Awwwww! It’s a bonus book day!!!
This summer, Kensington read a handful of books that she really loved, and today, she’s sharing her review with YOU!!
Several of these books came from your suggestions and incorporate more diverse characters, all of the books are 11 year old approved and hopefully, a few readers in your house will love them too! We are always, always, always open to more suggestions, so please share today too!! Also, in case you were wondering, Smith’s favorite books right now are the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham.
I sat down at my computer with Kensington by my side and she gave me her brief description of each book…first up…
…The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Ohhhhhh! I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but Kensington and I TOTALLY judged this book by its cover! How adorable is this one?! I do believe it’s the cutest cover I’ve ever seen on a book 🙂 . This is book number one in a series of books about the Vanderbeeker family in New York City (there are four total!). Here is what K had to say: This book is about five siblings who live in townhouse and their relationships with other neighbors…some nice and one cranky. She said it will make your heart melt inside to read this book 🙂 . It’s a little emotional, very sweet, and a really good book.
After she read the first book, she immediately picked up book number two…
…The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden
In this book, the kids are making a “nowhere place” into a beautiful garden for a neighbor who is hospitalized. She said it’s once again about the relationships between the siblings and their neighbors. She said it’s about loving and supporting people who are having a hard time.
Kensington is already excited to read the third and fourth books in this series too! She thinks your kids will love this family too!
Okay, this fictional tale is about a girl that lives in their car with her mom after their father leaves them. They are trying to earn enough money to buy a house, so they create a plan to steal a dog and then collect the reward money. K says this book is about how in life you’ll be tempted to do bad things, but don’t do it. She said it has a very sweet relationship between the girl and a dog too.
Awww! Kensington absolutely BEAMED when I asked her about this book. This novel here is currently Kensington’s very favorite of all time!! She absolutely loved it!! She says it has so many plot twists, but it’s basically about a girl whose parents are getting divorced. Her mom is white and her dad is black and she feels stuck in the middle of not only their divorce but their two families. Kensington says there is a big moment in the middle of the book that was very surprising, but keep reading because it only gets better. She really loves this book!
Well, I was surprised when she started telling me about this book because Iggie isn’t a main character. Ha! This book is about Iggie’s house and the people who live in it after she moves to Tokyo. She said this is another book about racial diversity and accepting people who aren’t like you. She said the moral to this story is to treat people based on how they act and not how they look, and that this book is about the neighbors and the new people living in Iggie’s house and how they form a relationship even though there are differences.
K wants me to make sure you know that there are “some bad words” in this book. (I do feel like Judy Blume incorporates language in her books that are not always necessary.) The main character, Karen, is dealing with her parents who are getting divorced, and she’s not accepting it. She’s mad and doing everything she can not let them get divorced. K says this book is about accepting what you cannot change and loving people even when they disappoint you.
And finally, K says Blubber is really good book too 🙂 . She would like me to once again point out that it “has some bad words” (Judy Blume, why have you always done that?!). This novel is about choosing your friends wisely, and making sure you’re being kind to everyone. She says there is a very big moral to this story that everyone needs to read and that it’s one of her favorite Judy Blume books.
Whew! That wraps up Kensington’s Summer Reading List! I was so pleased that she read (and loved!) so many books this summer 😉 .
If you have other suggestions for Kensington, we would love them too!!
One more thing…
…I asked Kensington to share one recipe she loved right now and she said my Baked Cheeseburger Sliders 🙂 . You should totally make these too!
Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you all have a great day!! xo
Erika Slaughter says
What a great book review, K!
Sandy says
I have a 10 year old who is struggling to move to a little more mature books. She prefers the super easy reads. This is a great resource.
As for suggestions (I don’t know the authors off the top of my head) I have read all of these with one or more of my kids
1. Eight Keys
2. One for the Murphys
3. Small as an Elephant
For Smith The Familiars series was a favorite of my son at about his age..
Rebecca says
Thank you for sharing these! I have an (almost) 11 year old daughter, so I took a screen shot of these to show her. She’s a huge book lover!
