海角大神

Is there any greater treat in life than a really good children's book? Here are five titles that will make you want to read over your children's shoulders.

1. When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb Books, 208 pp., $15.99). This mystery involving a 12-year-old New Yorker holds 鈥渢remendous appeal.鈥� (CSM review 7/27/09)

2. Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic, 368 pp., $7.99). A 鈥渨arm and wise鈥� narrative tells the story of freed slaves. (CSM review 11/20/07)

3. Raven Summer, by David Almond (Delacorte, 208 pp., $16.99). The summer games of two teens take a frightening turn in this 鈥渢ruly original novel鈥� set in rural England. (CSM review 11/14/09)

4. Al Capone Shines My Shoes, by Gennifer Choldenko (Dial, 288 pp., $17.99). A 12-year-old is living on Depression-era Alcatraz Island in this 鈥渇ast-paced adventure story.鈥� (CSM 鈥╮eview 9/11/09)

5. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, by Maryrose Wood (Balzer & Bray, 272 pp., $15.,99). This tale 鈥減airs the Gothic humor and arch narration of a Lemony Snicket with a more benevolent worldview.鈥� (CSM review 11/23/07)

Marjorie Kehe is the Monitor's book editor.

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