Booklist: Suggested Sets
Searching for novels to use for a similar-stories unit in class? Want to stick to a certain theme and/or get multiple books for kids of various ages in the same household to share? Make your own boxed sets! Here are some ideas, mostly for readers aged 7 through 14.
Classic Staples (all ages)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
Call of the Wild by Jack London
White Fang by Jack London
Collected and Myth Taken (all ages)
Stock up on mythology, legends, fairy tales and plays!
A book of Greek myths
A book of Egyptian myths
A collection of myths from around the world
A collection of Irish fairy tales
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books
Tales of Mother Goose
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Charles Perrault's fairy tales
Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Thomas Malory or William Caxton (also suitable: the version by Roger Lancelyn Green, who has additional books of myths and legends)
Fairy Nice (elementary school)
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow with text by Monique Peterson and illustrations by The Disney Storybook Artists, designed by Elizabeth Ryazantseva and Megan Krempels
The Trouble with Tink by Kiki Thorpe and Judith H. Clarke (the first book in the line of Disney Fairies chapter books)
The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker
The Fairy Realm series by Emily Rodda
For additional titles, consult my Fairy Nice booklist.
Fantastic Adventures (for ages 8 and up)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende
OutCast quartet by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Owlboy series by Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring by John Bellairs
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
I included many of these books (with reviews!) on my Fantasy Novels for Kids and Teens booklist.
Turn of the Century: The Pride of the Pioneers (for ages 8 and up)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sidney Taylor
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Grand Jetes: For Young Dancers
The Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
Noelle of the Nutcracker by Pamela Jean, illustrated by Jan Brett
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
The Sisters Impossible by J.D. Landis
Susie and the Ballet Family by Lee Wyndham
Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You by Dorian Cirrone
Grab more titles for dancers from the I am a Dancer booklist.
Future Stars: For Aspiring Actors (for middle school and high school)
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon
In the Cards: Fame by Mariah Fredericks (second in a trilogy)
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
The Sisters Club by Megan McDonald
The Rule of Three by Megan McDonald (the sequel to The Sisters Club)
Snag additional books from the But I DO Want to Be Famous! booklist.
Fun Times: Cute Comedies (for ages 8 and up)
* Note that each of these titles, with the exception of Sixth Grade Secrets, is the start of a series!
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Everyone Else's Parents Said Yes by Paula Danziger
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis Sachar
Happy Hauntings: Ghostly Friends (ages 7 and up)
A Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn
The Ghost in the Third Row by Bruce Coville (first in a trilogy)
The Ghost Wore Gray by Bruce Coville (second in a trilogy)
May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson (first in a trilogy)
Mysteries, Murder, and Mischief
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (ages 8 and up)
The Body of Evidence series by Christopher Golden (teens and adults; there are ten books in the series, starting with Body Bags)
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (ages 8 and up; many books; #1: The Secret of the Old Clock)
The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon (ages 8 and up; many books; #1: The Tower Treasure)
Comic Relief and True Belief (ages 12 and up)
Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt
Goy Crazy by Melissa Schorr
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Never Mind the Goldbergs by Matthue Roth
Secrets on the Homefront: World War II (ages 9 and up)
The Diary of Anne Frank
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Classic Inspiration: Love, Loss, and Jane Austen (ages 12 and up)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton
Cassandra's Sister: Growing Up Jane Austen by Veronica Bennett
Austenland by Shannon Hale (for adults)
Communication is Key: The Lives of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller (all ages)
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller
Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson, illustrated by Wendy Watson
Newfound Strength (ages 8 and up)
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff
Behind and Beyond the Crown (ages 8 and up)
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Don't Believe the Bullies (ages 10 and up)
The Misfits by James Howe
Freak by Marcella Pixley
Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (teens)
First Crushes (ages 10 and up)
Shug by Jenny Han
Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan
If This is Love, I'll Take Spaghetti by Ellen Conford
Good Grief: Losing a Loved One (teens)
The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson
The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
For more on this and related topics, check out my Tough Issues for Teens booklist.
Art for the Heart (Especially for Teen Girls)
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
For additional novels with artistic protagonists, view my Portrait of the Artist as a Young Person booklist.
Comedy and Artistry (comedic illustrated novels - not graphic novels, but truly illustrated novels)
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm and Elicia Castaldi, with additional art by Matthew Holm (elementary and middle school)
- Sequel: Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Elicia Castaldi
So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow, with art by David Ostow (teens)
Switching It Up (comedies about body switches)
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
The Swap by Megan Shull
Want more ideas? Need additional suggestions? Feel free to ask!
