Sense of Place, Sense of Self

Compiled by Tessa Michaelson
© 2009 Cooperative Children's Book Center

This bibliography explores fiction for older elementary through high school readers in which the modern-day setting plays a critical role. Beyond descriptions of frigid tundras, vibrant neighborhoods, and moody coastlines, the external surroundings depicted in these titles provide perspective on the internal landscape of the protagonists. In each of these novels, the personal terrain traversed by the characters mirrors the physical terrain of the setting. Whether selecting books for an immersing reading experience or as inspiration for writing activities, the highly discussable titles below are rife with unforgettable scenes and situations.

Click on underlined book titles to see the CCBC review of the book, and/or the cover image.

Older Elementary (Grades 3-5)

Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath . Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. 311 pages. Ages 9-14

Bruchac, Joseph. Eagle Song. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. Dial, 1997. Ages 9 - 11

DiCamillo, Kate . Because of Winn-Dixie. Candlewick Press, 2000. Ages 9 - 12

Henkes, Kevin. Bird Lake Moon. Greenwillow, 2008. 179 pages. Ages 9-12

Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. A Richard Jackson Book / Atheneum, 2006. 134 pages. Ages 9-12

Philbrick, Rodman. The Young Man and the Sea. Blue Sky Press / Scholastic, 2004. 191 pages. Ages 9-12

Reeve, Kirk . Lolo and Red-Legs . Rising Moon/Northland, 1998. 111 pages. Ages 9-12

Spinelli, Eileen . Where I Live. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. Dial, 112 pages. Ages 8-12

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Frost, Helen. Diamond Willow. Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. 111 pages. Ages 10-14

Appelgate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. Feiwel and Friends, 2007. 249 pages. Ages 10-14

Creech, Sharon. The Wanderer. Joanna Cotler / HarperCollins, 2000. Ages 11 - 14

Hamilton, Virginia . Plain City. Blue Sky Press, 1993. 194 pages. Ages 11-14

Mass, Wendy. Every Soul a Star. Little, Brown, 2008. 322 pages. Ages 10-14

Nye, Naomi Shihab. Habibi. Simon & Schuster, 1997. Ages 11 - 14

Sachar, Louis. Holes. Frances Foster / Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998. Ages 10 - 14

Sheth, Kashmira. Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet. Hyperion, 2006. 25 pages. Age 12 and older

High School (Grades 9-12)

Brooks, Martha . Mistik Lake. Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007. 207 pages. Ages 13 and older

Carter, Anne Laurel. The Shepherd's Granddaughter. Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press, 2008. 224 pages. Age 13 and older

Casey, Maude . Over the Water. An Edge Book / Henry Holt, 1994. 246 pages. Age 14 and older

Chambers, Aidan. Postcards from No Man's Land. U.S edition: Dutton, 2002. Age 16 and older

Jaramillo, Ann. La Línea. Deborah Brodie Book / Roaring Brook Press, 2006. 131 pages. Age 13 and older

McCaughrean, Geraldine . The White Darkness. HarperTempest / HarperCollins, 2007. 373 pages. Age 14 and older

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. Life as We Knew It. Harcourt, 2006. 337 pages. Age 13 and older

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. The Dead & the Gone. Harcourt , 2007. 321 pages. Ages 13 and older

Reinhardt, Dana . How to Build a House. Wendy Lamb Books / Random House, 2008. 227 pages. Age 14 and older

Resau, Laura. Red Glass. Delacorte, 2007. 275 pages. Ages 11-15

Rosoff, Meg. how i live now. Wendy Lamb Books / Random House, 2004. 194 pages. Ages 14-18

Schmidt, Gary D.. Trouble. Clarion, 2008. 297 pages. Age 13 and older

Tan, Shaun. Tales from Outer Suburbia. Templar, 2009. 98 pages. Age 12 and older

Weber, Lori. If You Live Like Me. Lobster Press, 2009. 336 pages. Age 13 and older

