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The 2019 Holiday Recommendations Post [Post is Closed!]

I have already started making some recommendations over on Facebook (see my post here), but I'd like to make sure you get the chance for a personalized recommendation right here on Everead.

Comment if you want a book recommendation! (person's age, a little info about the person.) 




This post will be updated all during the holiday season. Past years: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018.

For a boyfriend Who liked Red Rising and Ender's Game and is reading Stephen Covey and Rough Stone Rolling.

Fire of the Covenant, a stand alone hsitorical fiction about the Willie Martin Handcart Company, and Skyward, a clean, fast paced sci fi set in space. 

For a 6 year old girl into dinosaurs, space, bugs and a lot of other things: 



Myths Busted a series by National Geographic. Or, Weird but True, by the same. Never seen a reading child who didn't like these, and I get to learn all the best facts second-hand, from my children. 



For a 4 year old girl obsessed with princesses mermaids, unicorns, etc.  I would like her to be less concerned with appearance and romantic love and the damsel in distress idea and have a better understanding of "girl power". Would it be good to read books about strong women or something? I want my girls to get excited about learning, know that failure is ok! and part of that process, and have the confidence to shoot for the stars.

The Paper Bag Princess comes to mind! That is the quintessential strong princess book. 

Princess Cora and the Crocodile is a delightful book in which the croc is very mischevious. I also highly recommend The Princess in Black series. The newest book will be under our tree this year. Zen Shorts wouldn't hurt either!

As for real life role models, I recommend Mirette on the High Wire, The Tree Lady, and Grace for President. My 4-year-old requested Grace every night for a good number of months.  

For a girl age 8
Ivy and Bean (a nice long series, if you like the first book!)

For a girl age 9
The Big Bad Fox (a hilarious graphic novel about a fox who is trying to be big and bad). 

For a girl age 11
Compass South (adventure on the high seas graphic novel, book 1) 

For a girl age 13
Pashmina (a girl finds a magical shawl and learns more about her heritage)

For a girl age 16
Nimona, a graphic novel about a shapeshifting teenage girl. Movie is in the works. 

For a child age 6-8 and a child age 8-10:  
The Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker
The Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look
If the 8-10 year old wants something longer/thicker, Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass. 

For Comics Fans
Strange Planet by Nathan Pyle. His instagram cracks me up, and apparently I'm not alone because it got him a book deal.

For Chemists' Children (older elementary and teen)
Super Science: Matter Matters. It's a pop-up book! With tabs and flaps and tons of amazing facts. 

For an extended family book club
Man's Search for Meaning. It was the book for discussion in my extended family's most successful book club to date. 

For a second grader I have a second grade girl who reads at a fourth grade level!
The Penderwicks series
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series

Young reader finishing Harry Potter
Perhaps the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series would intrigue her! Both of my boys are into them. I haven't read them, but they are not "cute animal" books. There is peril on the order of Harry Potter.

7th and 8th grade boys Nonfiction, please
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World for the narrative non-fiction reader. 
Elements, Molecules, Reactions by Theodore Gray - This series for the reader who loves an encyclopedia. My 6th grader has worn out our copies of Elements and Molecules. I think we'll get him Reactions for Christmas.

Young Mythology fan My kids and I are about to finish the Percy Jackson series plus my daughter is reading about Greek and Roman mythology in class and loves this kind of stuff. Got any more like this that’s still age appropriate?
I always recommend Anubis Speaks to mythology fans. I loved it! And since I read it the author has written two others (Hades and Thor) that take you through what different mythologies purport will happen after life on earth ends.

8 year old boy (has read Harry Potter)
For big bro: Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive. This is a book that presents three short articles in each chapter. Two are true, one is a lie. Analyze! Research! Take your best guess! Stump your sisters! There is a second book in the series, but the first book is cheaper now that the second book is out!

6 year old girl
My 6 year old girl just got kind of bored with the Rainbow Magic series and asked the librarian for a recommendation. The Secrets of Droon! Benjamin also loved these. I also highly recommend the Princess in Black series.
4 year old girl
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

2 year old girl 
For the fourth child...the perfect book for a fourth child. Heartily approved of by my own two year old fourth child: Shh We Have a Plan (board book version).

For High School boys who love Brandon Sanderson
What If? by Randall Monroe - Not a Sanderson read-alike, but seems to appeal to the same people. People who like to ask "what if" and take the answer very seriously.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer - An oldy but a goody, The House of the Scorpion. It's like Sanderson in the sense that the characters get inside your head and have to overcome a lot. It is sci-fi, rather than fantasy.

If they're already favorites, I guess I'd better try again! I asked Jacob to recommend something, and he said he's read the first book of the Powder Mage Trilogy and enjoyed it, although the writing (at least of the first book) isn't on par with Sanderson's (McLellan was a student of Sanderson's). Have they read Promise of Blood?

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