Books for 10 and 11 year-olds (kind of):

Book recommendations are quite a personal thing. You know a friend would love a certain book because she's totally into dystopia, but you also know it would keep another friend up all night freaking out. One friend might be fine with a few cuss words here and there, but it would totally spoil the reading experience for a different friend.

The recommendation lines are drawn even more finely when it comes to sharing books with kids. This one might be a perfect read-alone for one particular ten-year-old, but to another, it's just too much sorrow and might only work as a read-aloud with time to pause in order to discuss issues as they arise. A book may have some wonderful themes and ideas, but the occasional violent imagery upsets some parents. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sharing books.

I was not a discerning reader when I was ten. I read anything I could lay my hands on, and I don't think it messed me up too much. But there are definitely things I probably shouldn't have read when I was quite so young -- or maybe I've just turned all mother-hen in my relative old age? Because I am much more cautious in my approach to throwing books at kids than I was in my approach to catching said books when I was a kid.

All of which is my really long-winded way of saying that a book that's great for one kid may not be so for another. It might be too mature for one and too young for another; you know how it goes. That being said, one of my favourite ways to engage with books and find great new things to read or share is in talking about them. And recently I've had a few people ask me for recommendations for grade five/six readers. Which can only mean... BOOKLIST TIME!

I have erred on the side of delicacy here, which means that these are books meant for young readers. You may be fine with your eleven-year-old reading The Fault in Our Stars (at this point, I wouldn't be), but there won't be anything that grown-up in my list. The ones I am sharing, though, are books I've engaged with predominantly as an adult reader -- which tells you they are good books (to me, at least) because their appeal and quality is enduring regardless of age. I've split the books into two segments based on the fact that one friend requested some lighter, happier reads. Again, such distinctions might be arbitrary; what one reader finds heavy, another reader might consider fluff. It's all relative, and many serious books can be written lightly and gently, so feel free to make up your own mind. Regardless, all of these books are ones I consider fairly gentle, even though many of them tackle difficult topics. Categorisations are hard!

Feel free, also, to throw your own recommendations at me. Inspired by swellvalleybloodpulse's snappy instagram book reviews (check them out; they are like delicious little bookish word-poems!), I've taken just a few words to describe each text:

Slightly lighter:

• Collins, Suzanne -- urban fantasy, a kidnapped little sister, giant talking cockroaches, and high adventure underground in The Underland Chronicles.
• DiCamillo, Kate -- small town USA, dogs, preteen years, unsual characters, and single parents in Because of Winn-Dixie.
• Hirsch, Odo -- mysteries, adventure, a cast of lively characters, everyday life, and beautiful turns of phrases in the Hazel Green books, the Bartlett books, the Darius Bell books, and FrankelMouse.
• Holm, Jennifer L -- the great depression, Florida Keys, family belonging, and ingenuity in Turtle in Paradise.
• L'Engle, Madeleine -- family, fantasy, time travel, connection, and allegory in A Wrinkle in Time.
• Peterson, Andrew -- family fantasy, mythical beasts, an epic journey, and lost jewels in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.
• Sachar, Louis -- everyday coming-of-age with fantastical elements, tall tale, racism, bullying, buried treasure, and family in Holes.
• Spinelli, Jerry -- being different, social acceptance, school life, creativity, and wonder in Eggs and Loser.
• Stead, Rebecca -- moving into the teen years, middle school, family relationships, agoraphobia, spying, and a twist in the tale in Liar & Spy.

Slightly heavier:

• Avi -- the medieval period, Catholicism, hierarchy, the Black Death, and minstrel life in Crispin: the Cross of Lead.
• Bauer, Michael Gerard -- Brisbane setting, local community, family relationships, PTSD in The Running Man.
• George, Elizabeth -- the Middle East during the time of Christ, parentless children, disability, faith, and conflict in The Bronze Bow.
• Kerr, Judith -- world war II, Germany and France, nominal Judaism, belonging, coming-of-age, and family in When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.
• Palacio, RJ -- disability, social acceptance, friendship, family, and multiple POVs in Wonder.
• Serraillier, Ian -- world war II, refugees, families separated, Poland during the German occupation, all in The Silver Sword.

Breakers, burgers, and stories for my nine-year-old self:

Today was a rare Saturday, one in which my Dad was in town and none of us had to juggle pre-existing plans. Miraculous! So we took a little family road trip down south, just one of those ambling, rambling drives that we never seem to get to do anymore. Just before we headed out the door, I grabbed Jennifer L Holm's Turtle in Paradise from my to-read pile, thinking it might be just the thing for roadtrip reading.