Classic Staples (all ages)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
Call of the Wild by Jack London
White Fang by Jack London
Collected and Myth Taken (all ages)
Stock up on mythology, legends, fairy tales and plays!
A book of Greek myths
A book of Egyptian myths
A collection of myths from around the world
A collection of Irish fairy tales
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books
Tales of Mother Goose
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Charles Perrault's fairy tales
Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Thomas Malory or William Caxton (also suitable: the version by Roger Lancelyn Green, who has additional books of myths and legends)
Fairy Nice (elementary school)
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow with text by Monique Peterson and illustrations by The Disney Storybook Artists, designed by Elizabeth Ryazantseva and Megan Krempels
The Trouble with Tink by Kiki Thorpe and Judith H. Clarke (the first book in the line of Disney Fairies chapter books)
The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker
The Fairy Realm series by Emily Rodda
For additional titles, consult my Fairy Nice booklist.
Fantastic Adventures (for ages 8 and up)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende
OutCast quartet by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Owlboy series by Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring by John Bellairs
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
I included many of these books (with reviews!) on my Fantasy Novels for Kids and Teens booklist.
Turn of the Century: The Pride of the Pioneers (for ages 8 and up)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sidney Taylor
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Grand Jetes: For Young Dancers
The Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
Noelle of the Nutcracker by Pamela Jean, illustrated by Jan Brett
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
The Sisters Impossible by J.D. Landis
Susie and the Ballet Family by Lee Wyndham
Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You by Dorian Cirrone
Grab more titles for dancers from the I am a Dancer booklist.
Future Stars: For Aspiring Actors (for middle school and high school)
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon
In the Cards: Fame by Mariah Fredericks (second in a trilogy)
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
The Sisters Club by Megan McDonald
The Rule of Three by Megan McDonald (the sequel to The Sisters Club)
Snag additional books from the But I DO Want to Be Famous! booklist.
Fun Times: Cute Comedies (for ages 8 and up)
* Note that each of these titles, with the exception of Sixth Grade Secrets, is the start of a series!
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Everyone Else's Parents Said Yes by Paula Danziger
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis Sachar
Happy Hauntings: Ghostly Friends (ages 7 and up)
A Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn
The Ghost in the Third Row by Bruce Coville (first in a trilogy)
The Ghost Wore Gray by Bruce Coville (second in a trilogy)
May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson (first in a trilogy)
Mysteries, Murder, and Mischief
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (ages 8 and up)
The Body of Evidence series by Christopher Golden (teens and adults; there are ten books in the series, starting with Body Bags)
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (ages 8 and up; many books; #1: The Secret of the Old Clock)
The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon (ages 8 and up; many books; #1: The Tower Treasure)
Comic Relief and True Belief (ages 12 and up)
Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt
Goy Crazy by Melissa Schorr
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Never Mind the Goldbergs by Matthue Roth
Secrets on the Homefront: World War II (ages 9 and up)
The Diary of Anne Frank
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Classic Inspiration: Love, Loss, and Jane Austen (ages 12 and up)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton
Cassandra's Sister: Growing Up Jane Austen by Veronica Bennett
Austenland by Shannon Hale (for adults)
Communication is Key: The Lives of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller (all ages)
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller
Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson, illustrated by Wendy Watson
Newfound Strength (ages 8 and up)
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff
Behind and Beyond the Crown (ages 8 and up)
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Don't Believe the Bullies (ages 10 and up)
The Misfits by James Howe
Freak by Marcella Pixley
Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (teens)
First Crushes (ages 10 and up)
Shug by Jenny Han
Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan
If This is Love, I'll Take Spaghetti by Ellen Conford
Good Grief: Losing a Loved One (teens)
The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson
The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
For more on this and related topics, check out my Tough Issues for Teens booklist.
Art for the Heart (Especially for Teen Girls)
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
For additional novels with artistic protagonists, view my Portrait of the Artist as a Young Person booklist.
Comedy and Artistry (comedic illustrated novels - not graphic novels, but truly illustrated novels)
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm and Elicia Castaldi, with additional art by Matthew Holm (elementary and middle school)
- Sequel: Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Elicia Castaldi
So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow, with art by David Ostow (teens)
Switching It Up (comedies about body switches)
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
The Swap by Megan Shull
Want more ideas? Need additional suggestions? Feel free to ask!