And buy gift reads, I’m referring to books that I couldn’t think of fitting to other categories, but I still enjoyed as they were gifts for my birthdays/graduations/Christmas’ pasts.

100 Days and 99 Nights by Alan Madison

This is a sweet book about a veteran’s daughter waiting for the 100 days and 99 nights until her dad comes from home. While waiting she goes alphabetically goes through all the stuffed animals she has, the stories of how he gave them to her and how they comfort her while he is away from the homefront. It’s a nice children’s book and I think those with soldiers in the family would relate to it very much.

The End of the Beginning by Avi

You know how people say it’s more about the journey than the destination. That’s what this book emphasizes too as Avon the snail longs to go on an adventure. With his friend, Edward the ant, they do just that. It’s a bit meandering but then again most philosphizing about life is. It’s also about friendship and the journey, and that’s all you really need.

The Fashion Disaster Changed My Life by Lauren Myracle

I got this for my 13th birthday just as the protagonist goes through her harrowing seventh grade year. Her breakout year for all the wrong reasons. Alli encounters the most humilating experience of her mom’s panties popping out of her pant leg during class, resulting in mocking jokes about her future career as a stripper. Isn’t middle school so fun? However, it has the upside that the most popular girls in school come to her rescue. But popularity isn’t all its cracked up to be. Alli really grows here, coming to see things from a different point of view and coming to recognize toxicity. A good book for any preteen I think.

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

I got this for my 12th birthday because I think my mom was trying to tell me something. From the title, you can guess what. It follows the titular Igraine as she hopes to finally persue her dream of becoming a knight. However, after her parents gift her with a magical suit of armor, they are turned into pigs. Time for Igraine’s first quest facing porcupine men, dragons and more. Good fun.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

This is a classic book I think of an quiet girl who has much more talent than anyone realizes or cared to find out. It’s short so that’s as much of a plot I can give. But the message is timeless and the illustrations are colorful and beautiful like a thousand butterflies.

Alice Miranda by Jacqueline Harvey

This cute British series follows the precocious Alice Miranda at boarding school where, much like Anne of Green Gables, she changes hearts and minds with her imagination, compassion and unfailing optmism of seeing the best in people. Again, it’s a modern Anne of Green Gables (albeit with helicopters and sometimes super spies) if you’re looking for a good read for kids.

The Good Master by Kate Seredy

This book reminded me a bit of Laura Ingells Wilder’s books in that it follows the small-town farm life of a family with its traditions, celebrations and the occasional invasion by a gypsy group. However, this is set in 1800s Hungary, as Jancsi’s haughty city cousin, Kate comes to visit. A bit like country mouse and city mouse. He learns about life in Budapest, and comes to respect her fiery spirit, Kate learns to become a capable young woman, taming steeds and stealing back chickens from gypsies.

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

It’s just a splendid day with everyone’s favorite nanny, Mary Poppins. She is much more stern than in the Disney movie, but she is just as splendiferous. This quartet of books takes Michael around the world through a mantle clockpiece when he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, they learn the story of the cat who was smarter than the king and reunite twin police officers with their lion best friends. Not to mention Mary Poppins’ birthday among the stars. Literally. It’s fantastic fun.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

This is another classic book that is actually quite informational about the British system for child actors and dancers, at least in the 1930-40s. It highlights the importance of work ethic, and the hard truths that those who are more attractive will get lead roles no matter how hard or long you work at your technique. But it is not just about dance, the three Fossil Sisters are all unique enough that readers can choose which one they relate to whetehr it be rising star Posy, actress Pauline or Petrova who doesn’t like the arts but wants to be an aviatrix. I also really enjoy Streisfield’s other books set in the same universe like Theatre Shoes (where the Fossil Sisters are now famous role models), Movie Shoes (where the Fossil Sisters make cameos), Dance Shoes, Skate Shoes and Circus Shoes too.

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own making by Catheryrnne M. Valentine

This is an interesting series, almost in the vein of Alice in Wonderland than a fairyland stories as 12 year old September encounters kangaroo-miners, Saturday the sea boy (who stole her first kiss) and the the ocular sibyl. There were so many fantastical lands and creatures September must navigate to find her way back home, all while defeating the tyrannical queen. Sound familiar? Not quite. While Alice thrives on Nonsense, September slowly grows up to. . . well I can’t reveal that, there’s five books in the series for you to find out what happens to September and the ultimate fate of Fairyland above and below.

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

I thought this was a very heartfelt book. I don’t know why, I hardly remember most of it except that it’s about three different teens who meet each other one night at a campground for the solar eclipse. They each have their own baggage and issues but on this night they find each other and they feel less alone, you come to care about the characters just like they come to care for one another. I suppose just the setting of the book, emphasizing how we are all small things in the larger frabric of the universe just makes it feel awe-ing. Or that its title speaks to the other truth that they come to realize together, we all matter and we all want to be accepted is also very heartwarming and honest.