Recommendations based on Letters from Rifkaby Karen Hesse

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Fudge-a-Mania

    by Judy Blume
    A humorous take on family dynamics as siblings battle for their parents' attention.

    Peter Hatcher is horrified to learn of his family's plans to spend summer in a vacation home alongside the Tubmans, the family of his archrival, Sheila Tubman, located in Southwest Harbor, Maine . On ... (Wikipedia)

  2. The Devil's Arithmetic

    by Jane Yolen
    A young girl travels back in time to experience the horrors of the Holocaust.

    Hannah Stern is a Jewish preteen girl living in the present day. She is bored by her relative's stories about the past, is not looking forward to the Passover Seder , and is tired of her religion. ... (Wikipedia)

  3. The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners

    by Stan Berenstain
    A lesson in manners and politeness, as the Berenstain Bears learn the importance of courtesy.

    "When Mama Bear's efforts to improve her family's manners are unsuccessful, she devises a Politeness Plan–a chart listing a chore as a penalty for each act of rudeness. Basic etiquette is presented ... (Goodreads)

  4. Cross Country

    by James Patterson
    A thrilling mystery novel following a young detective's journey to uncover the truth.

    An African warlord known as the Tiger, aided by his crew of angry young men, horrifically murders author Eleanor 'Ellie' Cox and her entire family. Alex Cross and girlfriend Bree Stone go ... (Wikipedia)

  5. Home of the Brave

    by Katherine Applegate
    A young Sudanese refugee struggles to adapt to life in America after fleeing his war-torn homeland.

    Kek comes from Africa. In America he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. He's never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter – ... (Goodreads)

  6. I Am David

    by Anne Holm
    An orphan's journey of escape and redemption, seeking freedom and a place to belong.

    12-year-old David has lived in a concentration camp for as long as he can remember. While the people who run the camp are only referred to as them , later in the book it is stated that they came to ... (Wikipedia)

  7. Truth Will Prevail

    by Gerald N. Lund
    A historical narrative of a group of 19th century pioneers on their journey to the American West.

    Truth Will Prevail, — the eagerly awaited third volume in the popular series, The Work and the Glory, — continues the gripping story of the fictional Steed family, a family acquainted with Joseph ... (Goodreads)

  8. A Bad Case of Stripes

    by David Shannon
    Camilla loves lima beans but is afraid of being different. She wakes up one day covered in stripes and learns to embrace her uniqueness.

    The main character is a girl named Camilla Cream who secretly loves lima beans but doesn't want to eat them because her friends dislike them and she wants to be just like them. One day she wakes up ... (Wikipedia)

  9. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

    by Christopher Paul Curtis
    The Watson family travels from Michigan to Alabama during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, experiencing racism and tragedy.

    The Newbery Honor-winning American classic, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 , celebrates 20 years with this anniversary edition featuring a special letter from Christopher Paul Curtis and an ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Kissing Hand

    by Audrey Penn
    A young raccoon learns to cope with the anxiety of being away from home with the help of his mother's comforting kiss.

    School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

    by Judi Barrett
    A whimsical story of a town where food literally falls from the sky.

    A grandfather reads a bedtime story, chronicling the lives of the citizens of an imaginary town called Chewandswallow, which is characterized by food raining from the sky. The sky provided the ... (Wikipedia)

  12. Pillar of Light

    by Gerald N. Lund
    Epic saga of a family's faith and courage in the face of persecution.

    "You believe me, don't you, Nathan." It was not a question, but a statement, filled with wonder.,, It stunned Nathan., ,"You believe it all. I can see it on your face.",, For a moment, time seemed ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Pink and Say

    by Patricia Polacco
    A powerful story of friendship and courage between two Civil War soldiers.

    The story begins during the times of the Civil War. Sheldon Russell Curtis or "Say", a white Union Soldier is badly wounded on the battlefield. He tries to escape with an injured leg, but cannot due ... (Wikipedia)

  14. Crocodile on the Sandbank

    by Elizabeth Peters
    An intrepid female archaeologist uses her wits to solve a mysterious murder in the Nile Valley.

    Amelia Peabody is left a wealthy orphan after the death of her studious father, who has left her everything in his will because she is the only one of his children who shared his interests, namely ... (Wikipedia)

  15. Olive, Again

    by Elizabeth Strout
    A collection of interconnected stories about Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher in a small coastal town in Maine.

