Willard, Nancy. A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1981. ISBN 978-0152938239. Ages 9-12.

Influenced by William Blake’s poetry, the reader is taken on a journey to a make-believe inn run by the poet himself, and populated by the very characters and elements of his poems. Written in the style of some of William Blake’s most famous poems, the author has created a world rich with elements from his poetry as well as the time period in London in which he lived.  The illustrations serve to convey the author’s profound love for all things Blake, but as a whole the two magically come alive to the delight of young readers.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall. HarperCollins, 1985. ISBN 978-0064402057. Ages 9-12.

When Caleb and Anna’s father puts an ad in the paper for a wife (his first wife died when Caleb was born), the children are beside themselves with anticipation and fear. But when Sarah arrives from Maine to their plain prairie life, Caleb and Anna begin to wonder if she is too good to be true, and whether her longing for the sea will take her from them forever. Written for younger tweens, this short book can easily be read and understood by reluctant readers and those just starting to read chapter books. However, some children may need guidance with the concept of the death of a parent, as well as the historical implications of the time period with regard to advertising for a new wife.

Harrison, John Kent. (Director). (2003). A Wrinkle In Time [Motion picture]. United States: Disney. Ages 9-14.

When their father goes missing, Meg and Charles Wallace are certain that he is somewhere and needs to be found. Together with a neighbor friend named Calvin, they embark on a magnificent journey through the universe and time in search of him, with the help of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. They find him on a distant planet controlled by IT, a pulsating brain-like creature living beneath the surface. But when Charles Wallace is taken under IT’s control, it is up to Meg to save Charles Wallace and bring her family back together again. Based on the Newbery medal-winning book by Madeleine L’Engle.

Davis, Andrew. (Director). (2003). Holes [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures. Ages 10-14.

The Yelnats family has been subject to bad luck ever since an ancient family curse fell upon them, and Stanley Yelnats IV is no stranger to it. Wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake where he and his fellow campmates must each dig one hole a day. Though the staff says that digging holes builds character, Stanley believes that they are actually digging for something. And when he finds it, all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together and generations of history rights itself as Stanley breaks the Yelnats curse. Based on Louis Sachar's Newbery medal-winning book.

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. Wendy Lamb Books, 2009. ISBN 978-0385737425. Ages 9-12.

Miranda is your average latchkey child growing up in 1978, and navigating the streets of New York City. But her world starts to turn upside down when her best friend refuses to talk to her, and then she begins receiving anonymous notes talking about things that haven’t even occurred yet. Suddenly, all the pieces begin to fall into place and Miranda sees the big picture. But is it too late to help her anonymous friend accomplish his mission?

Though the book is set in a time period that few tweens will identify with, they most certainly will identify with the central issues addressed by Stead. This remarkable story manages to keep you guessing to the very end, weaving in fantastic ideas of time travel with the everyday relationships of a tween girl. Each of these relationships are dynamic on their own—the partnership she shares with her mother, the curious bond that grows between her and Marcus, the budding friendship with Annemarie, and the seemingly bitter rivalry with Julia—but together they encompass what it truly means to be a tween. Tweens will no doubt identify with this story, traveling through time themselves as they discover the importance of making things right.

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. HarperCollins, 2008. ISBN 978-0060530921. Ages 10-14.

In some ways, Nobody Owens (known simply as Bod) is a normal kid like any other. He has a family and friends who love him, teachers who teach him, and freedom from the burdens of the real world. But that is where normal ends. Raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is brutally murdered, Bod grows from toddler to teen in a world of ghouls and witches, spirits and hellhounds. As he experiences one adventure after another, he can’t help but wish for a “normal” life outside the graveyard full of school, friends, and the living. But the graveyard is the only safe place for Bod, who continues to be hunted down by a man known only as “Jack,” the same man who killed his family and is determined to finish the job once and for all. It will take great courage, cunning and the help of the only family he has ever known to defeat Jack once and for all, allowing Bod to finally be freed from life as a child amongst the dead and enter the world of the living as a young man.

Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. Puffin Books, 1978. ISBN 014034991X. Ages 10-13.

When Samuel Westing is found dead, sixteen people are brought together unexpectedly for the reading of his will, and are challenged to a contest to determine which of them is his murderer—the winner of which will inherit his millions. Chaos ensues as they are divided into pairs and given different sets of clues, clues that will lead them one step closer to a killer. More questions arise when bombings and burglaries threaten to end the game for some. Who killed Mr. Westing? Which team will solve the mystery first? And do you have what it takes to figure it out before anyone else does? Gather the clues and find out!

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Bantam Books, 1993. ISBN 0553571338. Ages 12-14.

Jonas lives in a world untouched by war or famine, fear or pain. When children reach the age of twelve, the Elders ceremoniously give each child their assignment for life. A great honor, Jonas is bestowed with the assignment of receiving training from The Giver, the only one to hold the memories of how the world used to be. This knowledge does not come without a heavy price, for Jonas must be given all the memories, no matter how painful or frightening, before The Giver retires and Jonas takes over. But when the truth is too much for Jonas to bear, he must make the ultimate sacrifice in order to set things right.