It turned out to be the perfect story for a sun-kissed afternoon on the coast (an afternoon in which wind and waves and whales and burgers and lighthouses featured heavily) because Turtle in Paradise is set in Florida's Key West during the '30s and having the wind in my hair and the tang of salt on my tongue made it all the more easy to dive into the dirt-between-your-toes, turtle-soup tale of childhood. It was everything my nine-year-old self could have desired. To begin with, the blunt and opinionated narrator, Turtle, makes lots of references to life as an orphan (even though, strictly speaking, she's not motherless; her mother has just sent her to live with relatives during the summer). I was obsessed with the idea of orphanages when I was young. Like Turtle, I overdosed on Little Orphan Annie and her world sounded kind of amazing. Then, too, there are kids roaming free in a neighbourhood that exists just to foster their spirit of adventure -- without letting things get too dangerous. There's a hint of a family mystery and also some buried treasure. Perfect summer kids' reading.

The grown up part of me appreciated things that my nine-year-old self would've missed. I loved the gentle discussion of the Depression and the particular challenges it posed for the working class. I loved the portrayal of solid, healthy adults who grieve and struggle and make mistakes, but who are safe and good people. I also enjoyed the historical details that slipped into the text in perfectly natural ways.

In spite of some serious and challenging concepts like poverty, illegitimacy, family conflict, and deception (all of which are discussed in really sensible ways), this is a sunshiny book. After spending a lot of time in young adult fiction lately, it's been nice to be reminded of the sweetness of junior fiction. I know my niece Amelia will love reading this one in a few years' time.

Australian children's books of the year 2013:

I'm likely repeating myself when I say that I have a high opinion of Australian literary awards. I know that awards of any kind are often frought with controversy, but I think literary awards are important for the publishing industry, for the development of literary culture, and for the writers themselves. Awards are also great for readers, because, in spite of their flaws and the fact that any prize is subjective and influenced by so many details, awards provide readers with a list of books which a number of intelligent and thoughtful people have examined and found to be not just worthy of reading, but seriously seriously recommended.

A week and a bit ago, the Children's Book Council of Australia award winners for 2013 were announced, and the lineup looks great.

Book of the Year: Older Readers 
(Note: these books are for mature readers)
Winner Margo Lanagan, Sea Hearts
Honour Books Neil Grant, The Ink Bridge + Vikki Wakefield, Friday Brown

Book of the Year: Younger Readers 
Winner Sonya Hartnett, The Children of the King
Honour Books Jackie French, Pennies for Hitler  + Glenda Millard, ill. Stephen Michael King, The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk

Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Winner Emma Allen ill. Freya Blackwood, The Terrible Suitcase 
Honour Books Tania Cox ill. Karen Blair, With Nan  + Ursula Dubosarsky, ill. Andrew Joyner, Too Many Elephants in This House 

Picture Book of the Year, arranged by illustrator
(Some of these books may be for mature readers)
Winner Ron Brooks and Julie Hunt, The Coat 
Honour Books Gus Gordon, Herman and Rosie + Alison Lester, Sophie Scott Goes South

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Winner Kristin Weidenbach ill. Timothy Ide, Tom the Outback Mailman
Honour Books Jackie Kerin ill. Peter Gouldthorpe, Lyrebird! A True Story  + Kirsty Murray, Topsy-turvy World: How Australian Animals Puzzled Early Explorers.

So what do you think of the winners?Any surprises there? Any notable absences?

To my shame, I haven't read a single one of the winners this year, though there are a few on my bookshelf in my to-read pile, and I'm partway through Vikki Wakefield's Friday Brown at the moment. Some of my favourite Aussie writers and illustrators are represented here, though -- among them Margo Lanagan, Ron Brooks, Sonya Hartnett, Alison Lester, and Jackie French -- and I have no doubt that their stories will be amazing. There are a few names unfamiliar to me as well, which is exciting. New favourites to discover! I look forward to working my way through this list.

Which of these have you read? Which do you want to?

Quality children's literature no longer exists.

That's something I heard someone announce, quite vehemently, at a writer's event I attended a few weeks back.

"There's just no such thing as good children's literature anymore," a woman said sadly, and a little angrily. "It was so much better when we were kids." A bunch of attendees nodded vigorously and murmured their assent. I sat wriggling in my seat. I wanted to leap to my feet and shout THERE IS SO MUCH AWESOME KIDS' LIT OUT THERE WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. Yes, just like that, with no punctuation or any sense of social etiquette. But it was a panel and lots of people were talking and I'm not really given to violent public outburts anyway, so instead I just sat and listened while there was a general bemoaning of great books for children.

