Jean Little "From Anna"

Buy the book "From Anna"

 Good books for girls age 10-15.

«From Anna» is a story of Jean Little, Canadian author, about the life of a German family on the eve of the World War II.

The book is partly autobiographical, Jean Little, as well as her little heroine, had bad eyesight, studying, at the same time, in a regular school. Autobiographical touch is felt everywhere: in the manner of narration, in the author's apparent sympathy for Anna, in profound and masterfully described Anna’s inner world.

The book is built on a simple, well known and the win-win principle: sad beginning and happy ending on Christmas night. The action takes place in Germany during the Great Depression, in an atmosphere of general insecurity and fear for the future, which automatically makes the story very realistic. Subsequent emigration to Canada also looks very authentic, despite the fact that the process of moving to Canada is covered without much detail.

Reading about the relationships of Anna with her father gives you the most positive emotions. Her farther is perhaps the only one who sees the true nature of the girl. He is, without any doubt, right when calling her "special", because the child differs really from other children, not only by impaired vision. Anna is a very intelligent child with a rich imagination and capacity for empathy. However, all this can manifest only in appropriate circumstances, which are gradually created when, finally, it becomes clear that Anna has a very poor vision.

The child starts to see the world through the glasses prescribed for her and over time understands better both the world and her own personality. By the end of the book Anna transforms from an intimidated by everyone, shy and awkward child into a gentle girl with the ability to bestow love and tenderness on her nearest and dearest. Her family notices the changes and discovers the new Anna.

The book "From Anna" in the literal sense offers the side of the never experienced world. A good warm feeling remains long in your soul after reading this good book. Buy the book "From Anna"

Philip Pullman "The Subttle Knife"

Philip Pullman - The Subtle Knife

Lyra Belacqua: the next level (The Subtle Knife)

Good books for girls age 12.

"The Subttle Knife" is the second part of the trilogy "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman. The book was released in 1997.

Lyra travels from her world into Cittagazze, a strange place, inhabited, at first glance, only by children. According to the stories of Сitagazze’s children, adults are devoured by mysterious ghosts whom children can not see. In Cittagazze Lyra meets Will Parry, the second main character of "His Dark Materials", who came to Cittagazze from his world. From this moment the life of Lyra changes significantly again. Meeting Will determines Lyra's fate, being one of the prophecies that come true as referred to in the trilogy.

In contrast to the "Northern Lights", where Lyra is still a child even if she goes through a lot of difficulties and losses, "The Subttle Knife" is written in a slightly different way. The narrative becomes more serious, the sadness which passes throughout the entire trilogy feels even more strongly. And Lyra continues to grow, learning more about the worlds, Dust and life in general.

The subtle knife is a subject with which you can transport yourself from one world to another, it chooses Will as its owner. Will with a help of the knife looks for his long-lost father and Lyra joins him, hoping to find the source of Dust. During their travels through different worlds the girl and the boy tie to each other, although at first they often quarrel due to their complex characters and different perceptions of the world.

When Lyra lived in a medieval Oxford she had many friends, among whom she enjoyed unlimited authority. With Will everything is different, he has much better orientation in a variety of situations, he knows more, and Lyra must learn to listen and trust him. In addition, it is difficult to impress Will, a boy of modern Britain, and Lyra is a bit shocked by that, because so far it was easy for her to get respect of other children.

"The Subttle Knife" is a kind of transitional stage in Lyra's life - she has already gone through a lot of things, her perception of the world has changed dramatically, she is not a little girl, but her experience and knowledge so far are not enough for the mysterious prophecy be realized.

Serious Astrid Lingren "Ronia, the Robber's Daughter”

 Lingren-Ronia, the Robber's Daughter

Good books for girls age 10.

   

The name of Astrid Lindgren is now known all over the world, it is the author of numerous children's books on which grew several generations of children. Most of the works of the Swedish writer are easy, fun and imbued with humor. The characters of Lindgren joke even in tense dramatic moments and cope with difficulties fast enough.

However, there is a book of Astrid Lindgren that stands out strongly by its seriousness and even some tragic nature; it is "Ronia, Robber's Daughter". The book was released in 1981 in Swedish language followed by a film of Swedish production in 1984.

In contrast to the well-known "Carlsson on the Roof" and "Pippi Longstocking" "Ronia, Robber's Daughter" is quite a complex book, evoking strong "adult" emotions such as sadness, sometimes almost to tears. Even the comic characters of the book emphasize the seriousness of events.