Susan says
Classics every kid should read
The Boxcar Children
Trumpet of the Swan
Always a favorite- Beverly Cleary books
So many good books and so little time.
Pam Danckaert says
Kensington may enjoy the Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer. My 6th Grader also loved The One & Only Ivan and The One & Only Bob. My daughters made me read The One & Only Ivan before we watched the movie on Disney+. It’s a sweet movie, but the book is better. Enjoy K!
Susie M says
My 2 favorite Judy Blume books growing up were “Starting Sally J Freeman as Herself” and “Just as Long as We’re Together”. I can’t remember if the second one is geared towards a little older or not. I think if she read “blubber” and “iggy”, she can read that one. I recall reading both of those books over and over and over again!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!! And “Are We There God, It’s Me, Margaret”!!
Jen says
Blubber was a favorite of mine along with Its me Margaret by Judy
Lauren Hufford says
We love the Vanderbeekers series! Karina Yan Glaser was a visiting author at our school in Houston a couple of years ago. It was so interesting hearing her speak about the characters in the books! Great choices, Kensington!
Jessica says
My teacher heart swelled reading this post! Not only because of K’s love of books but also because now she’s giving reviews! Authentic learning at its finest! Way to go!!! Can’t wait to hear more book reviews from her (and you ☺️) soon!
Val says
I am sending this list to my 11-year old daughter! Some of her current favorites are The Hunger Games series and the School for Good & Evil series, and The Mysterious Benedict Society. She’s also enjoying the Percy Jackson series and loves the graphic novel versions of the Babysitters Club.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Such a cute post idea! Thanks for the reviews ?✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Olivia says
Kensington should read Out of My Mind, also by Sharon Draper! One of my favorite read aloud with my students each year.
LSilva says
My daughter absolutely loved this book at that age and it was at a time when she really did not enjoy reading. I read it too and I have to agree that it is so good! We are big fans of Sharon Draper.
Megan says
I second this! My daughter loved Out of My Mind. Her 4th grade class read it together because they had a non verbal student in their room. My daughter would also recommend “Fish In A Tree” and “Restart” because if we can teach our children empathy and acceptance now, then maybe there is hope for our future.
Beth Knecht says
My teacher heart loves hearing from kids who enjoy reading…especially over the summer! Yay Kensington!!
Amlakar says
Out of My Mind is another excellent choice by Sharon Draper. This is a “go to” book for my sixth grade girls (I’m an ELA teacher). Also, The War that Saved My Life and Prisoner B3087 are two awesome historical fiction books that my students love. So happy to see Kensington loves reading!
Shannon Dobbs says
Thanks Kensington! I used to devour the babysitters club books when I was young. You can still find them and there are a ton! Plus, there is going to be a show based on the books on Netflix soon!
Laurie says
It’s actually already out and it is really, really cute!
Jennifer says
Yes! The Netflix series is cute, but be aware that they have given the shows a 2020 spin with transgender characters, talking about periods (maybe I glossed over that out when I read the books) and gay dads. My 8 year old daughter had a lot of questions, but thankfully we watched together and were able to talk about them.
Elspeth says
This is a great list of books and suggestions from Kensington! I really love how a lot of them are series! Sounds like she had a busy summer with lots of reading!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Cherry says
I have always read required reading books at the same time as my children read them for school. Kensington’s list is for fun and I can’t wait to read them on my own for fun! Thank you Kensington for a great list and reviews that drew my interest! One of my favorite books when I was younger & I continue to read through the years & recommend is “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” by E. L. Konigsburg. It’s about a brother and sister who run away from home and hide/live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC! There is a mystery involved too!
Molly Chandler says
Thank you, Kensington! My daughter is your age and is looking for some good books. I’ll show her this list.
Angie says
Does Smith have any book recommendations? My 10 year old son is in need of some new reading material after plowing through Harry Potter this summer. Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
He would say the Theodore Boone series!
Taylor says
What kind of bread do you use for the sliders now that you’re a gluten free house? (My 9 year old son was diagnosed with celiac about a year ago.)
