Feldman, Jody. The Gollywhopper Games. Greenwillow Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0061214509. Ages 10-14.

Gil Goodson wants more than anything to start over in a new town with his family, somewhere where they are not constantly reminded of the Incident that ruined everything. So when the town’s Golly Toy & Game Company announces its 50^th anniversary ultimate competition, Gil sees his chance to win enough to give them that new life. As one of thousands of kids competing in the competition, Gil must solve puzzles and master trivia, as well as complete physical stunts, better and faster than all the others. But will the attention he receives from the games be too much for his family after all the bad press? And does he have what it takes to win it all? Fans of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory won't want to miss this gollywhopper of a read!

Blume, Judy. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1970. ISBN 0689841582. Ages 10-12.

A lot is changing for Margaret—a new town, new school, new friends. Lucky for her she can always talk to God about what is going on. But when her new friends start asking her about her faith, how can she explain to them that she doesn’t go to church or belong to any one religion? Soon Margaret finds herself searching for the perfect religion for her—visiting a synagogue, attending church services, and participating in confession—all the while dealing with a changing body and new feelings she feels only God can understand. This timeless coming of age story is a must-read for all preteen girls.

Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. David Fickling Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0375849763. Ages 9-12.

When Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim comes to visit, their mothers agree to take them for a ride on the London Eye, the largest observation wheel of its kind, so that Salim can get a one-of-a-kind view of the city. Waiting in the long line, the children are approached by a stranger who offers them a free ticket, which they give to Salim since he is the visitor. Ted and Kat watch as Salim enters one of the observation capsules and track his ride, but when the capsule returns and the other riders exit, Salim is nowhere to be found. Thus begins this captivating story as Ted and Kat attempt to solve the mystery of his disappearance, relying on Ted’s special skills and brain “that run on a different operating system” to discover their cousin’s whereabouts before it is too late.

Beil, Michael D. The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. ISBN 978-0375848148. Ages 9-12.

After Sophie sees the ghostly face in the church window next to their private school, she and her friends Margaret and Rebecca are quickly swept up in a mystery involving an eccentric old lady who has found a mysterious birthday card addressed to her estranged daughter containing the first of several clues in an elaborate scavenger hunt. With the help of some good friends and a pretty cool teacher, the girls work together to solve puzzles involving everything from religion to literature (and even math!), in the hopes of finding the treasure at the end before several other suspicious characters get their hands on it first. But will it be enough to bring a broken family together again? And can the girls do it without getting expelled—or even arrested?

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2004. ISBN 0399238611. Ages 9-12.

It’s 1935, and one of the country’s most infamous mob bosses, Al Capone, is behind bars on Alcatraz Island. 12-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family move from Santa Monica to the island where his dad gets a job at the prison so they can send his older autistic sister Natalie to a special school in San Francisco. But when Natalie doesn’t get into the school, Moose has to give up baseball and after school activities in order to take care of her, and her eccentric and occasional difficult ways make life hard for Moose. But when he befriends the warden’s troublemaking daughter and the other children living on the island, he soon finds himself involved in an elaborate moneymaking scheme that has some surprising results.

Rennison, Louise. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Harper Tempest, 1999. ISBN 0060288140. Ages 12-14.

In Georgia Nicolson’s journal, you’ll find out all sorts of things about this hilarious British teen. For instance, you’ll learn all about her wild cat Angus, her three-year-old sister who has a tendency to pee in Georgia’s bed, and her quest to learn all there is to know about kissing (snogging). And when Georgia’s friend Jas falls for a vegetable seller’s son, Georgia has loads to say about it, until she meets his older brother Robbie and subsequently dubs him “the sex god.” Soon Georgia is stalking Robbie’s “wet weed” of a girlfriend and stumbling through a couple of her own relationships before she realizes what she truly wants.

Nancy Drew, Girl Detective...Then and Now!

Keene, Carolyn. Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #1: The Secret of the Old Clock. Grosset & Dunlap, 1930. ISBN 978-0448095011. Ages 9-12.

Nancy Drew becomes entangled in a case to determine the true heirs to the estate of the recently deceased Josiah Crowley. Nancy’s dislike for the Topham family, a snobbish, wealthy family that has laid claim to the estate,

prompts her to look into the matter, where she meets several friends and family of Josiah Crowley who are claiming that he wrote a later will. When one of them tells her that a clue to the location of the will was hidden in an old clock before he died, Nancy finds herself on a dangerous quest to find this mysterious old clock in the hopes of finding Josiah Crowley’s true will and providing for his rightful, and more deserving, heirs.

