Stephanie Burgis - Magical Books for Ages Ten to Fifteen

One of the hardest questions I ever have to answer is: "What's your favorite book?" The problem is, I love books so much that I have MANY favorites, depending on my mood and what kind of book I feel like reading at the moment...so I thought I'd include a whole sampling of them here.

(Note: some of the following books are shelved in the adult stacks of the library, but none of them are inappropriate for 10-15-year olds.)

Favorite Regency/Historical Romantic Comedies:

Georgette Heyer's The Reluctant Widow

Mystery, danger, and romantic comedy adventure in a ramshackle country house - and it even has a fabulous dog as a character! I've loved this novel ever since I was 12 years old.

Georgette Heyer's The Talisman Ring

This one has smugglers, headless horsemen, romance, and some scenes that are so funny they made me laugh out loud the first time I read it (in the middle of the night, because I couldn't bear to stop for bedtime), which woke up both of my grandparents in the next room! Luckily, my grandma forgave me when she read it afterwards, because she loved it just as much as I did.

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

This book is a classic for a reason. My dad read it to me when I was eight years old, and I fell head over heels in love with the whole Regency period. There are lots of movie versions of this one, but my favorite adaptation is the TV miniseries with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, because it's the only one that really captures just how funny the book is, as well as how romantic. It truly is as much a comedy as a romance.

Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

15-year-old Catherine wants to be a heroine, and she becomes one in a different way than she'd imagined in this very funny novel about growing up, learning how to tell which friends can be trusted, and how to find the perfect guy despite all of your romantic fantasies. I laugh every time I read it.

Caroline Stevermer and Patricia Wrede's Sorcery & Cecilia, The Grand Tour, and The Mislaid Magician

I love this whole trilogy, which, like my Kat books, mingles Regency romantic comedy with fantasy adventure. The books are told in a series of very funny letters between two cousins, Kate and Cecy, who are also best friends, and who approach all their problems - from a Mysterious Marquis to an enchanted chocolate pot - with wit and verve, even as they neatly secure their perfect husbands. Really, really fun!

Favorite Kids' Books:

Virginia Euwer Wolff's The Mozart Season

I've re-read this book so many times since I first discovered it, when I was 14 years old. Of course, when I discovered it, I was a teenage girl who was also a serious classical musician, so I really identified with Allegra, the heroine of this book - but I promise that you don't need to be a musician to love this book. It's also about coping with complicated family history, finding out who you really are, and daring to throw your whole heart into a contest that you might still lose. Beautiful and life-affirming.

Joan Bauer's Squashed

This book makes me laugh every time I read it, and I have re-read it MANY times! Teenaged Ellie is determined to win the prize for growing giant pumpkins in her local fair AND win the heart of her true love, but she's got a whole array of dangers and enemies stacked against her. Luckily, she has her hilarious family (and one of the funniest dog characters I've ever read) on her side, and she has loads of pluck and determination. This is a comfort read for me - every time I re-read it, it makes me happy.

How about you guys? What are your favorite books? Friend me on Goodreads to share recommendations and reviews.