Shug, by Jenny Han

Shug [shoog] – noun: short for Sugar, as used in The Color Purple. Real Name: Annemarie. Twelve year old female entering middle school.

Shug’s mother thinks she should “squeeze every last drop out of life and be special.” But Annemarie Wilcox feels far too freckly, tall and flat-chested to be anything special. She finds it hard to compete with her gorgeous, Korean-American friend Elaine, who hails from New York and has amazing city style. At her friend Sherilynn’s annual back-to-school pool party, all the girls are wearing two piece bathing suits, while Shug gets teased by the guys for being as flat as the diving board. And to top it off, she recently discovered that she wants her bff, Mark, to be more than just her friend. As they have been friends since they were five, Annemarie fears he will never see past their long-standing friendship.

I loved Annemarie because despite her insecurities, she does embrace who she is, her family, and where she comes from. Unlike most teens who desperately want to get away from their hometown, Shug extrapolates on the many reasons why she loves her small town. Certainly every kid feels nervous and insecure like Shug on her first day of middle school, navigating class changes, locker combinations, and a new cafeteria hierarchy. This may not be the award-winning piece of literature like The Color Purple, but for tween girls looking nervously ahead to middle school, Shug is a perfect companion to ease some of the insecurity and elicit lots of laughs.

Han, J. (2006). Shug. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4169-0942-2.

Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman

Catherine’s mother expects her to sit with a circle of ladies day after day mending linen and gossiping. Catherine’s mean-spirited father can’t wait to send her off with a proper young man. But Catherine has no interest in the things which proper young ladies in the thirteenth century are expected to do. She would much rather put a toad in her uncle’s bed, run in the mud, or pretend that she has the worst table manners ever during visits by potential suitors. Will Catherine be forced into an arranged marriage? Read her diary, written over an entire year, to find out if she can outsmart her father and live the life she wants to lead.

It is actually Birdy’s brother, Edward, who challenges her to keep a diary – Edward is one of the few male characters in this book that the readers finds respectable, rather than repulsive. Any reader with siblings will appreciate the love and support they provide eachother, despite any physical distance between them. Tween girls will also totally sympathize with Birdy as they too try to break away from their parents and define their own lives.

I loved Cushman’s novel and believe her portrayal of medieval daily life is accurate; but it should be noted for lovers of the medieval genre that this novel doesn’t include any fairies or dragons. But for lovers of straightforward historical fiction, and in particular for girls in grades 6-8, Catherine, Called Birdy is an excellent read.

Cushman, K. (1994). Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-68186-3.

So B. It, by Sarah Weeks

Heidi was barely a baby when her and her mentally disabled mother appear on the doorstep of their agoraphobic neighbor, Bernadette, in Reno, Nevada. Heidi’s mother has no identification and the ability to speak only 23 words. Bernadette knows the two cannot survive on their own, so takes them under her wing and deems them So B. It (the only words that came out of Mama’s mouth) and Heidi It. From that day on they form an odd family, but one that is full of love.

Agoraphobic Bernadette always says Heidi and her mother simply “fell from the sky” but when Heidi discovers old photographs in their apartment that reveal a piece of her mother’s past, she must know more. Bernadette cautions her that “there are some things in life a person just can’t know.” But Heidi insists on making a solo journey thousands of miles away to Liberty, New York, to the special home she believes her mother stayed in years ago to figure out not only her mother’s past, but her own history. So B. It is literally and figuratively a story of personal exploration and growth, with a dash of mystery and suspense. This is also an amazing portrait of unconditional love and the many definitions of family.

Because of the strong presence of a mentally challenged character, Weeks’ novel reminded me a lot of Al Capone Does My Shirts. So B. It may not have as much boy appeal as Al Capone, but it is equally as captivating and powerful and, in my opinion, a great contender for big screen adaptation.

Please click on the screen below to view a trailer for So B. It:



Weeks, S. (2005). So B. It. New York: Harper Collins: ISBN 978-0064410472

What every girl (except me) knows, by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Gabby Weiss is twelve. Of the three journals she keeps, one is an ongoing list titled “Things I Need to Know to Be a Woman.” Gabby has no YBF (Your Best Friend). She lost her mother when she was three. It is these disclosures that begin What every girl (except me) knows and outline the issues that Gabby deals with in sixth grade.

When Gabby’s dad gets serious with Cleo, Gabby couldn’t be more excited at the opportunity to learn things like how to pick out the perfect Winter coat. Then a new girl, Taylor, enrolls at New Paltz School and the two quickly become YBFs, with their own inside jokes and even a spot in the cafeteria. However, as Taylor laments about rarely seeing her father after her parents’ divorce, Gabby realizes she may not have come to terms with the loss of her own mother. She simply knows it was “an accident” but since she was so young when it happened, has only relied on others’ descriptions of that fateful day. The novel explores in depth the matter of establishing one’s identity as a woman without a mother figure.