Keene, Carolyn. The Nancy Drew Files, Case #1: Secrets Can Kill. Pocket Books, 1986. ISBN 978-0671746742. Ages 10-14.

When Nancy Drew goes undercover as a high school student at Bedford High School in order to investigate a series of thefts, she expects it to be a piece of cake. But after someone sends her a videotape warning her to stay away, and then one of her main suspects ends up dead, Nancy finds herself even more determined to get to the bottom of this case. So when the line becomes blurred between allies and enemies, and she develops feelings for someone other than Ned, Nancy realizes that if she doesn’t figure things out soon, someone could get seriously hurt…or even end up dead.

Keene, Carolyn. Nancy Drew, Girl Detective #1: Without a Trace. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2004. ISBN 068986566X. Ages 9-12.

In the first book of this modernized version of the famous girl detective series, Nancy Drew gets caught up in not one, but two mysteries. While trying to determine who has been destroying the neighborhood zucchini patches and keep the neighbors from turning on one another, she meets a new neighbor, who kindly welcomes Nancy and her friends into her home. But things take a turn for the worse when her new neighbor discovers that her priceless Faberge egg is missing! Could the two crimes be linked? With the help of her friends Bess and George, Nancy is determined to get to the bottom of both of them, no matter what!

Schultz, John. (Director). (2011). Judy Moody [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Ages 9-12.

School is out and summer is finally here! But the excitement doesn’t last long for Judy Moody as she learns her two best friends are going away for the summer and her parents are leaving Judy and her brother Stink with their crazy Aunt Opal. There’s got to be a way to salvage this bummer summer! Then Judy comes up with a super contest to see who can have the most “thrilladelic” summer ever, but it’s hard to compete with one friend in Borneo and the other at circus camp. No matter... with Stink, Opal and her nerdy friend Frank, Judy discovers that the real thrills come from the unexpected experiences, as well as the people you share them with. Based on the series of books by Megan McDonald.

dePaola, Tomie. 26 Fairmount Avenue. Penguin Putnam Books, 1999. ISBN 978-0399232466. Ages 9-11.

In dePaola’s first chapter book, he accesses the best story he could create—a real one.  The first in his 26 Fairmount Avenue series, dePaola tells of the trials and hardships his immediate and extended family must endure while waiting for their new family home to be built. Readers of dePaola’s picture books will recognize characters from those books in his own family—Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, and Tom.  The book itself does not read like nonfiction or a biography, but more like just another one of dePaola’s stories with its familiar illustrations and vivid storytelling.  Readers will enjoy reading all about dePaola’s life without even realizing that they are.

Fritz, Jean. Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution. Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1987. ISBN 978-0399214035. Ages 9-11.

Fritz brings to life the Constitutional Convention and all the drama that it entailed in this historically accurate account of the founding of our nation and its government.  As the country moved from thirteen colonies to “We The People,” much conflict and disagreement occurred between those who were for the national government and those who were for individual states. While the content could be dry and overwhelming, Fritz brings an element of excitement to the creation of our country’s very foundation—its government.  Young readers will enjoy the subtle humor and lightheartedness of the text, while older readers can supplement the text with the complete Constitution included in the back of the book.

Sis, Peter. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. ISBN 978-0374347017. Ages 9-12.

Growing up during the Cold War in Soviet-ruled Czechoslovakia, the author tells the story of his life behind the Iron Curtain, where children were taught to report their parents to authorities, anything deemed Western or American was forbidden, and many longed to be free. This book exists on several reading levels—there is the simple story at the bottom of the page that complements the author’s illustrations, and then there are the additional blurbs and comments written throughout the story that give it much more depth and meaning for more advanced readers.  While younger readers may not fully comprehend the story in its entirety the first time through, as they grasp the story’s meaning they can reread it with the additional commentary and get a better picture of the story as a whole.

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.

Williams, Vera B. Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart. HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN 978-0060294601. Ages 9-12.

When Amber and Essie’s father is taken to jail for forging a check, the two sisters must rely on each other to get through the hard times as their mother struggles to take care of the family. By telling this story using poems and illustrations, the author is able to convey much more emotion and meaning below the surface than with simple text.  Young readers will see two sisters who not only love each other very much, but who rely on each other for comfort and safety when the world they have always known is shattered.