Mix and Match Mama says
Trader Joe’s makes great g-free buns as well as Udi!
Melissa Terry says
What a great book review! Thanks, K ; )
Lindsay D. says
What a great book review! I will have to order some for my 11 year old daughter. 🙂
Karen Lasky says
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Di camillo. Also the Boxcar Children, oldie but a goodie.
Mix and Match Mama says
YES!! She loves Because of Winn Dixie! Great rec!!
Abby Hardin says
Has she read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane? It’s also by Kate DiCamillo. Soooo good!
Mix and Match Mama says
YES!!!! She loved that one too!!
Ashley L says
Hi! My 11 year old LOVED the Vanderbeeker series! I’ll have to purchase some of the other recommendations.
My son is almost 9 and doesn’t love to read as much as I’d like. The only series I have ever found him totally interested in is the “I Survived” series, which he’s now finished with. Any other great boy books for a late elementary age kid? I feel like boy books are harder to come by. Thanks! ?
Carly says
Anything by Dav Pilkey, Nate the Great, Percy Jackson, The False Prince series, Harry Potter, The Flashback Four…
Lisa says
Cynthia DeFelice is a great write of adventure and outdoor books. I’ve read her book Fort to several classes of fifth graders and they all LOVE it! Also Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and so many of this other books too!
Megan Gothie says
The Mr. Lemoncello series is really fun-sort of a mix of Willy Wonka and an escape room! The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob are great also!
Ani Martinez says
Such a good book review! Like mother like daughter 🙂
Out of my mind was a big favorite with our oldest when he was in 6th grade. His very favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth. He also read Wonder, Mockingbird and From the Mixed Up Files which he enjoyed. Happy reading!
Tracy says
Great reviews! Thank you
JillK says
What a great review, Kensington! My daughter is in the 4th grade and her favorite series is currently Diary of a Wimpy Kid! I am going to put these books on my future reading list for her.
Tiffany says
I love Kensington’s book review! I haven’t heard of Vanderbeekers. It sounds like it could make a great read aloud to my students this year. I love reading YA books and will be reading several of the books on her list.
Some favorites for future reading: Savvy, The War That Saved My Life, The War I Finally Won (sequel), Echo, The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle, Wishtree, Flora & Ulysses
I look forward to future book reviews by your sweet girl!
Katie Tullis says
Love this! Does she have any recommendations on books that might be for a girl a year or two younger than her? Also, My daughter and I are going on a 2 day road trip soon and would like to find something we could listen to together in the car. I thought about a more devotional type book, but not sure that would keep her entertained. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Ashby just started reading the Owl Diaries series! She’s at the perfect age for that!
Megan says
I second The Owl Diaries for young readers. And the Mercy Watson series. For audio books, our family’s favorite is the Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing series. My girls and my nephews would listen to that series on repeat. I enjoy it too. Win-win!
Landyn says
My favorite book of all time was 11 birthdays and the series that goes along with it. The series is fun because each book is from a different persons perspective (and different situations) I know K would love it!!
Erin says
The Vanderbeekers!! ❤️ I’m so happy that she is loving this series. It’s a family favorite in our house and the author is a gem. This would be a great series to read aloud for families that are home a lot more this school year. The varying ages of the siblings makes it appeal to many ages. Thanks for sharing Kensington’s great review!
Teresa says
First, what an adorable picture of beautiful Kensington!
I like that you are reading so much and writing about the books, K! I really appreciate your calling out the authors for including words or things that may not be appropriate for young people/children to read. WHY do they feel that is necessary?!?
I think it would be wise and helpful, for other parents and children, for you to write to those authors, Kensington, and share your thoughts, and send them a link to your book review.
Mix and Match Mama says
Love this so much!
Mary B says
Captain Superlative
Ruby in the Sky
The Sky at Our Feet
I love you Michael Collins
The Unteachables
The Perfect Score (has follow up the Perfect Secret)
Escape from Mr Lemoncello’s Library (has follow up books, but son did not like as well as original)
As others have mentioned- The War that Saved My Life, and The War I Finally Won are amazing books, I read them too!
