Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne comes to live with siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on their farm called Green Gables in Avonlea on the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. The Cuthberts decide to take in an orphan boy to help Matthew out with the farm work, but when he arrives to pick up an orphan boy, an orphan girl awaits him instead. The girl charms Matthew with her spirit and nonstop chatter and he asks Marilla if they can keep her. After a trial period, Anne wins over Marilla too and she's allowed to stay.

Due to her lack of education and social graces Anne often behaves in an unladylike manner, but her heart is good. Her best friend is Diana Barry and she is no longer allowed to see her when she accidently serves Diana red currant wine instead of raspberry cordial, which intoxocates her friend. After Anne saves Diana's sister's life (she is sick with croup), the two girls are allowed to be friends and play together again. This is exactly the kind of trouble that Anne often gets into.

Anne has another friend that she feuds with for most of the book. Gilbert Blythe is Anne's arch nemesis because he teased her about her red hair (a crime worthy of the silent treatment in Anne's book) and she competes with him throughout her years of education as they are the two best students in the class.

Anne does well in school and attends the Queens Academy where she wins a scholarship that will allow her to attend a four-year college next fall. On a trip home Anne finds that all has not been well at Green Gables in her absence. Matthew is now suffering heart problems and passes away before novel's end. Marilla is sure to go blind so Anne decides to stay home and care for her and Gilbert Blythe, of all people, gives up his teaching post at Avonlea school so that she may teach and be near Marilla. This act solidifies their friendship.

Genre: Fiction/Classic

Montgomery, L. M. (1988). Anne of green gables. New York: Children's Classics.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The classic story of the four March girls: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The March family is poor and Mr. March is away fighting in the Civil War, but they are charitable and value family above material goods. Meg is under a lot of pressure to marry (as she is the oldest) and with the March family's money troubles it is hard for them to ensure her a proper debut. Jo is a gifted writer, while Beth is a talented pianist. Amy, who is partial to dramatics in her demeanor, finds that she is a gifted artist later in life and even studies abroad when she is grown.

Laurie lives next door and is the girls' near constant companion. He even proposes to Jo, who turns him down, and eventually marries Amy after running into during her time abroad.

The March sisters enjoy their fair share of adventures both good and bad, funny and sad from Amy's lime dilemma to ice skating to Meg's attendance of Annie Moffat's debut to Jo's manuscript to Beth's gift from Mr. Laurence to the Pickwick Club.

Meg eventually marries Mr. Brooke, Laurie's tutor, much to Jo's dismay.

Beth contracts scarlet fever from the baby of a family she offered her assistance to, which leaves her weakened. She passes away before novel's end.

Jo moves to New York where she pursues her writing and meets Prof. Bhaer, who encourages her to write what she knows. She rejects Laurie's proposal and eventually marries Prof. Bhaer. She inherits Plumfield, rich Aunt March's estate, and she turns it into a boarding school for boys.

Amy studies art abroad with rich Aunt March and runs into Laurie, which begins their love affair. They marry and have a daughter, whom they name Beth.

Genre: Fiction/Classic

Alcott, L. M. (1962). Little women. New York: Macmillan.

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice sets off for an adventure when she follows the White Rabbit down his rabbit hole and finds herself in Wonderland, a land of pure nonsense, in this classic novel. Throughout her adventure Alice finds herself shrinking and growing resulting from eating and drinking any number of items. Sometimes her height or lack thereof works to her advantage, sometimes it does not. She meets starnge made up characters like the Jabberwocky and unexplainable characters like the Cheshire Cat who appears and disappears at whim. All creatures in Wonderland fear the Queens of Hearts and her horrible temper and as the novel ends Alice soon discovers why. The Queen of Hearts orders Alice's beheading after she expresses disagreement with the King's interpretation of the Knave of Hearts' poem which is judged to mean he is guilty of the crime of stelaing the Queen of Hearts' tarts. Alice awakens suddenly to find herself back at the riverbank where she must have doed off and visited the zany and unforgettable Wonderland.

Genre: Fantasy/Classic

Carroll, L. (1999). Alice in wonderland. New York: North--South Books.

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams

The classic tale about rfrienship between a spider and pig. Wilbur is born the runt of the litter, but thanks to a little girl named Fern her father keeps him instead of killing him. Wilbur and all the other farm animals can talk and Wilbur soon learns to fear that the farmer may still kill him. Charlotte's vows to help her friend and she decides to use her web to show the farmer just how special Wilbur is. When messages like "Some Pig" and "Terrific" appear in Charlotte's web Wilbur gains some celebrity attention drawing people to the farm from far and wide to see the special pig.