Silberling, Brad. (Director). (2005). Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures. Ages 9-12.

***Beware! This is not a happy movie!*** The Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, think their life can’t get any worse after finding out their house burned down and their parents were killed. But when they are taken to live with their nearest relative, Count Olaf, life most certainly does. Putting the children to work, he is determined to try and kill them, and no one will listen or believe them when they ask for help. After a close call on some train tracks, the children are finally taken away and live with a series of new guardians. But Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get what he wants—he’ll trick, kill, or even marry anyone who gets in his way, including three poor little orphans. Based on the first three novels in the series by Lemony Snicket.

DuPrau, Jeanne. The City of Ember. Random House, 2003. ISBN 978-0375822735. Ages 9-12.

241 years ago, a city was created to save a race of people. A city designed to last 220 years. Now Ember is a dying city, threatened by eternal darkness as the city’s decrepit electric system begins to fail. With food and supplies becoming scarce as well, and a corrupt mayor who likes his position a little too much, it seems as though there is no hope. So when Lina finds her baby sister chewing on a piece of paper that looks like directions out of the isolated city, she teams up with her friend Doon to try and decipher the few words and letters that are still legible on the page. Together they discover the city’s long lost history and secrets regarding the purpose of Ember and why the Builders designed it. But can they really find a way out and save the citizens of Ember, and is it possible with the mayor and his guards watching their every move?

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic, 2008. ISBN 978-0439023481. Ages 12-14.

In the future, the United States has been replaced by Panem, a collection of 12 different districts ruled over by the Capitol. As punishment for districts rebelling in the past, Panem holds an annual televised reality show called the Hunger Games. Here, each district must send one boy and one girl to compete to the death, for only one teen can survive and win the game. District 12’s Katniss finds herself competing after volunteering to take her little sister’s place, and things get complicated when Peeta, District 12’s other competitor, confesses his love for her.

Miyazaki, Hayao. (Director). (2001). Spirited Away [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures. Ages 9-14.

While moving to their new home, a sullen Chihiro and her parents stumble upon what looks like an old amusement park. Suddenly her parents are transformed into pigs and Chihiro discovers that they are trapped in a resort spa for traditional Japanese gods and spirits. Chihiro meets a young boy named Haku who encourages her to get a job from Yubaba at the spa if she wants to transform her parents back to normal. There she meets a series of characters who challenge and befriend her, and as she matures she finds the strength and love within herself to aid Haku and save her parents from a terrible fate.

MacDonald, Betty. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. HarperCollins, 1947. ISBN 978-0064401487. Ages 9-12.

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, with her upside-down house and wild imagination, is the love of children everywhere. But it is the grown-ups who turn to her in their time of need to find the cures for all of their children’s bad habits—something only she seems to know how to do. Like other famous nanny characters, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is no-nonsense when it comes to certain things, and full of fun and imagination when it comes to others. Younger tweens will respond enthusiastically to her ability to balance discipline with entertainment, and parents will love the underlying message of each individual story.

McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody. Candlewick Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0763612313. Ages 9-10.

Judy Moody is starting third grade, and she is not in a good mood about it at all. She gets stuck next to the annoying boy who likes her and eats paste, she doesn’t have the right clothes, and her brother Stink is such a bother. But when her teacher asks each of the students to make a “Me” collage, Judy finds she has a lot to say about herself, and a lot to learn about others in the process. Like so many of the other spunky and unforgettable female characters created, Judy Moody is certainly unforgettable and McDonald has created a character that is both endearing and hilarious. Reluctant readers and those bridging the gap between transitional fiction and regular chapter books will enjoy the occasional illustrations and manageable chapter lengths as well.

Meyer, Stephenie. Eclipse. Little, Brown and Company, 2007. ISBN 0316160202. Ages 12-14.

Bella must choose between her friendship with Jacob, a werewolf, and her relationship with Edward, a vampire. But when Seattle is ravaged by a mysterious string of killings, the three of them need to decide whether their personal lives are more important than the well-being of an entire city. In this third book in the series, the author satisfies readers by bringing Edward and Bella together again as they continue to fight off Victoria and her new coven of vampires. Continuing on from the previous book, she further develops the triangle between them and Jacob. Older tween readers will find themselves torn between Edward's old-fashioned, gentleman ways and Jacob's passionate advances.