All read by son this summer- the same age as K- they are librarian recs 🙂
Amy says
My 11 year old girl is reading the City of Ember series and loves it. It was also made into a movie so we watched it after she finished the book!
Sarah M. says
As a child I read Kit Pearson’s trilogy about a sister and brother from England being sent to Canada during World War II: The Sky is Falling, Looking at the Moon, and The Lights Go on Again.
Those books stuck with me for years.
Keisha Dawson says
I love this post so much! I was a voracious reader at her age, and I her love of reading make my heart so happy. My favorite books at this age were the Mandie books. There are 40 books in the series, and I devoured all of them.
jamie says
i LOVE when kennsington reviews books! just reserved a few at our library for my 8-year-old granddaughter! i’m excited for the vanderbeekers— i 100% judge a book by its cover.
Angela Ellingson says
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street series is towards the top of our reading list for this year. I’ve heard nothing but great things. Excited to read them to my kiddos during out read aloud time.
Angela says
These are so great! I love Kensington’s book review! A very impressive summer reading list. I am always seeking out new books for my kids so we’ll have to give these a read.
If she’s looking for other great reads, my ten year old loves all of the books by Lynda Mullaly Hunt: Fish in a Tree, Shouting at the Rain, and One for the Murphy’s.
Keep it up Kensington! I can’t wait to see her next book review!
Andrea Clark says
If Kensington likes the fantasy genre at all, the Keeper of Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger is a favorite here!
Arika says
I read the Magic Misfit series by Neil Patrick Harris with my son this summer. It has a great cast of characters and boys and girls will love this series equally. The books are super fun with a little mystery, humor and friendship. Highly recommend!
Joanne says
Those sound like great books! I used to love Judy Blume; even if her content wasn’t always on par with what the adults in my life thought it should be like.
Teri says
Good review! My 10 yr old daughter has a few favorites to recommend. -Small Steps:The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret is her all time favorite. -The All of a Kind Family series by Sidney Taylor is a series about a Jewish family living in NYC in the early 1900’s. -Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John Is a family fave. A sweet story about forgiveness.
Patti Baker says
I agree with you on Judy Blume…why all the “bad words”? ☺️ Great book review, thank you!
Robin Pruitt says
Oh, Judy Blume! That takes me back to my childhood when I would get in trouble in the mornings during the summer when my Mom would wake up for work and I would have stayed up all night reading! Those were the days! Just one more chapter…
Allie says
Well, I totally just requested The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street from my library to read for myself, a grown woman, ha! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I read quite a bit of it too, it’s absolutely charming!
Dawn says
I’m so glad you said this I was just thinking about trying them myself (I’m 51)!! 🙂
Thanks for the review Kensington!
Jen Huegel says
Hi! I’m a teacher and I know how much you all love dogs so I wanted to recommend a couple of my favorite books I use with my students in small group reading. Start with A Dog’s Life by Ann M. Martin. It’s a beautiful story told from the point of view of a stray dog. Then I always surprise my students that there is a second book (the dog gets separated from her brother in book one and the kids always wonder what happened to him). Well, in Everything for A Dog, they get to find out! There are always squeals of excitement when I share this book! It connects so well to the first one, and my students always love going back to the first one to find commonalities, like the towns the dogs have passed through, and other twists that they will discover. They are amazing books, I think mom would enjoy them too?.
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you so much!!!
SC McKay says
What a great picture of Kensington and great book review! I would appreciate any recommendations for my boys, Ashby’s age! We have enjoyed the Doodle Devotions you recommended sometime ago. Thank you so much!
Mix and Match Mama says
When Smith was 8, he fell in love with everything Dav Pilkey!
Kim says
Oh my gosh, my 9 year old and I love the Vanderbeekers series. I read them out loud to her and she has been re-reading them to herself. I just pre-ordered the 4th book in the series coming out in September. This series is up there with our all time favorite series like Ramona, Little House, Harry Potter, etc. Some other books that she has loved that also have the focus on siblings and neighbors are Ballet Shoes (the series Kathleen Kelly loves in You’ve Got Mail) and the Cody series by Tricia Springstubb. I always love book recs – thanks to K for sharing!
