Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
Tom’s brother is sick. His mother wants to keep him healthy so she sends him to stay with his Uncle and Aunt. It’s there that Tom meets Hattie. It’s there in the midnight garden that time connects and Tom changes. Tom realizes that spending a summer away from his brother for the first time is not the end of the world. This is a wonderful story of adventure and growing up.
The Haunting by Margret Mahy
Barney’s mother died when he was born. His new stepmother is about to have a baby and Barney is
worried about her. His father is always at work, Trey, the eldest, is quiet and shy, and Tabitha is loud, noisy,
and has to know everything. Barney is sweet and quite, and happy until he begins to hear a whispery voice
that no one else can hear. The whispers will change his like forever as everything he thought he knew
changes. This is a unique amazing story of a little boy and an unbelievable secret.
The Dream of the Stone by Christina Askounis
Sarah’s brother works for a mysterious research society. Sarah’s parents are journalists and Sarah thinks her life is perfect, until it all comes crashing down. Now Sarah is about to find out that nothing is really what it seems and no one is her friend. Only problem is she needs friends to set things right. Soon Sarah will learn that you can find anything, anywhere if you look hard enough. All you have to do is believe.
Circus Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Peter and Santa are orphans. They know not what will happen to them. Their only uncle works for a circus and can’t really take care of them. So the siblings run away to the circus. The two siblings find friends and learn trades as they begin a new like. Only they never could have imagined what will follow. This is an amazing story of a two siblings learning how to make friends in a different environment.
Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
With their parents dead Sorrel, Holly, and Mark Forbes move in with their grandmother, an old actress. As they enter the show business world they struggle in a family that’s been in show business for years. The three children become closer and finally find their place in this new world. This story is full of difficulties of children beginning a life in a new home in a new way.
I promise the "Shoes books" end. Just be patient. ~Mackinsey
Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Rachel’s mother has died. She and her adopted sister Hilary go to live with their aunt and her daughter. Hilary loves to dance, she dances ballet and now she can continue her training at her aunt’s school. She soon realizes that she would rather be one of Miss Whittles Little Wonders but Rachel doesn’t agree. Rachel wants Hilary to follow the path their mother wanted. They both struggle to fit in, in a home where their cousin matters the most and in the process they becomes closer than ever.
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
GUM, Great Uncle Mathews, has three adopted children Pauline, Petrova, and Posy. Only problem is he has vanished and their money is running out. Gum’s niece Sylvia and their Nanny are at loss of what to do. They begin to rent out rooms and them the children are taken out of school. Then they all end up in a dancing academy, where they begin to grow apart. This is a terrific story of how these adopted sisters grow up and grow apart and change.
Skating Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Harriet is a sickly child and has never gotten to know children her age. Her family is poor and can’t afford much. Then the doctor advises her to start skating to strengthen her legs. It’s there that she meets Lalla and they become friends. They face ups and downs as they find their way. This is an amazing story about friendship and acceptance.
See? I told you they would end. ~Mackinsey
The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall
The Penderwicks Series includes: The Penderwicks, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, and The Penderwicks at Point Monitte
Four sisters, one devoted dog, and a whole lot of craziness makes for three amazing summers as the sisters grow up. Their family grows up as they make mistakes and experience life in a little town in Pennsylvania. This is a wonderful story of the four sisters growing up in a realistic manner as they experience life with all its twists and turns.
...sorry....there's another one... ~Mackinsey
Party Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Selina lives with her cousins. Her parents are being held prisoner in Japan during World War II. One day she gets a package from her uncle with party shoes and a party dress inside. Now all she needs is an occasion to wear them to. Only it’s World War II, and occasions to wear things to are scares. This is a wonderful story of children working together despite their differences and becoming friends.
Dreamdark by Laini Taylor
Book one: Blackbringer
Maggie WIndwitch is a fairy. Only she's not ordinary. Maggie hunts devils. Hundreds of years ago all the devils were sealed in bottles with unbreakable seals. Then, humans came along and it was found that these seals could be broken by the touch of a human hand. Unknowingly humans began to release devils and Maggie has made it her life's work to return these devils to their prisons. Maggie and her faithful band of crows have traveled everywhere, and they have yet to find a devil that phases them, until Blackbringer is released. Now Maggie must set out on a quest that will determine the fate of her world.
Book two: Silksinger
Three fairies, three quest, but only one destination. Maggie Windwitch has a new quest. She must rescue Azazel, one of the Djinn who created this world, from those who would harm him. Whisper is a silksinger, the last of her kind. She alone must now guard Azazel and return him to his temple. Hirik Mothmage is on a quest of his own. Determined to restore the honor of his people he sets out to becomes Azazel's champion. These three will soon find that friendship is a powerful weapon that they alone can wield.
The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
This series includes Alanna: The first Adventure, In the Hands of the Goddess,Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and, Lioness Rampant.
Alanna wants to be a knight. Her brother, Thom, wants to study magic. So Alanna and Thom trade places. Thom goes to the city of the gods and Alanna goes to the place to become a page. Alanna struggles to make friends in a fierce competitive environment where only Cormac knows who she really is. Alanna soon discovers that is harder than it seems to be someone you are not. These four books tell how Alanna make friends and finds her place in a world where she is not accepted for who she is.
Alanna wants to be a knight. Her brother, Thom, wants to study magic. So Alanna and Thom trade places. Thom goes to the city of the gods and Alanna goes to the place to become a page. Alanna struggles to make friends in a fierce competitive environment where only Cormac knows who she really is. Alanna soon discovers that is harder than it seems to be someone you are not. These four books tell how Alanna make friends and finds her place in a world where she is not accepted for who she is.
Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce
This series includes First Test, Page, Squire, and Lady Knight.
