Victoria Minks, Bookbug and Writer
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Top 10 Books I Read--Ages 9-13

2/18/2016

12 Comments

 
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Hey everybody! :) 
Today I'm going to share with you 10 of my top favorite books from when I was around 9-13. These are the ones I read over and over and over and over! Lol! I've lost count of how many times I've read these. Some of these books I read before I was 9, but I continued to really enjoy these books all through my pre-teen years. Honestly I still enjoy these books. I love the nostalgia that comes with reading them now, making them seem like old friends. So here's the list! ;)
(in no particular order)

1. Black Beauty
Black Beauty by Anna Sewall is full of unforgettable characters for me. To start with, there was Black Beauty. He was so intelligent and he always tries his best no matter the circumstance. Then of course there's Merrylegs, Joe Green, Ginger, Jerry, Captain... There's a good list of interesting people and horses in the book. The chapters are short, which meant I could squeeze in some reading in little empty pockets of time throughout the day. :P 

2. The Tanglewoods' Secret
By Patricia M. St. John, this one was my favorite out of all her books. She has lots of good ones, so it's a little hard to decide, but The Tanglewoods' Secret was one I always went back to to read. Ruth was easy to relate to, and I loved her story of escapades, struggles as a new Christian, and coming to terms with her Aunt. *Side Note-- the current books of Patricia M. St. John are not the originals nor is their writing as good. I highly recommend the authentic Patricia M. St. John books... (before the 1990's) ;P The link I have provided will take you to the original, used books.*

3. The Hidden Jewel 
This is part of a series called Trailblazers. They're written by Dave and Neta Jackson, and are fictional stories based on heroes of the faith. The first one I ever read of this series, and still my absolute favorite, is the one about Amy Carmichael. Amy Carmichael is still one of my favorite missionary ladies, and I found The Hidden Jewel super intriguing. I was fascinated with India, and the book truly made it come alive for me. I played Amy Carmichael-esque stories with my little puppet-like dolls forever after reading this book when I was very young. ;) 

4. Bristle Face
It's another boy-and-a-dog story, by Zachary Ball. This book is equal parts hilarious, tear-jerking, and interesting. Jase is a lonely boy in need of a family, and Bristle Face is a loyal, funny-looking dog who likes hunting box turtles. :P The dialogue is great and the characters are well developed. *May have a few undesirable words here and there like many other classic dog books*. 

5. Drumbeats in Williamsburg
By Isabelle Lawrence. This book was one of the first Revolutionary War books I read. (and from there....lol!) Andy Small wants to be a heroic drummer boy in the Revolution, but he's also quite timid. This book mixes adventure and suspense with a lot of really funny moments and exchanges of dialogue. I liked the way the relationship grows between Andy and his cousin Debby, and I enjoyed reading about Andy's attempts at spying.

6. The Singing Tree
This is actually the sequel to The Good Master, by Kate Seredy, but I read this book first and while I liked both, this one will be my favorite. It's not necessary to read the first book to read this, as it picks up like a new book, just with the same characters. Set during the Great War, this is a story about a rural Hungarian family. Poignant and sweet, I liked the characters and the plot line, and had quite a thing for Turn-of-the-Century Hungary for a while. :P The culture is written extremely well. 

7. Scout
This book is by Julie Nye and is actually set in Michigan, my dad's home state. ;) Besides that though, this is just an interesting story. I liked the horse-and-dog related plot line, and the mystery surrounding Scout, the superbly trained dog, is intriguing. 

8. Stormy, Misty's Foal
I like all the books in the Misty series by Marguerite Henry, but Stormy, Misty's Foal is my favorite. The dangerous storm that rocks the island of Chincoteague provides drama and a gripping story line. Grandpa and Grandma Beebe are wonderful. And it centers not only around horses, but also the community in a time of need. 

9. The Wheel on the School 
Oh, yes, The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong! This book gives a superb look at Dutch culture and the characters are perfect and memorable. It is about a small school in a little village, and one day the only girl in the school asks the question-- "why are there no storks in Shora?". That sets off a chain of events both hilarious and sweet as the schoolchildren try to get storks to nest in Shora. While of course the legends mentioned of storks equaling luck aren't true, this book is full of laughs and growing friendships. 

10. Maasai-Jungle Doctor
This book, by Paul White, is not an autobiography, but is based on the realities of being a missionary doctor in Tanzania. I have read several books of the Jungle Doctor series and enjoyed them all, but the Maasai, which I probably read first at around eleven, I reread the most. Korometti's character is very interesting, and the culture of the Maasai at that time is also shared in an engaging way. 

So that's 10 of my top read-and-reread books from ages 9-13! :) Have you read any of these? I'd love to know! Also, write me a comment telling me what your favorite book(s) from 9-13 was. 