Jennifer says
Great job Kensington! Really impressed with how you summarized the books. Any recommendations for 8 year old girls?
Mix and Match Mama says
Ashby is now into the Owl Diaries!
Kristen Smith says
Oh yes, I loved the Mandie books!
B says
This is off topic but I would be interested in hearing what hair products your girls use or care techniques. Particularly Kensington because I have a daughter her age. Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
We’re pretty basic with hair products. My girls use shampoos and conditioners from Trader Joe’s or they use leftover bottles of my Moroccanoil shampoo/conditioner. K does us the Unite detangler that I love so much and that’s about it! No hairspray or any other products.
Lisa says
I love that she’s a reader! I’m an elementary school media specialist and I just love talking about books with kids. Some favorites of my students her age are by authors Sarah Weeks and Wendy Mass. Sharon Creech also has some wonderful books; Walk Two Moons and The Wanderer are popular. Fort by Cynthia DeFelice is fabulous, and I know Smith would love it too – it’s about a couple of boys who build an old-fashioned fort in the woods one summer and have to defend it and a developmentally disabled neighborhood boy against a couple of older bullies. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar is wonderful too. If she likes fantasy, there’s a series called The Sisters Grimm about two girls in an orphanage who come to learn that they are descended from the Brothers Grimm and they go to live with their grandmother in a village populated by fairy tale characters. Gordon Korman is super prolific and really popular. Happy reading!
Kristin says
Can Smith do one next?! We have a little boy a year younger than him that I need recs for!
Loved Ks book reviews!
MelanieL says
I love this post and those sliders have become a favorite in our house! Have a great day!
Ellen says
I want to read the Vanderbeeker books now!
How about Harriet the Spy? Also, I think she would be ready for some of the graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier. Maybe flip through first to see if you think a book is OK? One is about anxiety, and I thought it might be a bit much for my anxious child.
Margaret Porterfield says
I love to read , but my kids don’t love it as much as I do! When do your kids read? Do you have a specific time/schedule when they read?
Sheaffer Sims says
Just FYI. Carter’s book list looks a lot like mine.
Leslie S says
I just LOLd! Sheaffer you are hilarious ?
Leslie S says
Has Kensington read Number The Stars? My girls read it this summer – historical fiction, and theyloved it. They’ve also been reading my old Trixie Belden books LOL Oldies, but still good!!
My son, rising 2nd, has been reading Haggis and Tank, Ballpark Mysteries.
Rachel Davis says
I LOVED that you could print the recipe card AND pin it! Maybe you have had this and I just realized it, but I love it!
Also, I want to read some of Kensington’s selections!
Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says
Mason hasn’t read a book all summer. ? I blame myself. BUT just yesterday afternoon, I told him he needed to start reading again and to pick out a new book on Amazon. He didn’t know what to pick and I remembered you saying Smith loved the Theodore Boone series so I showed it to him and we ordered Kid Lawyer! I hope he likes it as much as Smith!!
That Inspired Chick
Mix and Match Mama says
He will love them!!!! I’m so glad you ordered the first one!
Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says
One more thing. I remember loving the book, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler back in elementary school. Did you ever read that? It’s about a girl who decides to run away and lets her little brother tag along. They decide to move into the Metropolitan Museum of Art (which sounded like so much fun to me!!) and end up getting involved in a little mystery. I have read countless numbers of books over the years but that one always stood out for me. I bet K would like it too especially since it involves NYC!
Linda Henderson says
Hooray for Kensington! Love that your precious girl enjoys reading.
Julie says
Thanks for the recommendations! My 11-year-old daughter loved
Fish in a Tree
One for the Murphys
Out of My Mind
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
A teacher friend recommended
Mustaches for Maddie
Coyote Sunrise
Code of Honor
Honest Truth
The War that Saved My Life
Richelle says
My daughter LOVES the Dance your Heart Out series by Maddie Ziegler. I bet K would love it too since she is a dancer.
