Date: 6/13/2008
Age 9+The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
Sequel to award-winner has more depth.
Review Date: 5/26/2008
Age 9+Love Me Tender
Touching mother-daughter tale for tweens.
Review Date: 5/19/2008
Age 5+Oh, Brother!
Boy struggles to fit into blended family.
Review Date: 5/13/2008
Age 12+Trouble
Scattered but moving road trip to redemption.
Review Date: 3/30/2008
Age 11+Hurt Go Happy
Award-winner faces tough topic of animal testing.
Review Date: 3/23/2008
Age 10+If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period
Engrossing story of fitting in at private school.
Review Date: 12/9/2007
Age 12+Frannie in Pieces
Honest look at teen's grief after her dad's death.
Review Date: 11/10/2007
No KidsTouching Snow
Vicious, graphic child abuse; not for kids at all.
Review Date: 11/4/2007
Age 8+Magid Fasts for Ramadan
Gentle story of Ramadan and doing what's right.
Review Date: 8/19/2007
Age 16+The Nanny Diaries
Spoonfuls of adult content in modern Poppins tale.
Review Date: 4/3/2007
Age 4+Not Afraid of Dogs
Sweet, poignant story of overcoming fear.
Review Date: 3/18/2007
Age 8+When Heaven Fell
Snapshot of Vietnamese culture past and present.
Review Date: 3/8/2007
Age 11+The Pull of the Ocean
Unsettling modern French fable with mute hero.
Review Date: 2/21/2007
Age 9+Rules
Newbery honoree about life with an autistic sib.
Review Date: 2/4/2007
Age 5+Aggie and Ben: Three Stories
Humorous boy-and-his-dog tales for early readers.
Review Date: 2/4/2007
Age 9+Framed
Eccentric and enchanting kid art caper.
Review Date: 1/28/2007
Age 7+Beezus and Ramona
The first Ramona book is a treat for all ages.
Review Date: 1/7/2007
Age 10+Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family
Gentle, slow-paced but sweet multigeneration saga.
Review Date: 1/3/2007
Age 2+The Hello, Goodbye Window
Warm drawings and text make this a must-have book.
Review Date: 4/14/2006
Age 9+Becoming Naomi León
A family flees a mean mother in this rich novel.
Review Date: 2/22/2006
Age 9+The Tequila Worm
Moving portrait of Mexican-American life.
Review Date: 1/26/2006
Age 5+A Certain Small Shepherd
Mute boy's Christmas play becomes strangely real.
Review Date: 12/12/2005
Age 9+Ramona and Her Father
A timeless classic with the fab Ramona!
Review Date: 11/28/2005
Age 9+The Penderwicks: a Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Pleasant, old-fashioned summer break escapades.
Review Date: 11/21/2005
Age 9+Millions
Multifacted tale hits the mark with wit, depth.
Review Date: 11/7/2005
Age 8+Replay
Leo learns family secrets while rehearsing a play.
Review Date: 9/25/2005
Age 12+Walking Mary
Flawed telling of intriguing tale.
Review Date: 7/26/2005
Age 8+The Crow-Girl: The Children of Crow Cove
Orphaned girl seeks new family on Danish coast.
Review Date: 4/27/2005
Age 8+Silk Umbrellas
Lyrical slice-of-life from rural Thailand.
Review Date: 3/14/2005
Age 9+Kira-Kira
Another Newbery book few kids will want to read.
Review Date: 3/4/2005
Age 13+The Glory Field
Stunning saga of an African-American family.
Review Date: 11/15/2004
Age 8+Sun & Spoon
Boy seeks something to remember his grandmother.
Review Date: 11/15/2004
Age 8+North of Everything
A family moves from Florida to a Vermont farm.
Review Date: 11/1/2004
Age 9+Thief of Dreams
Boy is horrified to discover uncle's secret life.
Review Date: 10/4/2004
Age 9+Bud, Not Buddy
Well-crafted tale of an orphan's search for home.
Review Date: 9/20/2004
Age 6+The Puppy Sister
Joyous story about the power of family love.
Review Date: 8/13/2004
Age 8+The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt
Minna grows up with odd friends and relatives.
Review Date: 8/5/2004
Age 8+Baby
A grieving family finds an abandoned baby.
Review Date: 8/5/2004
Age 7+More Perfect than the Moon (Sarah, Plain and Tall, Book 4)
Sarah, Plain and Tall continues.
Review Date: 8/5/2004
Age 9+The Fire-Eaters
The beautiful and the bizarre coexist here.
Review Date: 5/24/2004
Age 10+The Dream Bearer
Compelling novel of boy's 12th summer in Harlem.
Review Date: 5/8/2004
Age 8+Inside Grandad
Magical story about a boy and his grandfather.
Review Date: 4/27/2004
Age 4+The Royal Bee
Some kids will enjoy the quiet mood.
Review Date: 3/16/2004
Age 2+Guess How Much I Love You
Sentimental bunny tale tugs on the heartstrings.
Review Date: 3/10/2004
Age 4+Frederick
Heartwarming story of mouse with a kind spirit.