You all have a lovely day! :) 
Victoria
12 Comments
Mrs. Wilhite
2/16/2016 06:28:10 pm

I really enjoyed reading about your favorite books list! Black Beauty was an all time favorite, as was Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. I enjoyed reading Irish Red and Big Red, but if I remember correctly my mom went through first and edited them. I had LOTS of favorites but those were ones I kept coming back to. My own children in that age category enjoy Tip Lewis and His Lamp, Christie's Old Organ, Christie the Kings Servant (otherwise known as Tug of War), Pilgrims Progress, Thrilling Escapes By Night, The Sword of Dennis Anwyck and the Quest of Alinor Dagsworth, to name a few, lol.

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Victoria
2/17/2016 10:08:13 am

Ah yes! Eight Cousins! :) I read that one right around when I turned 14. ;) Mac always made me laugh, and I liked Archie and Uncle Alec.
I've read all the books you mentioned except Thrilling Escapes By Night, Irish Red, and Big Red. But I've heard of all of them, just haven't read them yet! ;P

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Katie
2/24/2016 12:09:13 am

I liked to read The Man in Bearskin, Hans Brinker (our edited version, lol) Big Red, Irish Red, (I read Outlaw Red too, but didn't like that one as much) A Nose For Trouble, the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, some of the Felicia Cartright books, Under the Lilacs, etc.
I read some of Black Beauty, (I liked the Black Stallion better, ;) ) We read The Tanglewood's Secret, Bristleface, and Drumbeats in Williamsburg as a family, and I borrowed The Singing Tree from you. :) This is fun, remembering Old Favorites! Love you, Toria!!

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Victoria
2/24/2016 09:42:22 am

I remember The Man in Bearskin! That was such a good book. :) A Nose for Trouble was really interesting too. Do you remember Year of the Jeep? :P Which is your favorite Felicia Cartwright book? I remember the one set in Holland specifically for some reason, but I'm not sure if it's my favorite or not. I read Under the Lilacs the first time when I was 14, actually, around the same time I read Jack and Jill. Both were so sweet!
It is fun remembering old favorites, isn't it? :) I think it's funny how I've read a lot of the books mentioned so far. (Except Big Red, which has been "favorited" twice. Maybe I should read it, lol!)

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Katie
2/25/2016 03:44:30 am

Yes!!! The Year of the Jeep! That one was SO funny! Is The Knotted Wire the Felicia Cartwright book you are thinking of? I liked that one, the Honorable Traitor, The Frightened Student, etc. :) I sent you the pdf for Big Red shortly before we left. Do you still have it? I can send it again if you can't find it. I think you'll like it. :)

Victoria
2/25/2016 09:55:15 am

Wasn't it though! Yes, it was the Knotted Wire, but I'm not sure if it was my favorite or not. It was a really good one, though. I liked the Frightened Student, too. The Honourable Traitor was quite different, so it was interesting.
I guess I don't have the PDF anymore. :( I vaguely remember you sending something, and now I remember it must have been Big Red, but I must have forgot, because of going to Korea. If you could send it again that would be great. :) <3

K.H.L.
2/27/2016 05:54:01 am

Here are ten books that I really enjoyed at that time (I believe). Of course, there are MMAANNYY others ;) I read SO much at that time! LOL
I can't say these are my TOP favourites, but I did read them a lot.

1: Anne of Green Gables—Lucy Maud Montgomery
2: Little Women—Louisa May Alcott
3: Little Men—Louisa May Alcott
4: Black Beauty—Anna Sewell
5: Pilgrim's Progress—John Bunyan
6: Little Lord Fauntleroy—Frances Hodgson Burnett
7: Pollyanna—Eleanor H. Porter
8: Grandma's Attic series—Arleta Richardson
9: Little House series—Laura Ingalls Wilder
10: Parables from Nature—Mrs. Margaret Gatty

<3

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K.H.L.
2/27/2016 07:16:10 am

Others might have been 'Hans Brinker, or, The Silver Skates', by Mary Mapes Dodge (except it has some talk about St. Nicholas, and there's a few things about storks); 'What Katy Did' and 'What Katy Did at School', by Susan Coolidge; and 'Robinson Crusoe', by Daniel Defoe. <3

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Victoria
2/27/2016 09:50:37 am

I've read all of those except Parables from Nature, the Katy Did books, and Robinson Crusoe. ;) But I have read Swiss Family Robinson which was patterned after Robinson Crusoe. ;) Thanks for sharing your favorite books from those ages! :)