Richelle says
Ooh, also Gossamer by Lois Lowry is such a fun read.
Maria T says
Can you please make a picture where you store all their books? Or do they read it on their Kindle?
Mix and Match Mama says
She does both! We got the kids Kindles two years ago for Christmas but then we have bookshelves in her bedroom and our play room for actual books.
Connie says
Awesome Kensington!! My daughter loves to read as well. Some books she likes are: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. The Selection Series. The Raymie Nightingale Series of 3 books. Summerlost by Ally Condie. Because of Winn Dixie by Katie DiCamillo. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin. The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly. I know she has read many more, but this should do for now. haha!
Thank you for the book review for The Vanderbeekers books. We plan to read those soon!
Kadie says
Has she read The Babysitters Club books?! I loved them. I have TONS of them in my moms attic and can’t wait to share them with my little girl one day!
Mix and Match Mama says
She has! Those were my favorite growing up!!!
Sara S says
Such a fun and sweet post! I would love to suggest The Mysterious Benedict Society!
Lori says
Thanks Kensington and Shay for this! I’m 49 and will be reading all of these. I believe there’s so much even us adults can draw from middle grade books, My parents divorced years several years back, so several of these books I’m particularly drawn to. Keep up the reading sweet girl and I also adore that you like to wear a cardigan most of the time. I too love a good cardi and find it so cozy.
Tricia says
Oh Shay and Kensington! This post made both my teacher heart and my Mama heart so happy! You two are so much like my 11 year old daughter and me!! We love to read and we both fly through books like crazy! Is it bad when you have to tell your daughter to put her book away because it’s way past her bedtime?? LOL! She loves climbing into bed with me each night just to read while the poor hubs gets punted for an hour or so…
I have gotten my daughter some of the books Kensington has recommended over the past couple of years, but to have a whole review was AMAZING!!! My daughter was so excited to read this post!
When I asked her what books she would recommend to other 11 year old girls, this is what she came up with…
Any of the Lucy M Montgomery books (Anne series and Emily series)
11 Before 12 (this is also a series)
Land of Stories
Wish series
Whatever After series
100 Dresses series
Good Dog
Anything by Kate Di Camillo
Nancy Drew series
Finding Perfect
The One and Only Ivan
The One and Only Bob
Just to name a few…lol!
My 9 year old daughter was feeling left out and wanted to contribute too…lol!
Anything by David Walliams
Stranded series by Jeff Probst (Yes, Survivor type books for kids!)
A Guard Dog Named Honey
We just got back from a quick getaway to the lake over the past few days. I COULD NOT put down “An Anonymous Girl”!!! Thanks for recommending!! I just love ALL of the books you recommend, but this one will stick with me for a while!! As will “The Things We cannot Say”. Two of my favourites by far!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh my goodness, thank you, thank you, thank you for these recs!! xo
Scarlet says
What a great reading list. My kids and I love to read together and alone. My son always brings me the book is he is currently reading so I get to have a feel for what they are all about through random chapters! Sometimes I go back and read the whole thing when he is done.
Holly S says
My favorite books when I was Kensington’s age were the One of a Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor. They are about a Jewish family of mostly girls who live on the lower east side of NYC at the turn of the last century and there are several books in the series. Also one of my favorite adult authors, Sandra Dallas, has a couple of young reader books, The Quilt Walk and Someplace to Call Home. Her books are historical fiction and I have read and loved every one of them. Her adult books would be a recommendation for you, Shay, if you have not read them. I especially love The Persian Pickle Club, The Diary of Mattie Spenser and The Chili Queen.
Ashley M says
Thanks for the recommendations! My 11-year-old daughter really enjoyed the following books this summer:
The Science of Breakable Things
Squint
Front Desk
Blended
The Doughnut Fix
Amal Unbound
Captain Superlative
The Truth as Told By Mason Buttle
Finding Layla