Classic Books for Ages 9-12

by FamilyEducation Staff

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.

Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White
Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte decides to help him.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way.

Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
Harriet M. Welsch is determined to grow up and be a famous author. In the meantime, she practices by following a regular spy route each day and writing down everything she sees in her secret notebook. Then one morning, her classmates find her spy notebook and read it out loud! Harriet's in big trouble. The other sixth-graders are stealing her tomato sandwiches, forming a spy-catcher club, and writing notes of their own -- all about Harriet!

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
For young James Henry Trotter, life with the exceedingly nasty Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker is pure misery. Jame dreams of a better life, but he's totally unprepared for the wild adventures ahead of him when he drops the magic crystals he receives from a strange old man. Before long James is off on a weird, wonderful journey inside a giant peach with a bizarre group of companions!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis What begins as a simple game of hide-and-seek quickly turns into the adventure of a lifetime when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy walk through the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia.

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
One of American Literature's most loved novels, this is a story of family, of hope, of dreams, and of growing up as four devoted sisters search fro romance and find maturity in Civil-War era 19th century New England.

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
A bored, uninspired schoolboy takes an adventurous drive through a toy tollbooth and begins a magical journey into a world of numbers and letters. Along the way, he learns to appreciate life and the many exciting things it has to offer.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume A nine-year-old is "given" a little brother and soon decides that she is expendable. But some things about little brother are lovable too.