Book Lists by category
Did you ever want to find the perfect book to read as you snuggle as a family and read by the fire? Did you ever want to see your pre-teen boy thinking on the adventures of being the hero of the family? Have you ever wanted your little girl to be curled up on the couch with all of the Little Women of whom Louisa May Alcott wrote? I have! I love lists and I would love to sit here and tell you all of my wisdom of what books to read and at what age. However, after reading Thomas Jefferson Education, I see that my list would simply be plagiarizing the list that Oliver DeMille previously wrote, so I will not. Instead, please go to the resource list of classics at DeMille’s site, TJEd.org to see his list of recommendations for family reading, followed by links of other classics by category. I couldn’t agree more with his list.
Another list that has been helpful since it is divided into age groups is found at Amblesideonline.org. Ambleside is a free homeschool curriculum that uses reading as its core teaching source. It has a list of “normal” public school grades with a link to a booklist for each grade. Though their books are mostly intended to be schooling, they also have a “free reading” list in each grade, which I believe I pretty much own.
I am thankful for HSLDA and their free webcast about the following list of books for boys. Below are notes from a meeting which I “attended” online in 2011. The meeting was to discuss “Books for Boys,” which is such an important topic, I wanted to tell you what I learned!
This may be a great Christmas list!
As with anything you give to your children, please use discretion. I do not agree with every book on every list, but these (above and below) are some suggestions.
Notes from the HSLDA meeting webcast:
HSLDA Books for Boys Meeting:
T.J. Schmidt- speaker
Dec. 15, 2011 on free webinar
Classics he loved:
Robin Hood
The Black Arrow
Treasure Island
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne)
Black Beauty
Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)
The Count of monte Cristo (Alexander Dumas)
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austin)
The Dangerous Book for Boys:to read with son
Boy Scout Handbook: In short: to be a good Scout is to be a well-developed, well-informed boy.
Age 6-8
The Berenstain Bears
Winnie the Pooh (Alan Alexander Milne)
Boxcar Children (19 books from 1924-1959)
Ages 9-12
Horatio Alger Jr. (1832-1899)
Ragged Dick (1868)
Fame and Fortune
Struggling Upward
Rough and Ready
Sink or Swim
(Usually about a boy, 10-16yrs old; works hard to succeed and eventually does.)
Books/Series by “Oliver Optic” (pseudonym for William Taylor Adams (1822-1897):
Indoors and Out
The Boat Club (or Boat-Builder series)
Young America Abroad
Onward and Upward
The Yacht Club
(All about character, integrity, honor, etc.)
Tom Swift Books
Over 100 books, various authors
(book actually invented “Taser gun” = Thomas A Swift Electric Rifle)
Ages 13- up
Robinson Crusoe (Defoe)
G.A. Henty
George MacDonald (1824-1905) –Scottish blogue
Heather and Snow
Sir Gibbie
The Fisherman’s Lady
The Marquis’ Secret
The Musician’s Quest
The Curate’s Awakening
The Highlander’s Last Song
–Strong Christian character theme: Relationship with God is most important and character will rule the day.
Letters to Lindsey 
Thank you sooo much for this shopping list 🙂 One of the things my daughter asked for, for Christmas, was more books to read ~ Hurray!!! So I have been wondering about what books I should buy. Even though most of these may be geared toward boys, I’m sure there are some that would apply to her. Time to go shopping, lol…… 🙂
I was hoping you’d share some of your resources! 🙂 My two step-sons attend pubic schools and I am often weary of many of the books (a.k.a brain candy/junk) they bring home from the school library. These websites — paired with some of the book series you mentioned in your CD re: kids & reading — are wonderful blessings! We just recently implemented 20 mins of reading from a book of my choice first, in addition to, the privilage of reading before bed any book of their choice provided they are in bed by bedtime. Again, thank you for selflessly sharing your time and wisdom!
Terry, you are so amazing and inspiring!
David and I are embarking on a big adventure after the start of 2012 by selling our 3200 sq ft home and moving to a Loft in Dallas! In packing up everything from the last 28 years we had to sort through all the books I had bought for our 3 sons, who are now grown. It was fun to sort and box up (by age category) all those books that I’m holding onto for my future grandbabies! Now, with your list, I can add to my collection the ones I don’t already have! I’m already smiling at the thought of David’s face when I start buying more books for those not born yet! I can’t wait to start reading to a brand new generation of readers!!! Much love to you, Chris and your family and Merry Christmas!
That is fantastic!! Your grandchildren are blessed indeed!
Thank you, Terri, for all the good info and thinking that you provide here. We’re planning on homeschooling our children after this school year is through. Our 15 year old just realized, though, that homeschooling doesn’t just mean easier school. So I think he’s having second thoughts! We’ll see what his dad says. 🙂
This is a great blog. thank you Terri for sharing your stories with us… God bless you
LOVE LOVE LOVE this list of books! I am a passionate reader! Les Miserables is one of my all time favorites! Great list!
Great list Terri, thank you for taking notes. The list compiled in Thomas Jefferson Education for teens is quite impessive as well, 100 I believe it was, great insight in that book, giving a better understanding of whats ahead for this day’s youth. If only I knew this when I was a teen, no regrets right..no pain no gain, on to a bigger; better time, one of legacy; giving this kind of information to my own kids, leaving a legacy for them to be proud of. Thank you Terri, I never was a reader, now I’m in love with reading, and so are my kids. Jason