    The iconic Olive struggles to understand not only herself and her own life but also the lives of those around her in the town of Crosby, Maine. Whether with a teenager coming to terms with the loss ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Rough-Face Girl

    by Rafe Martin
    A young girl's quest to reclaim her beauty and win the heart of a mysterious man.

    This moving adaptation of the classic children's story Cinderella tells how a disfigured Algonquin girl wins the heart of a mysterious being who lives by the lake near her village. The powerful ... (Goodreads)

  17. Out of the Dust

    by Karen Hesse
    A poetic story of a young girl's endurance through a time of great hardship.

    When Billie Jo is just fourteen she must endure heart-wrenching ordeals that no child should have to face. The quiet strength she displays while dealing with unspeakable loss is as surprising as it ... (Goodreads)

  18. Olivia

    by Ian Falconer
    A young girl's imaginative adventures, exploring the world around her.

    Have fun with Olivia... dressing up, singing songs, building sand castles, napping (maybe), dancing, painting on walls and - whew! - going to sleep at last. ... (Goodreads)

  19. The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites

    by Dr. Seuss
    Exploration of opposites in a whimsical and humorous way.

    A Dr. Seuss classic turns 50! Since 1968, this super-simple, simply brilliant Bright and Early Book about feet has been helping beginning beginner readers step into the world of reading by ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. If You Take a Mouse to School

    by Laura Joffe Numeroff
    A whimsical adventure of a mouse and his human companion as they explore the school day.

    Mouse goes to school in this picture book in the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling If You Give... series! If you take a mouse to school, he'll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. Thank You, Mr. Falker

    by Patricia Polacco
    A young girl struggles with dyslexia until a teacher helps her learn to read, changing her life forever.

    The real-life, classic story of a dyslexic girl and the teacher who would not let her fail. A perfect gift for teachers and for reading students of any age. Patricia Polacco is now one of America's ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Goose Girl

    by Shannon Hale
    A young princess must overcome great obstacles to reclaim her rightful throne.

    When crown princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was born, she did not open her eyes until her aunt held her. The woman became her nursemaid and constant companion, nicknaming her Ani and telling ... (Wikipedia)

  23. The Road Not Taken and Other Poems

    by Robert Frost
    Collection of poems exploring the power of choice, the passage of time, and the beauty of nature.

    "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." These deceptively simple lines from the title poem of this collection suggest Robert ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

    by Denise Mina
    A journalist and a hacker team up to solve a decades-old disappearance case, uncovering dark secrets along the way.

    The official graphic novel adaptation of Stieg Larsson's THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden's wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these ... (Goodreads)

  25. Wemberly Worried

    by Kevin Henkes
    Wemberly worries about everything, from big to small. But with the help of her family and friends, she learns to overcome her fears.

    Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start. And Wemberly worried even more. If you ever worry (or know someone who ... (Goodreads)

  26. Slaves of the Mastery

    by William Nicholson
    Sequel to "The Wind Singer," the story follows siblings on a quest to overthrow a tyrannical ruler and restore freedom to their city.

    At the beginning of the book, the city of Aramanth is greatly changed since events in The Wind Singer . The walls have been torn down, and the poorer districts abandoned. No longer is it run by the ... (Wikipedia)

  27. The Ruins of Gorlan

    by John Flanagan
    A young orphan's rise to become a heroic knight, defending the kingdom against an evil sorcerer.

    Morgarath, the exiled lord of the bleak, barren Mountains of Rain and Night has been waiting fifteen years in his dark realm, carefully planning his revenge against the Kingdom of Araluen. His former ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Shiloh

    by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
    A young boy finds a stray dog and wants to keep him, but faces challenges from his family and the dog's original owner.

    The novel is set in the small town of Shiloh, West Virginia, ,[nb 1], where an eleven-year-old boy named Marty Preston finds a stray beagle named Shiloh wandering in the hills near his house. Shiloh ... (Wikipedia)

  29. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale

    by John Steptoe
    Two sisters embark on a journey to meet the king, but only one's kind heart and generosity will win his heart.

    A Caldecott Honor and Reading Rainbow book, this memorable retelling of Cinderella is perfect for introducing children to the fairy tale as well as the history, culture, and geography of the African ... (Goodreads)

  30. Firesong

    by William Nicholson
    The final book in the Wind on Fire trilogy, as the Manth people fight for their freedom against the tyrannical Morah.

    Firesong begins with the Manth people deliberating over what action to take, now that the Mastery is in ruins. After the defeat of the Master, alone and displaced, they seek a new homeland but have ... (Wikipedia)