Katherine Paterson

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I was so happy to read that Katherine Paterson has been appointed the second national ambassador for young people’s literature—following Jon Scieszka who was the first to hold the post.  The appointment is made by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book.

Although Paterson is best known for her novel Bridge to Terabithia, my favorite is her Newbery Prize-winning young adult novel, Jacob Have I Loved.  Her most recent book The Day of the Pelican is one of the books keeping my night stand firmly attached to the floor, but in honor of the appointment, I think it should move to the top of the stack.

Just add a blanket and a steaming mug of hot cocoa…

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Today’s topic: books for girls.  I know.  There’s no such thing as books for girls.  Books are books, right?  But…let’s be honest.  You just reach a time in your life when you have questions and there’s nothing like a good book to remind you that this road to adulthood is well traveled.  Here are ten books that I recommend to middle school girls when they need to remember that they are not alone:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Tomorrow…10 Books for Middle School Boys