As Wilbur is getting ready to go to the county fair he begins to worry about Charlotte. His friend just doesn't seem to have the same spunk. Charlotte is concerned about finishing her egg sac because she knows that her days are numbered. Eventually Charlotte tells Wilbur that soon she will die, but she tries to make Wilbur focus on the fact that he will live and that should be celebrated. Wilbur plays the hero when he saves Charlotte's egg sac, ensuring that Charlotte's babies will be born. When the baby spiders do emerge from the egg sac all but three float away. The three who remain befriend Wilbur, which makes him happy even though he will never forget Charlotte.

Genre: Fiction/Classic

White, E. B. (1952). Charlotte's web. New York: Harper.

Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

Edward and Alphonse Elric are alchemists that made the mistake of breaking one of alchemy's biggest laws: resurrecting the dead. As a result they are stuck in half-human bodies of metal. They are searching for the philosopher's stone in hopes that it will help them regain their original bodies. In their search, they stop in a town that is under the power of a corrupt religious official. The townspeople believe that he can perform miracles but the alchemists quickly discover that his "miraculous powers" are nothing more than alchemy. The religious leader has a ring that appears to be the philosopher's stone, but when the brothers reveal him as a fraud to the townspeople the ring breaks in the scuffle and it becomes obvious that the stone is a fake.

Along they travel, and the brothers find themselves in a mining town were another corrupt official is taxing people to the point where they don't have enough food to eat and can hardly afford their homes and businesses. Using alchemy the brothers trick the official into trading the deeds over for huge sums of gold. The alchemists make a deal to trade the deeds over to the townspeople before the corrupt official notices that the gold has changed back into rock.

The alchemists then find themselves on a train being held hostage and they use alchemy and their quick wit to outsmart the gunmen and take control of the train.

This series contains violent action and some inappropriate language. It is intended to be read by teens 8th grade and up. Due to the scenes of intense action this title appeals mainly to boys.

Genre: Fantasy/Manga

Arakawa, H. (2002). Fullmetal alchemist. San Francisco, CA: Viz.

Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

Strega Nona, which means "Grandma Witch" is a little old lady with the magic touch. All the townspeople come to see her to cure their problem whether they be a headache or lack of a husband.

Being that Strega Nina is pretty old she posts a sign in the town square asking for someone to help her out around her house. Big Anthony answers the ad and she asks him to keep the house, tend the garden, feed and milk the goat and fetch water for which she will pay three coins and provide a place to sleep and food to eat. She also warns him to never touch her pasta pot. Everything seems to be working out just fine until Big Anthony witnesses the magic of the pasta pot.

Big Anthony overhears Strega Nona singing a song to make the pasta pot bubble up with pasta and then she sings another song to make it stop. She also blows three kisses, but Big Anthony didn't see this for he had already run toward town to tell the townsfolk. Of course, nobody in town believes him so when Strega Nona leaves to call on a friend of hers Big Anthony sings the sings the song to the magic pot and it bubbles to life full of delicious pasta. Big Anthony invites all of the townsfolk and they all feast until they have their fill and then Big Anthony sings the song to make the pasta stop, only he didn't blow three kisses and the pasta just keeps flowing!

The pasta fills Strega Nona's house and cascades down the hills heading for town. The towsnfolk rush to build barracades to protect themselves from the pasta, but luckily Strega Nona arrives back in town just in time. She delivers the solution and punishment for Big Anthony: he must eat all of the pasta!

This is a perfect tale for storytime!

Genre: Folktale/Fairy Tale/Picture Book

dePaola, T. (1975). Strega nona. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Wish (story and art by Clamp; translator Ray Yashimoto) English translation by Jamie S. Rich

Wish is the story of good versus evil that plays out on Earth. One night Dr. Shuichiro Kudo rescues angel Kohaku from a crow sent from the devil. So begins the debt of gratitude that Kohaku must repay. The problem lies in the fact that the dreamy doctor has no need for wishes because he has everything he needs. Kohaku sticks around and tries to help Shuichiro out around the house but she messes things up more than she helps. She may be an angel, but she's a clumsy one.

In confidence one night Kohaku reveals that she is also on Earth looking for one of the angel masters from Heaven, a woman who is also her mentor and is very dear to her. Time is running out to find her as there are strict rules about how long angels can remain on Earth. Meanwhile, beings from the underworld are conspiring against the angels.

Madam Hisui, the master angel, turns up while Kohaku and Koryu, a being from the underworld are about to battle and announces that she can no longer return to heaven because she has fallen for the son of Satan and the pair have consummated their affair. Book 1 ends with kind Dr. Kudo offering to house the lovers so that God will not be aware of the love affair.

This book contains some inappropriate language and sexual innuendos. It is intended for teen readers 8th grade and up. Although it is thoroughly entertaining this particular title appeals mainly to teen girls.

Genre: Fantasy/Manga

Rich, J. S. (2002). Wish. Los Angeles, CA: Tokyopop.