K.H.L.
3/1/2016 10:58:23 am

Oh dear! I’m so sorry for you! ;)
We read ‘Parables’ and ‘Crusoe’ first for school, but then for fun. They're GREAT books. We're currently reading ‘Swiss Family’ in French. ;) I love it!! ;) But ‘Crusoe’ is fifty times better.
‘What Katy Did’ is so sweet and lovely. :) The school one is spritely and spunky. They get up a society to repress unladylike behaviour because the boarding-school is right next to a college. It's fun. ;)

Some other books I read at that time (these are in no particular order) were probably ‘The Trumpet of the Swan’ (I got it at the same time as ‘Black Beauty’ and ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B. White. The latter is the best. HIL–ARIOUS!!!! And SO sweet. ;) I think I also read ‘The Railway Children’ (so lovely!) and ‘The Sword, the Ring, & the Parchment’ (very nice; great Christian book), by Edith Nesbit and Ed Dunlop, respectively, at that time. I know I had read ‘A Little Princess’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett (I made up SOOO many stories from that), by then. Also ‘Understood Betsy’ by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. That one is also sooooo sweet and cute. ;) I also liked the Thornton W. Burgess books (except for Old Mother Nature). Also I really enjoyed our history book, ‘Our Island Story’ by H.E. Marshall. ;) That's the book I used to copy the most at a time. ‘The Children of the New Forest’ and ‘The Settlers in Canada’ by Frederick Marryat, were great favorites. We'd read them at school. Our favorite is the last, while it lasted, but I think I like the first best now. I think I read ‘Copper Country Adventure’ (very interesting) by Ethel C. Brill about then; probably also ‘The Dutch Twins’ by Lucy Fitch Perkins. That's so cute! ;) I think we began ‘Five Little Peppers’, by Margaret Sidney, then too. I LOVE it!! ;) ‘Heidi’, by Johanna Spyri, was not infrequently read and copied then too. I also really liked ‘The Basket of Flowers’, by Christoph von Schmied. We read it in French. I think it is so sweet and lovely and Christian. In our translation it's written from a Christian point of view, but he might have been a Catholic or a Protestant for all I know. I think I read ‘The Story of my Life’ by Helen Keller around then too. I really enjoy it. Have you read any of these?

Ever read the ‘Little Maid’ series, by Alice Turner Curtis? So far we have ‘A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia’ and ‘A Little Maid of Ticonderoga’. I think the first is written the best, but the little girl believes in fairies a little. It's very sweet though. ;) I also like Catharine Parr Strickland Traill’s ‘Pearls & Pebbles’. We're reading it for school and I was the one to set it up Kindle format.
Well, I hope I haven't bored you ;) but when I really looked around and though I remembered a bunch of favourites. After all, it was only two years ago! ;) I still enjoy them, actually. As John Ruskin said, “All books are divisible into two classes: the books of the hour, and the books of all time.”
<3, Kots

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Victoria
3/3/2016 01:29:35 pm

Wow, quite a list! I know how that is though. You start to think of so many books you enjoyed. That's why I limited my list to 10, and it had to be ones I read a LOT, otherwise you would still be reading the list. lol.
I shall have to see about Katy Did books and Robinson Crusoe. I once had them in audiobooks, but I didn't get around to listening to them. I'm afraid that audiobooks are very slow for me... I read much faster, so I have a hard time paying attention. haha!
I have not read The Trumpet Of the Swan, but I do believe I've read Charlotte's Web, a long time ago. I read Railway Children as well, and Little Princess (with a bit of editing) was also one I used to read all the time. It's a very battered copy now. :) I've read some of Ed Dunlop's books and enjoyed them, so someday I'd like to read more! Children of the New Forest and Understood Betsy was actually in my audiobook collection before, but I never got around to listening to those, either. :P Our Island Story, Dutch Twins, Copper County Adventure, and Settlers in Canada I've never heard of. I've read Heidi and both books of Five Little Peppers, and I've read The Basket of Flowers and Story of My Life as well. I've heard of the Little Maid Series but never read any that I can recall. I was sixteen when I first heard of them, I think, and never ran across any copies, so hadn't read them.
Thank you for your comment, Katja! It's fun hearing what books you all enjoy. ;) I will probably do some other posts similar to this one, only focusing on various other age ranges.
Have a lovely day! :)

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Katherine
4/13/2016 08:23:47 pm

I loved the Amy Carmichael book, Black Beauty, and Misty's Foal. I learned to love series at that age, so my other favorites were Winnie the Horse Gentler, Elsie, and the Mandie mystery series.

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    Victoria Minks is a bookbug and writer, with oodles of daydreams and ideas. She loves historical fiction, chocolate, music, horses, and old books, and firmly believes that there is whimsy and beauty in any day. She was saved at age 5 and desires to write for God's glory.
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