Thick books

Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women
Gramercy Books, 2002
(many editions)

This is genuinely one of the classics in children’s literature. It was originally written in 1868 and there are numerous editions of it. The novel tells a story about four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they grow into young ladies during the Civil War in New England. All girls are very different from each other and they each choose different life paths as well. Meg, who is the eldest, is very beautiful with traditional values. Jo, the main character is a bit tomboyish and talented writer. Beth is shy and rather withdrawn and the youngest sister Amy is an artistic but a little smug. The March family is gentry and Doctor March is away in the front treating wounded soldiers. The girls and their mother have to learn to cope with the ongoing circumstances. The girls make friends with the new next-door neighbour Laurie an soon he becomes an important person in all their lives.

Carey, Janet Lee: Wenny Has Wings
Faber and Faber, 2005

Will North lies in a hospital bed after being in a nasty lorry accident with his little sister Wenny. But something strange happened the minute the lorry hit them. They found themselves flying through the most blissful place they had ever seen. Will can’t talk to anyone else but Wenny about what happened. But Wenny isn’t there because she didn’t come back. The doctors say it’s a miracle that Will survived, because he was actually dead for ten minutes. At the hospital Will gets to know Gallagher, who goes the same class as Will. Together they decide to explore the Tunnel of Death. This absolutely beautifully written book consists of Will’s short letters to Wenny.

Corder, Zizou: Lionboy
Puffin, 2003

One day when Charlie comes home he notices his mum and dad are gone missing. They are both scientists who are about to make a medical discovery. Charlie finds out that they have been kidnapped and sets out to search his parents. He joins the crew of a circus ship and he gets a job minding the lions. This suits Charlie fine, because he has a very special talent. He can speak Cat, a language which he has known after being scratched by a lion as a baby. When Charlie realises that the circus lions are sad and depressed he decides to help them to escape. Charlie himself is on the run as well. He is followed by terrifying Rafi Sadler who seems to have something to do with the kidnapping of Charlie’s parents.

Dahl, Roald: The Roald Dahl Treasury
Jonathan Cape, 1997

This book has 444 pages of the funniest and weirdest yet absolutely most adorable stories taken from Roald Dahl’s books. The treasury contains selections from his novels and poetry books. There are also some letters and poems which have never been published before. This book is a very good introduction to Roald Dahl’s magical world for those who don’t know his works. Those who are already familiar with the author shall enjoy this treasury as well. There are four themes in this book: Animals; Magic, Family, friends and foes and Matters of importance. You’ll meet BFG, Danny, George, James, Matilda, Minpins and many more. The book is mainly illustrated by Roald Dahl’s trusted illustrator Quentin Blake, but also some other artists’ works are included.

Funke, Cornelia: The Thief Lord
The Chicken House, 2002

Bo and Prosper are orphan brothers who have run away from their evil aunt Esther’s house to legendary Venice. The boys get shelter in an old disused cinema and the mysterious Thief Lord and his gang of street children take them under their wing. The Thief Lord is a boy, who is a master in thieving. He can steal anything anywhere without getting caught. But what is the true identity of the Thief Lord? What kind of mystery lies behind the wooden wing of a lion? An old Conte has offered five million lire to boys if they steal it. The mystery solves on the Isola Segreta, the Secret Island – to which no boat is willing to go.

Ibbotson, Eva: The Star of Kazan
Macmillan Children's Books, 2004

Annika lives in Vienna in the beginning of last century as a foster daughter of two female servants in the house of three eccentric professors. She is expected to work hard and do all kinds of domestic work from cooking to sewing, but she still has plenty of time to play theatre with her best friends and wander about the lovely city. Annika loves stories and making friends with other people. The old, neglected aunt of the wealthy neighbour family grows fond of the girl and tells her secrets about her life.  Annika is happy in Vienna and loved by everybody, but she can’t help dreaming about her real mother coming to take her home. One day this dream actually comes true, a beautiful noblewoman comes and wants to take Annika to the family castle in Germany. Annika leaves Vienna with her mother with cheerful anticipation, but somehow there seems to be something wrong. Her new aristocrat family is incredibly different from what she is used to. It takes a lot of effort from all Annika’s friends to put things right. A delightfully old-fashioned adventure story! (or)

Laird, Elizabeth: The Garbage King
Macmillan Children's Books, 2004

Dani can’t believe he has slept under the same blanket with a filthy and ragged boy, Mamo on the streets of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In an ordinary life they should never even have met. Dani used to live in a grand house with full of servants. He used to go to school and swim in the pool in his leisure time. His father is really strict, almost tyrant-like. Dani sees no choice but to run away from home. Mamo on the other hand has had a rough life so far. Mamo’s mother was and violent alcoholic and his father had disappeared right after he was born. When Mamo’s mother dies a strange man comes to the shack where Mamo lives with his sister Tiggist. He says he is Mamo’s uncle and promises him a job. Actually the “unckle” is selling Mamo to a farm to slave in a farm. Mamo escapes the life of slave labour and the boys’ fates are entwined. The only way they can survive is to trust each other with their lives.

Lindgren, Astrid: The Best of Pippi Longstocking
Oxford University Press, 2003

Meet Pippi or actually Pippilotta Provisiona Gaberdina Dandeliona Ephraimsdaughter Longstocking! Nine years old Pippi lives alone with her horse and monkey, Mr. Nelson in Villekulla Cottage. According to Pippi her mother is an angel and her father is a cannibal king. Pippi is the strongest girl in the world and she can lift up a horse (and she has done that as well). Right next to Villekulla Cottage is another house where lives the nicest family: mother, father and two angelic children named Tommy and Annika who never fight. Tommy and Annika are really happy to get a new playmate. Pippi is so much fun to be around and she always gets really crazy ideas to amaze her friends. But the adults of the town aren’t always that amazed by Pippi’s manoeuvres…

Singer, Nicky: Feather Boy
Collins, 2002

Norbert i.e. Robert Nobel is the class squit. He is thin and gangly and he has to wear thick glasses. Norbert No-Bells-at-all, Norbert No-Brain, so very easy to tease! When Robert’s class takes part in an Elders’ project with the nearby home, old Edith wants to work just with Robert and nobody else. Edith is a strange old lady who sends Robert on a quest to solve a mystery in derelict Chance House. Legend has it that a boy has jumped from an upper window to his death, because his mentally ill mother had convinced him that he can fly. The house is both creepy and alluring. When Robert finally stays overnight at Chance House he finds many answers to his own life as well.

Stewart, Paul: Fergus Crane
Doubleday, 2004

Fergus Crane leads an ordinary life. He lives together with her mother who works in a bakery. His father left for a voyage before Fergus was even born and he never came back. Fergus goes to school on a school ship named Betty Jeanne and there are some rather strange teachers and a real school parrot, Bolivia, on board as well. A peculiar thing has happened to Fergus at three nights in a row. A small, silver box with tiny feathery wings has landed on his window ledge. Tonight it is the third time. A little door opens and out comes a letter, which makes Fergus’s jaw drop. It says “Fergus Crane you are in great danger! I’m sending help, signed, T. C. your long lost uncle Theo”. Fergus meets his mystery uncle and is whisked away in an adventure of his life time where nothing is what is seems.