Change is hard, especially when most people are not pleased with the change. Keladry of Mindelan will follow her dreams and become the first girl to train for knighthood. Keladry, known as Kel, is determined to do what know one else will. These four books tell of how Kel struggles to make friends and prove that girls are just as good as boys. Kel's compassion for animals and determination to help everyone lead her on adventures that prove it is who you are, not how you are that determines what you can be.
Change is hard, especially when most people are not pleased with the change. Keladry of Mindelan will follow her dreams and become the first girl to train for knighthood. Keladry, known as Kel, is determined to do what know one else will. These four books tell of how Kel struggles to make friends and prove that girls are just as good as boys. Kel's compassion for animals and determination to help everyone lead her on adventures that prove it is who you are, not how you are that determines what you can be.
The Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce
This series includes Sandry's Book, Tris's Book, Daja's Book, and Briar's Book.
Sandry loves to weave, embroider, and sew. Tris loves the weather. Daja loves metal and fire. Briar loves plants. These four children seem to have nothing in common. Sandry is a noble, almost royalty, Tris's family are merchants, Daja's family died, and her people, the traders, have made her an outcast, and Briar is a thief. All four of them are orphans with a power even they don't know they have. These four books tell the story of these children as they grow up in a temple and learn to use their magic.
Sandry loves to weave, embroider, and sew. Tris loves the weather. Daja loves metal and fire. Briar loves plants. These four children seem to have nothing in common. Sandry is a noble, almost royalty, Tris's family are merchants, Daja's family died, and her people, the traders, have made her an outcast, and Briar is a thief. All four of them are orphans with a power even they don't know they have. These four books tell the story of these children as they grow up in a temple and learn to use their magic.
The Circle Opens by Tamora Pierce
This series includes Magic Steps, Street Magic, Cold Fire, and Shatterglass.
Sandry, Briar, Daja, and Tris have learned to control their magic and are now prepared to set out to see the world. That is everyone except for Sandry, she stays to help her Uncle, the ruler of Emelan, with his duties. The other three head off to explore the world. Sandry, Briar, and Tris have mastered their own magic but find they have to take on a whole new challenge when it comes to teaching others how to use their magic. What was supposed to be several quite vacations turns out to be a whole lot of trouble.
Sandry, Briar, Daja, and Tris have learned to control their magic and are now prepared to set out to see the world. That is everyone except for Sandry, she stays to help her Uncle, the ruler of Emelan, with his duties. The other three head off to explore the world. Sandry, Briar, and Tris have mastered their own magic but find they have to take on a whole new challenge when it comes to teaching others how to use their magic. What was supposed to be several quite vacations turns out to be a whole lot of trouble.
Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce
No one has ever cared about Evvy. No one ever noticed her, until Briar found her in Street Magic by Tamora Pierce. Now Evvy has a home and friends. Rosethorn, Briar, Evvy, and a few others from Winding Circle set out to an help and island were all the plants are dying. Evvy will soon find her power is more amazing than she ever believed. Yet her power is dangerous too. Evvy soon finds herself with new friends, rock friends. These friends understand her in a way that no one else can. What will happen if Evvy decides to keep the lava spirits secret instead of warn the villages of the danger brewing below the ground? Or if she does help her human friends, will it be too late?
Daughter of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
This series includes Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen.
Alianne has a lot to live up to. Her mother is the Lioness, the famous lady knight, and her father is the second in command of network of spies for Tortall. Alianne is more like her father than her mother, she hopes to be a spies. She heads off on an adventurer only to be captured and sold as a slave to the exiled royal family of the Copper Isles. Alianne soon finds that in this country of power struggles, mysteries, magic, and murder what she knows about spying may save her life. That and a god, but not just any god. The Trickster, the notorious meddler, the one god everybody wants to avoid.
Alianne has a lot to live up to. Her mother is the Lioness, the famous lady knight, and her father is the second in command of network of spies for Tortall. Alianne is more like her father than her mother, she hopes to be a spies. She heads off on an adventurer only to be captured and sold as a slave to the exiled royal family of the Copper Isles. Alianne soon finds that in this country of power struggles, mysteries, magic, and murder what she knows about spying may save her life. That and a god, but not just any god. The Trickster, the notorious meddler, the one god everybody wants to avoid.
The Beka Cooper Trilogy by Tamora Pierce
This series includes Terrier, Bloodhound, and Mastiff.
Rebeka Cooper, Beka, is the oldest of five. She was born in the lower city but was taken in by Lord Gershom after she help him catch the bold brass gang. Now Beka is joining the provost guard with hopes to rid the lower city of criminals. Most of the dogs, members of the provost guard, who work in the lower city don't know it. To Beka the lower city is home. Beka is determined to protect her home. She will use everything she knows, and everything the dead know to hunt down criminals. Once she has there scent she will never, ever, let go.
Rebeka Cooper, Beka, is the oldest of five. She was born in the lower city but was taken in by Lord Gershom after she help him catch the bold brass gang. Now Beka is joining the provost guard with hopes to rid the lower city of criminals. Most of the dogs, members of the provost guard, who work in the lower city don't know it. To Beka the lower city is home. Beka is determined to protect her home. She will use everything she knows, and everything the dead know to hunt down criminals. Once she has there scent she will never, ever, let go.
A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
Mia Winchell is normal, well almost. She has a secret, one that nobody knows. Synesthesia is a burden and a gift. Mia's senses are blended so she can hear color, taste sounds, and other things that can't be done. When issue with school force Mia to reveal her secret she finds that there is no one she can relate to, even her best friend, doesn't want to talk to her. Mia begins to feel completely alone until a doctor introduces her to a community of people who all have synethesia. All of a sudden Mia is not alone, but she still has to learn to live with her secret. This story shows the true meaning of friendship, and how hard it can be to be different.