obviously, the Little House books
megan beat me to it!
Also, Johnny Tremain, Strawberry Girl, any of the Marguerite Henry horse books (especially Misty of Chincoteague), Charlotte's Web, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond are all favorites from my childhood.
I re-read
The Twenty-One Balloons
about a year ago, and it holds up beautifully, and enchantingly.
Actually, now I may have to go home and re-read it yet again this very night.
I love so many Newbery winners. From those time periods, there are, of course, the Little House and Marguerite Henry books.
Roller Skates, Gone-Away Lake
(honor) and
Johnny Tremain
are among my favorite books period. I really liked
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Rifles for Watie,
the wonderful
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, The Wheel on the School, Miss Hickory, Strawberry Girl, Adam of the Road, Blue Willow
(honor) and
Caddie Woodlawn.
I think most of those would be suitable for middle schoolers, except perhaps
The Witch of Blackbird Pond and
Rifles for Watie,
mostly because they're about older teens and they have kissing in them.
I think most of those would be suitable for middle schoolers, except perhaps The Witch of Blackbird Pond
I know I read this well before high school. And that was back in the innocent days.
I was using a "Books for Girls" book as a reference for gift-giving to my niece and I gave Blackbird to her when she was 10 (based on whatever age range they had).
That was a good guide; I almost wish I hadn't given it away in the move.
I think I was 9 or 10 myself, but my reading was so eclectic that I don't really know what age group reads what.
We read Witch of Blackbird Pond in school in sixth grade.
I STILL love
The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
Also
Caddie Woodlawn
and
Roller Skates
and
Strawberry Girl.
Wow, now I wish I had all of my childhood books right here to page through.
They're making a movie of Beezus and Ramona. [link] The girl playing Ramona is 9. Isn't she supposed to be about 5 in that book?
She's five in at least one of the books. I think I read every Beverly Cleary as a child.
I'm reading
Ramona the Pest
with one of my kids right now, and Ramona's just starting Kindergarten. fwiw.