Dear Enemy by Jean Webster (1915)

The sequel to Jean Webster's wildly charming Daddy Long-Legs.

Judy and Jervie have run off and gotten married. Sallie McBride has graduated from college and looking for a job. Judy and Jervie arrange to have her take over the management of the John Grier Home. As Sallie works to make a better orphanage and implement all of her wonderful ideas, she has the grumpy and change-averse Scottish doctor Doctor MacRae to content and spar with.

I loved it as a child, and it still holds up as quite charming. I particularly like Sallie McBride's fix-it, control-enthusiast character. (Because she is VERY FAMILIAR to me.)

However, I think I've figured out why this book is so hard to find and isn't readily in print. There are some pretty hard words about feeble-mindedness and genetics and wiping out the feeble-minded which are pretty shocking to a contemporary reader.

Breathing Room by Marsha Hayle (2012)

Set in 1940, this is a children's novel about a young girl suffering from tuberculosis who is sent to Loon Lake Sanatorium to recover.  

Based on similar historical events and illustrated with marvelous images of medical devices and sanatoriums, this Minnesota-set historical fiction is filled with great characters, poignant situations and a fascinating slice of history.

Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle (2014)

In Tim Federle’s sequel to Better Nate Than Ever, theater geek Nate Foster begins rehearsals for E.T. the Musical…on Broadway! Nate struggles with finding his place in this new world (as Alien #7) with his usual quirky charm. 

The inside story of getting a show up and running is vividly depicted and includes tons of the same humor that made Federle’s first book such a treat.  Such as:

About Roscoe, the old stage manager: "(The other day, I overheard him saying he misses the old days, when the only children who appeared in musicals 'were in the background or dead by the second scene.')"  

And:

"'I need my sopranos down front and my altos just to the side of them.' Everything is 'my my my' on Broadway. There's a lot of territory disputes, like a junior high school cafeteria but with more glitter." 

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle (2013)

"Imagine: pretzels sold on the street!  It's as if anything is possible.  Do they also sell hopes on the street?  Do they sell hugs and dreams and height-boosting vitamins?  Or hot dogs?  I bet you they do."

Straight from the children's section, this is a hilarious novel about 13-year-old Nate who runs away to New York City to audition for E.T. the Musical, with the help of his devoted friend and fellow musical theater lover Libby.  

Utterly endearing characters, fascinating backstage look at the world of auditioning for musical theater, surprisingly complex relationships and characters, and OH, so much love for musical theater and for New York City.  Followed up by Five, Six, Seven, Nate!, just as endearing and hilarious.  A few more words from Nate:

"And by the way, this isn't one of those things where I tell you that, in life, we're each both a little good and a little bad, all just trying our hardest.  That's kid's an a-hole, and I'm not.  Sometimes people are just a-holes, and you have to decide, every day, which kind of kid you are.  (Not to get all preachy on you.)"

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (1908)

I love the Anne of Green Gables series, but I kind of really only love the first two and a half books.  I love orphan Anne and, of course, Marilla and Matthew, and all of her adventures with her bosom friend Diana.  And her flirtation with adorable Gilbert Blythe.  But once she married Gilbert (spoiler!), the series gets deadly dull for me.  Wonderfully filmed for Canadian television in the 80s.

Maud Hart Lovelace - Adored Author

I completely adore the Betsy-Tacy series of books by Lovelace, which follows Betsy and her friends from age six to adulthood and marriage. Written for her daughter, the books follow Betsy in age--little chapter books to begin with, then over to the young adult section for the grown Betsy books: high school and college.  I completely remember jumping from children's to young adult to read the next one in the series.  Beautifully illustrated by Lois Lenski, then Vera Neville, the entire series is consistently wonderful (except for the last book wherein independent Betsy gets married and turns a little neurotic).  I especially love Betsy and the Great World, where Betsy takes a year to travel and heads home as WWI breaks out.  So romantic!

Matilda by Roald Dahl (1988)

Sometimes I forget how much I really like Roald Dahl's work.  Matilda is a lovely book, and has lots of love for libraries and books.  The book is whimsical and supernatural and was made into a charming and hilarious musical.  See also Danny, the Champion of the World, which is an unbelievably sweet father and son story.

Henry Reed, Inc. by Keith Robertson (1958)

Henry Reed comes to Grovers Corners, NJ to stay with his uncle and aunt. Hilarity and hijinks ensue. Henry is a hilarious, serious kid who gets into crazy, chaotic mishaps. Here, he starts a research business with neighbor Midge.  See also Henry Reed's Journey, when Henry travels across the country with Midge's family. Hilarity ensues.  And Henry Reed's Babysitting Service, where Henry starts a baby-sitting service with Midge. Again, hilarity ensues.  Also featuring great illustrations by Keith McCloskey.

Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter (1913)

Pollyanna gets a bad rap.  Her name is synonymous with a sickeningly sweetness, but Pollyanna is actually quite the manipulative little thing!  It's still sweet and attests to the power of a cheerful outlook, but it's not remotely as sappy as you think.  Also a great Disney movie starring Hayley Mills, who gets this character just right.

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (1943)

Robert McCloskey, best known for Make Way for Ducklings also wrote and illustrated a short series of stories for children starring Homer Price, an engaging character and charming Midwestern setting.  In this wise and dryly funny collection, Homer catches robbers with the aid of a skunk, comes face to face with a superhero, and in my favorite, tries to fix a runaway donut machine.  Centerburg Tales features more adventures of Homer Price.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsberg (1967)

When I went to New York for the first time, one of the first things I wanted to see was the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Why?  That's where Claudia and Jamie ran away to in one of my very favorite books as a kid (with one of the longest titles).  Fed up with her life and chores, Claudia plans an elaborate scheme to run away to New York City, and stay in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  But being by Konigsberg, that's not all.  They also get immersed in a mystery involving a statue which may or may not be by Michaelangelo.  But for me, it's the little details that stay with me like fishing for coins in the fountain (then using them at the Automat!), and hiding in the restrooms at closing.  Other beloved Konigsberg books include The View From Saturday and Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth.

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley (1999)

A lovely, mysterious book about a young orphan girl who disguises herself as a boy and works as a Folk Keeper--one who protects the lands and its people from the deadly Folk. It's very somber, and a bit melancholy, but ultimately very moving and rewarding. Like The Secret of Roan Inish in book form.  See also Well Wished - an excellent, mysterious kids book about a well and what happened when someone wished all the children away from the village. Great, strong lead girl character and interesting fairy tale feel.

Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster (1912)

An charming epistolary tale of Jerusha "Judy" Abbott, an orphan sent to college to be a writer by an unknown benefactor. Wonderful quotes about literature and learning, for example: "I had no idea Shakespeare was so good. I'd always suspected him of largely going on his reputation."  Followed by the equally charming Dear Enemy, which follows the adventures of one of Judy's college roommates as she takes over the running of an orphanage.