The Lord of the Rings

by J. R. R. Tolkien. This is actually a trilogy, and while some might call a it a fairy tale, it is very different from fairy tales such as Snow White, Goldilocks, and Rapunzel.

The Fellowship of the Ring : In the first book, two hobbits, Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee set out, per Gandalf's request, to destroy the ring made many, many years before by Sauron. They are joined by two other hobbits, and five other companions, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, making nine members of the fellowship.

The Two Towers : The first half of the second book focuses on the adventures of Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf. The second half focuses on Frodo and Sam, who, having been seperated from the rest of the party, continue on their way to Mount Doom, with the assistance of Gollum.

The Return of the King : The conclusion, I will leave for you to find out for yourselves. However, you can comment and ask me to write a little something if you would like.   

The Hidden Treasure of Glaston

by Eleanore M. Jewett.  As one can see on the side-bar of my blog, this is one of my favorite books.  Set in twelth century Glaston, England this story is about young Hugh, whose father bring him to Glastonbury Abbey and leaves him in the care of the monks there.  Hugh, along with his friend, Dickon find themselves caught in a mystery of the Holy Grail (the chalice that Our Lord used at the Last Supper).  An old, supposedly mad hermit, the exciting setting, and the details of life in a twelth century monastery all add to the enjoyment of this book.

Around the World in Eighty Days

by Jules Verne is a good book. It isn't quite like Verne's other books, but I really enjoyed reading it.

The Hound of the Baskervilles

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is an exciting book about one of England's most famous (though legendary,) detctives, Sherlock Holmes. Most of the Sherlock Holmes books can be grouped together in a few large books. However, The Hound of the Baskervilles is not the size where this can easily be done. The unabrigded Puffin Classics edition is 240 pages long.

Unlike most of the other books which follow Sherlock Holmes' adventures, several chapters focus on Watson, Holmes' loyal assistant, and from whose point of view the stories are written. A Dr. Mortimer asks Holmes to investigate the legend of a mysterious hound, which suddenly seems to have turned to reality. Holmes sends Watson to protect the heir of Baskerville Hall, and later comes himself. Together the two companions find themselves unraveling many exciting clues until they come to the conclusion of the mystery.

Darby O'Gill and the Good People

by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh. The most enjoyable chapter, in my opinion, is "The Banshee's Comb". Anyone who enjoys tales set in Ireland will REALLY enjoy this book, cover to cover!

Disney changed a lot in making the movie "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", but of course, film-makers always have to adapt a book quite a bit before making a movie based upon the book. It's still a good movie.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

by Hugh Lofting.  Join Dr. John Dolittle, his friends, Tommy Stubbins, Bumpo, Chee-Chee, Jip, and Polynesia on their adventurous voyage to Spider Monkey Island. Whether the doctor is bull-fighting in Spain, or governing the natives of  Spider Monkey Island as their king, you'll will enjoy the whole book from cover-to-cover!

Captain Blood

by Rafael Sabatini. Yes, it doesn't sound like the nicest title but it fits all that Peter Blood was in the book: a soldier (mentioned at the beginning), a physician, and a pirate. I read this book for the Literary Club, and enjoyed it, for the most part. I would probably recommend it for ages 12 or 13 and up.

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

by Howard Pyle. This is an excellent book by an excellent author. As with Men of Iron, it's not very exciting in the first few chapters, but as you read further into it you'll hardly be able to put it down! Boys might like it more than girls, but anyone who likes to read adventure books will enjoy The Story of King Arthur and His Knights. By the way, it's long, but well worth the read.

The Mystery of the Emeralds

by Kathryn Kenny is probably the best Trixie Belden book I have read.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Trixie Belden: Mystery on the Mississippi

by Kathryn Kenny. I think that this is one of the best Trixie Belden books I have read. The Bob-Whites have gone on a trip to Missourri with Mr. Wheeler, and as usual, Trixie can't help but find a mystery.

The Trumpeter of Krakow

by Eric P. Kelly. The Trumpeter of Krakow is a GREAT book which takes place in Poland during the 15th Century. If anyone out there is at all like me, you'll want to read this book over and over again.

Men of Iron

by Howard Pyle. This is a very exciting book which takes place in France. You will enjoy reading about Myles Falworth as he strives to become a knight and avenge his father (the blind lord), an unjustly outlawed knight.

The Black Arrow

by Robert Louis Stevenson is a GREAT book!

The main characters are:

Richard Shelton

Sir Daniel Brackley

Joanna Sedley

Sir Richard of Gloucester (Richard Crookback)

Sir Oliver Oates

Apparently, R.L. Stevenson had a good sense of humor; for while the book is rather violent in some places, it is very funny in others. At the end of the book Dick (and the reader,) have learned a few lessons.

It would make a REALLY GOOD read-aloud. My family and I listened to the seven (7) CD set in the car, and we all enjoyed every bit of it.

Escape from Warsaw

by Ian Serraillier is one of the best books I have ever read that takes place during WWII.

The Borrowed House

by Hilda van Stockum. This book is a good book, but it's for slightly older readers. It takes place during World War II' in Germany, and then Holland. It's about a 14 year-old German girl named Janna and a 17 year-old Jewish boy named Sef. Janna goes to live with her actor-parents in a "borrowed house" that was taken from a Dutch family by the Germans. Although Janna initially sees the Nazis as rather wonderful people, she learns about what they have done to thousands upon thousands of people from Sef, and has a  different opinion by the end of the book.

The Letzenstein Chronicles

by Meriol Trevor are REALLY GOOD BOOKS!!!!

The books are:
The Crystal Snowstorm
Following the Phoenix
The Angel and the Dragon and.......
The Rose and Crown

Red Hugh: Prince of Donegal

by Robert T. Reilly is a book that I have read MANY times. It's a really good book.

The Princess and the Goblin

by George MacDonald is a REALLY GOOD book!!!!

The main characters are:
Princess Irene
Curdie
Princess Irene's Great-Great-Grandmother

P.S. The sequel to The Princess and the Goblin is The Princess and Curdie.

Tintin

by Herge.

The Tintin books are:
The Blue Lotus
Tintin and the Broken Ear
Destination Moon
Explorers on the Moon and......many more "Tintin" books.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by L. Frank Baum. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a WONDERFUL book!!