Lemony Snicket

If you liked . . .
the Lemony Snicket books,
you might like these novels, too!

Albus, Kate. A Place to Hang the Moon. New York: Holiday House, 2021.
Three orphaned siblings – 12-year-old William, 11-year-old Edmund, and 9-year-old Kate – are evacuated from London during World War II and sent to live in the countryside.  

You may have read other stories about British WW 2 evacuees: Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian; The Sky is Falling by Kit Pearson; and The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Baker. You may have read other stories about orphans: Anne of Green Gables  by L.M. Montgomery; the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; Pine Island Home by Polly Horvath. The list of stories could go on and on and on. So why read this new novel by Kate Albus?  

A Place to Hang the Moon is as heartwarming as stories by Beverly Cleary and Eleanor Estes.  It is as unflinching in its description of hardships as novels by Avi and Karen Hesse. Kate Albus’s three protagonists display all the determination and resilience found in the best of children’s stories. Recommended for readers 9 to 12 years old.  

Ardagh, Philip. Awful End. (AR 6.3)
Ardagh, Philip. Dreadful Acts. (AR 6.1)
Ardagh, Philip. Terrible Times. (AR 6.6)

Bloor, Edward. Story Time.  New York: Harcourt, 2004.
George and Kate are selected to attend a special school that is proud of itself for having the highest test scores in the country. But what is lost when daily testing and constant pressure replace joyful learning? Mystery, suspense, and humour all combine in this engaging novel suitable for readers 12 years old and up.

Bow, Erin. Plain Kate. New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2010. 
“Plain Kate’s odd appearance and expertise as a woodcarver cause some to think her a witch, but friendship with a talking cat and, later, with humans help her to survive and even thrive in a world of magic, charms, and fear.” – CIP  This endearing novel is recommended for readers ten to fourteen years old. It could be compared to The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman. [Cats; Fantasy fiction; Homelessness; Magic; Orphans; Runaways; Woodcarving]

Horvath. Polly. Everything on a Waffle.

Lowry, Lois. The Willoughbys.

Wood, Maryrose. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling.
Wood, Maryrose. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery.

Other stories about orphans:

Avi. Crispin: the Cross of Lead. (AR 5.0)
Avi. Crispin: at the Edge of the World. (AR 4.8)
Bondoux, Anne-Laure. Killer’s Tears. (AR 5.3)
Bredsdorff, Bodil. The Crow-girl. (AR 5.2)
Burch, Robert. Ida Early Comes over the Mountain. (AR 4.8)
Burnett, Frances Hodgson. The Secret Garden. (AR 6.3)
Creech, Sharon. Ruby Holler. (AR 4.3)
Dahl, Roald. The BFG. (AR 4.8)
Garfield, Leon. Smith. (AR 6.1)
Gleitzman, Morris. Once.
Kehret, Peg. The Hideout. (AR 4.8)
Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky. (AR 5.9)
(For more titles, go to Foster Children)

Other stories about survival:

Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. (AR 12.3)
Hobbs, Will. Leaving Protection.
Horvath. The Corps of the Bare-boned Plane. (AR 5.8)
Jones, David. Baboon. (AR 6.1)
Laird, Elizabeth. Hiding Out.
O’Donnell, Liam. Wild Ride: A Graphic Guide Adventure.
Orr, Wendy. Nim’s Island. (AR 5.8)
Tullson, Diane. Red Sea. (AR 5.1)
Walters, Eric. Safe as Houses. (AR 4.3)
Wyss, Johann. The Swiss Family Robinson. (AR 9.7)
(For more titles, go to Survival Fiction)

Other humorous stories:

Dahl. Roald. Matilda. (AR 5.0)
Horvath, Polly. The Happy Yellow Car. (AR 5.5)
Horvath, Polly. My One Hundred Adventures. (AR 5.0)
Peck, Richard. Fair Weather. (AR 4.7)
Pratchett, Terry. Diggers. (AR 4.4)
Pratchett, Terry. Truckers. (AR 4.4)
Pratchett, Terry. Wings. (AR 4.2)
Scrimger, Richard. Ravine. (AR 3.8)
(For more titles, do a catalogue keyword search: humorous stories)

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