So you understand by now that my post title is a lie -- or at least you understand that I believe quite the opposite to be true: there is so much great children's literature out there. And "the olden days" don't hold the monopoly on quality. There was fluff published then just as there is fluff published now. The reason we don't read much of the fluff from yesteryear is because fluff doesn't endure. It doesn't keep being reprinted and issued in fresh covers with new illustrations by contemporary artists.

The same may be said of our season now in fifty years or so, when the good stuff is still being read. Honestly, there probably isn't time enough in a life to read all the great books people have written for kids (though we can try). But like most things worth seeing/doing/experiencing/appreciating, the best children's books take a little more effort in seeking out. It's not enough to go into the nearest bookstore franchise, KMart, or discount warehouse and scan the shelves. Often, you'll find row upon row of inflated series books about horses or vampires or bodily functions*. These stories are good sellers but can often be fluff; what is appealing to the masses is not always of the highest quality**.

For a better chance at discovering some gems, head a little further afield and hunt out an independent bookstore. Indie bookstores are usually run by people who care deeply about the written word, and the stock is hand-picked by staff and owners. I can often browse in chain bookstores and walk out empty-handed, but in independent stores, it's usually impossible for me to stick with just one purchase.

To guide your hunt for great kids' lit, keep track of award winners. The 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year winners were announced three days ago, showcasing the latest and the best of Australian kids' and YA lit:

The book of the year for older readers is The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner, with Bill Condon's A Straight Line to my Heart and Robert Newton's When We Were Two claiming the Honour titles. For younger readers, the winning title is Kate Constable's Crow Country, with Honour books Nanberry: Black Brother White (Jackie French) and The Truth About Verity Sparks (Susan Green). Winners in the early childhood category are Nick Bland's The Runaway Hug (book of the year), and Sonya Hartnett's Come Down, Cat! and Elizabeth Honey's That's Not a Daffodil (honour books).

The picture book of the year (not necessarily for younger children) went to Bob Graham's A Bus Called Heaven and honour awards to Ron Brooks' and Margaret Wild's The Dream of the Thylacine and Bruce Whatley and Jackie French's Flood. Finally, the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books went to Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch's One Small Island: the Story of Macquarie Island with Anh and Suzanne Do's The Little Refugee taking out the honour title.

The fact that a book has won an award doesn't make it an automatic fit for your child; parents and guardians should actively join kids in the reading process and make informed decisions about which titles are appropriate for which kids. But when a book has received an award such as this one, you are already part of the way there, knowing that there is a quality to the craft and creation of this piece of literature.

If one list of award-winning Australian books isn't enough, check out the shortlist for the 2012 Queensland Literary Awards, which was released today. Or check out the list of Newbery Medal-winning books, which spans ninety years of quality American children's literature.

One of the fabulous things about award-winning books is that they are often very quickly added to library catalogues, making them locally accessible for free. So since it's Children's Book Week here in Australia, your mission -- should you choose to accept it -- is to head out to a bookstore or library and find one new really great children's book. A gold star if you report back to me with your findings!

*which is not to say people can't write well about horses, vampires, or bodily functions, either.
**though sometimes it is. This isn't a rule!

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Conversations:

Meaghan -- I wish you could come to my Capitol Party, too! Although considering my current rate of organisation, maybe it won't have happened by the time you get here!

Rachael -- I'm glad you liked the post. Your little emoticon made me happy.

Laura Elizabeth -- it's hard for me to believe you hate the sound of your voice recorded because I think you have a lovely, lovely voice -- feminine and clear and not a touch of bogan! (and I'm so looking forward to our Bourne-date!)

Staish -- I wasn't blogging from my iPad, but I was videoing from it!

Andrea -- occasionally there are these spurts of bravery, lol.

Joy -- you'll be getting some mail from me soon!

Jessica -- glad you liked the video :)

harri -- I can't promise I'll do more videos, but if I work up my courage again, maybe I will.

Anon -- you are very sweet. Like I said to Harri, if I get injected with a fresh dose of braveness, maybe I'll do more videos. Mostly I wimp out.

Asea -- you are FAMOUS! You are on videos! And you're like the awesome girly one amidst a group of guys. AND you have a really cute voice. Please tell me more about what you're doing in the vid and how this came about.

Samantha -- and YOU are lovely.