Dragon Valley by Luke Herzog
Herzog completed this book when he was 10 years old. It is a fantasy story of an inventor, who invents a robot dragon using star energy. In 2043, he unveils his master creation — five scientifically spawned baby dragons. He leads them to a home, teaches them skills to survive, and hints at the magic that surrounds them. But can any creator have complete control over his creation? How they evolve, forms the rest of this fascinating story.
Uma, Not-So-Perfect by Yamini Prashanth
This is the tale of Uma, an 11-year-old precocious girl whose life experiences a drastic shift when her family moves from India to London. Clinging to her “to-do list”of “fun, friendship and fitting-in”, she is forced to negotiate friendships and enmities in a school full of English students, and learns to adjust to a new life that is completely different from the one back home.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
This book, written by 13-year-old Anne Frank in 1947, has an interesting history behind it. This was written by her when she, along with her family, were hiding from the Nazis for two years. The diary was gifted to her by her parents on her thirteenth birthday. It talks about her fondest wishes and feelings, during the time she was trapped in her house. Frank highlights how, disconnected from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, and the constant fear of discovery and death. It is also a reminder of the horrors of war, and the bravery with which the family survived every day before they were captured by the Nazis.
Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan
Nancy Yi Fan, a sixth-grade author, awoke from a dream about birds and decided to write about them. She somehow wanted to convey the message of peace, as by then she began to know more about the September 11 attacks. The result is this book, which talks about two types of birds — the blue jays and cardinals of Stone-Run Forest — who turned against each other. Legend has it that only Swordbird, son of the Great Spirit can restore peace to the land. Is it real or just a myth? Will Swordbird arrive quick enough to save the forest?
More on the list...
How The World Began by Dorothy Straight, 1964
This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall by Gordon Korman, 1978
The Mysterious Birthday Gift by Sydney Campanella, 2012