This list may be reproduced and distributed by educational and/or nonprofit organizations so long as credit is given to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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	CCBC Bibliographies & Booklists Charlotte Zolotow Award Book of the Week CCBC Specialized Information CCBC Book Discussions CCBC - Net Awards & Best-of-the-Year Lists Review Journals Sense of Place, Sense of Self Compiled by Tessa Michaelson © 2009 Cooperative Children's Book Center This bibliography explores fiction for older elementary through high school readers in which the modern-day setting plays a critical role. Beyond descriptions of frigid tundras, vibrant neighborhoods, and moody coastlines, the external surroundings depicted in these titles provide perspective on the internal landscape of the protagonists. In each of these novels, the personal terrain traversed by the characters mirrors the physical terrain of the setting. Whether selecting books for an immersing reading experience or as inspiration for writing activities, the highly discussable titles below are rife with unforgettable scenes and situations. Click on underlined book titles to see the CCBC review of the book, and/or the cover image. Older Elementary (Grades 3-5) Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath . Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. 311 pages. Ages 9-14 Bruchac, Joseph. Eagle Song. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. Dial, 1997. Ages 9 - 11 DiCamillo, Kate . Because of Winn-Dixie. Candlewick Press, 2000. Ages 9 - 12 Henkes, Kevin. Bird Lake Moon. Greenwillow, 2008. 179 pages. Ages 9-12 Patron, Susan. The Higher Power of Lucky. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. A Richard Jackson Book / Atheneum, 2006. 134 pages. Ages 9-12 Philbrick, Rodman. The Young Man and the Sea. Blue Sky Press / Scholastic, 2004. 191 pages. Ages 9-12 Reeve, Kirk . Lolo and Red-Legs . Rising Moon/Northland, 1998. 111 pages. Ages 9-12 Spinelli, Eileen . Where I Live. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. Dial, 112 pages. Ages 8-12 Middle School (Grades 6-8) Frost, Helen. Diamond Willow. Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. 111 pages. Ages 10-14 Appelgate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. Feiwel and Friends, 2007. 249 pages. Ages 10-14 Creech, Sharon. The Wanderer. Joanna Cotler / HarperCollins, 2000. Ages 11 - 14 Hamilton, Virginia . Plain City. Blue Sky Press, 1993. 194 pages. Ages 11-14 Mass, Wendy. Every Soul a Star. Little, Brown, 2008. 322 pages. Ages 10-14 Nye, Naomi Shihab. Habibi. Simon & Schuster, 1997. Ages 11 - 14 Sachar, Louis. Holes. Frances Foster / Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998. Ages 10 - 14 Sheth, Kashmira. Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet. Hyperion, 2006. 25 pages. Age 12 and older High School (Grades 9-12) Brooks, Martha . Mistik Lake. Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007. 207 pages. Ages 13 and older Carter, Anne Laurel. The Shepherd's Granddaughter. Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press, 2008. 224 pages. Age 13 and older Casey, Maude . Over the Water. An Edge Book / Henry Holt, 1994. 246 pages. Age 14 and older Chambers, Aidan. Postcards from No Man's Land. U.S edition: Dutton, 2002. Age 16 and older Jaramillo, Ann. La Línea. Deborah Brodie Book / Roaring Brook Press, 2006. 131 pages. Age 13 and older McCaughrean, Geraldine . The White Darkness. HarperTempest / HarperCollins, 2007. 373 pages. Age 14 and older Pfeffer, Susan Beth. Life as We Knew It. Harcourt, 2006. 337 pages. Age 13 and older Pfeffer, Susan Beth. The Dead & the Gone. Harcourt , 2007. 321 pages. Ages 13 and older Reinhardt, Dana . How to Build a House. Wendy Lamb Books / Random House, 2008. 227 pages. Age 14 and older Resau, Laura. Red Glass. Delacorte, 2007. 275 pages. Ages 11-15 Rosoff, Meg. how i live now. Wendy Lamb Books / Random House, 2004. 194 pages. Ages 14-18 Schmidt, Gary D.. Trouble. Clarion, 2008. 297 pages. Age 13 and older Tan, Shaun. Tales from Outer Suburbia. Templar, 2009. 98 pages. Age 12 and older Weber, Lori. If You Live Like Me. Lobster Press, 2009. 336 pages. Age 13 and older This list may be reproduced and distributed by educational and/or nonprofit organizations so long as credit is given to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.