Review Date: 3/10/2004
Age 4+Faraway Home
Captures the emotions of an immigrant family.
Review Date: 3/10/2004
Age 6+Goodbye, House: A Kid's Guide to Moving
Kids will love the hands-on format.
Review Date: 3/10/2004
Age 7+Mama Had to Work on Christmas
Gently opens children's eyes to class differences.
Review Date: 12/10/2003
Age 11+The Steps
Troubling glorification of teen material values.
Review Date: 12/1/2003
Age 9+A Cool Moonlight
Lyrical tale of girl who must avoid sunlight.
Review Date: 11/10/2003
Age 11+The Crying Rocks
Slow-paced book touches on difficult issues.
Review Date: 10/27/2003
Age 4+Julius, Baby of the World
Kids with siblings will enjoy Lilly's escapades.
Review Date: 10/20/2003
Age 2+Time for Bed
Young listeners may drift off to lullaby.
Review Date: 10/6/2003
Age 2+When Mama Comes Home Tonight
Good book for the end of a hectic day.
Review Date: 10/6/2003
Age 4+Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!
Simple story isn't quite right for target audience.
Review Date: 10/6/2003
Age 6+Grandad's Prayer of the Earth
Moving story offers opportunities for discussion.
Review Date: 10/1/2003
Age 9+The Silent Boy
A period slice-of-life book.
Review Date: 9/29/2003
Age 4+Absolutely Positively Alexander: The Complete Stories
Anyone who's ever had a bad day will love this.
Review Date: 9/25/2003
Age 13+The Voice on the Radio
Suspense and page-turning excitement for teens.
Review Date: 9/16/2003
Age 13+Whatever Happened to Janie?
Fans of the first book will devour this one.
Review Date: 9/16/2003
Age 13+The Face on the Milk Carton
A gripping, emotionally complex page-turner.
Review Date: 9/16/2003
Age 11+Step by Wicked Step: A Novel
Honest portrayal will appeal to kids.
Review Date: 9/11/2003
Age 4+All Together Now
Feeble storyline lacks substance.
Review Date: 9/11/2003
Age 4+Keeping Quilt
Rich, fascinating, and heartwarming story.
Review Date: 9/11/2003
Age 6+The Long Silk Strand: A Grandmother's Legacy to Her Granddaughter
Lovely tale addresses questions about death.
Review Date: 9/9/2003
Age 9+Maniac Magee
Exciting, moving story has something for everyone.
Review Date: 9/8/2003
Age 11+The Great Gilly Hopkins
A great choice for reluctant readers.
Review Date: 9/8/2003
Age 11+Good Night, Mr. Tom
A devastatingly powerful children's novel.
Review Date: 9/2/2003
Age 11+Skellig
This gorgeously weird novel captivates readers.
Review Date: 8/27/2003
Age 4+Can You Do This, Old Badger?
Message may bore children.
Review Date: 8/26/2003
Age 11+Alida's Song
Teen breaks through veneer of hurt and shyness.
Review Date: 8/26/2003
Age 11+Mick Harte Was Here
Difficult questions asked here; not for all kids.
Review Date: 8/26/2003
Age 4+Spinky Sulks
Gets inside sulking 8-year-old's head.
Review Date: 8/22/2003
Age 4+Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
Kid-friendly language and funny illustrations.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 4+Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
Parents and kids appreciate spunky Alexander.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 5+Ramona the Pest
Ramona helps young kids build empathy.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 4+Pearl Plants a Tree
Family traditions: Pass 'em on.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 9+Our Only May Amelia
A historical novel set in the Pacific Northwest.
Review Date: 8/20/2003
Age 6+Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!
Miniature mystery will keep kids engaged.
Review Date: 8/19/2003
Age 4+Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
Engaging book makes kids want to read more.
Review Date: 8/14/2003
Age 9+Ballet Shoes
Fascinating for kids who dance or act.
Review Date: 8/13/2003
Age 11+Getting Near to Baby
Moving story of grief and recovery.
Review Date: 8/5/2003
Age 2+Goodbye House
Young bear bids farewell to the old home.
Review Date: 8/5/2003
Age 4+Madeline
Rhyming classic is a sure winner with kids.
Review Date: 8/5/2003
Age 4+Bedtime for Frances
Kids can empathize with bedtime troubles.
Review Date: 8/4/2003
Age 4+Clifford the Big Red Dog
After 35 years, Clifford hasn't lost his appeal.
Review Date: 8/4/2003
Age 4+Blueberries for Sal
Gentle story keeps preschoolers absorbed.
Review Date: 8/4/2003
Age 6+26 Fairmount Avenue
Amusing tales from author's childhood.
Review Date: 7/18/2003
Age 9+The Ashwater Experiment
A sharp take on junior high relationships.
Review Date: 7/17/2003
Age 2+I Lost My Bear
Text and pictures work together perfectly.
Review Date: 7/17/2003
Age 12+Keeper of the Night
Girl's story following mother's suicide.
Review Date: 6/25/2003