Tween girls will sympathize with Gabby’s attempts to navigate the vicious middle school social strata. Gabby is also a generally admirable and kind protagonist, in that she sympathizes with girls from all circles, including Lynette (the weird girl) and Amanda, who hangs with “The Ones.” (Okay, she does use the word “asshole” when she has to stop the popular cliques from harassing the new girl.) It is worth mentioning that this library paperback was well-worn, almost falling apart in my hands, supporting my suspicion that this is a book tweens girls will secretly read in bed until one in the morning.

Baskin, N.R. (2001). What every girl (except me) knows. New York: Dell Yearling. ISBN 978-0440418528.

Forget Me Not, by Coleen Paratore

In this fourth installment of the Wedding Planner’s Daughter series, the reader spends a week with Willa Havisham on Cape Cod. Between helping her mom run the Bramblebriar Inn, practicing her skills to become a great writer, hanging with her best girlfriends, and enjoying biking and picnicking dates with her boyfriend (nicknamed JFK), Willa is quite a busy young lady. But Willa is also quite content.

Things start to fall apart when Tina, Willa’s “best friend forever,” becomes distant and JFK spends more time at baseball practice than he does with Willa. While dealing with relationship issues, Willa is also hoping to prove to her mother that she is capable enough to plan a wedding at the Inn for an aunt she has never met. The planning starts off smoothly- Willa expertly selects the location, music, and cake- but Aunt Ruthie, a free spirit and hardcore environmentalist, might be more than Willa can handle. Readers will root Willa on, since it is immediately clear to them that Willa is strong and capable, even if she doesn’t yet realize it herself.

There is a deeper literary aspect to Forget Me Not that keeps this from becoming just another superficial summer novel. Each chapter starts with a quote from Willa’s favorite writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Willa also reveals her own journal entries with us, reads excerpts from Alice Hoffman, and has JFK share the insightful rap lyrics he composes. In fact, I loved Willa’s impressive vocabulary so much that I am going to adopt a term from her: “skinny-punch books” which she defines as “short but powerful books.”

Although tween girls will probably want to start with the first book in the series, Forget Me Not is also great as a stand-alone read… for West Coast and East Coast girls alike!

Paratore, C.M. (2009). Forget Me Not. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-545-09401-6

Esperanza Rising, by Pamela Munoz Ryan

On her family’s ranch in 1920s Mexico, Esperanza Ortega has servants to help her bathe, a pile of gifts on her birthday, and never has to cook or clean. She has no idea about life “on the other side of the river.” But when a huge tragedy forces the family to travel to California and find work as field workers, Esperanza quickly learns about life for those less fortunate. Esperanza herself is forced to (gasp!) sweep, care for the younger children, and eventually join the farm laborers. Life becomes ever more difficult for Esperanza with the threat of a workers’ strike, a family illness, and raging dust storms. Can she let go of her spoiled habits to help her family get back on their feet?

My favorite part of Ryan’s novel is seeing Esperanza slowly transform from a spoiled, aloof little girl into a mature and driven young woman who consistently values her family above all. Although Esperanza is facing the start of adulthood within a very specific time period and setting, I believe most tweens will be able to relate to the acceptance of more adult roles and responsibility.

Also, even though the novel is set during the Great Depression, many of the same immigration and labor issues are still relevant today, especially in border states like California. This is great as a leisurely read or could be tied into fourth grade state history or social studies curriculum.

Please click on the screen below to view a digital trailer for Esperanza Rising.

Ryan, P.M. (2000). Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-439-12041-1.

Knitgrrl, by Shannon Okey

This is not your grandmother’s knitting guide! In conjunction with the recent knitting resurgence, Shannon Okey’s Knitgrrl offers amazing DIY advice and proves that knitted goods can actually be stylish. From classic scarves and caps to text messaging mittens and ipod cozies, this book offers a project for every modern girl. There is even a quiz readers can take to determine which kinds of yarn (like natural fibers, eyelash yarn, or boucle) best suit their personal style.

With detailed written instructions and colorful photos and illustrations, Knitgrrl is great for all levels of knitters. It provides basic advice on selecting needles and yarn and then walks beginners through casting on and the basic two stitches. More advanced knitters can learn difficult techniques like ribbing, cables, and using double-pointed needles. Okey’s suggestion for a knitting party made me wish I had some knitting-knowledgeable friends to invite me over!

Readers can explore beyond the text at its companion site, www.knitgrrl.com. The book also provides links to online yarn suppliers and project idea sites. I would recommend this as a gift for a crafty young lady who is always looking for a new project. Librarians can use Knitgrrl and similar texts to promote a knitting programming at their library. It won’t sit on any shelf for long!

Okey, S. (2005). Knitgrrl. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 0-8230-2618-3