Families

May 15th  International day of Families

http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/

Families come in all shapes and sizes but we all belong to one. These stories portray children from  all sorts of different families. Sometimes children have to deal with difficult situations in their family. These fictional characters all deal with adversity in different ways often finding novel and humorous solutions to their problems.
While others are just great reads about children from different sorts of families having fun and adventures.

All in the Family : Stories That Hit Home

Edited by Tony Bradnam

London A & C Black 2008

Genre Short Stories

10+


A collection of short stories celebrating the diversity of family life. These stories by top authors, including Linda Newberry, Tim Wynne-Jones and Jo Nadin  are both funny  and sad. Themes include coping in new situations  like having a new stepfather or visiting relatives in another country  for the first time. One story includes a boy coping with the death of his father while another shows a girl coming to terms with her mother being confined to a wheel chair following an accident.

Where Cuckoos Call

by Des Hunt

Harper Collins NZ 2007

Genre Realistic Fiction

10 to 14



  Ben Mansefields twelth birthday started off being the best birthday ever. When he finds a baby shining cuckoo and takes it home it has far reaching consequences. Ben lives on a  farm  located by the beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. His Dad is ill and the family are struggling to cope and fear they may lose the farm.  Bens love of birds and his efforts to protect them provide the basis for the story. Ben has to grow up quickly to face threats to his home his family and the birds he loves. This is a fast paced and witty novel.

The Source

Lola Rose

by Jacqueline Wilson

Illustrated by Nick Sharratt

First Published by Doubleday 2003

Genre Realistic Fiction

9+

When Jayni stands up to her Dad and he explodes her Mum finally decides it is time to leave. After making their escape in the middle of the night with  money won on a scratchit, Jayni, her younger brother Kenny and her Mum head for London. They take on new names to try and keep her Dad from finding them so Jayni becomes Lola Rose.
Life has more hurdles for Jayni as the money runs out when her Mum has to go into hospital.

The Source

Chinese Cinderella

By Adeline Yen Mah

London Puffin 1999

Genre Biography

11-14 yrs

This is the young readers version of the adult autobiography Falling Leaves. Adeline's mother died as a result of her birth and she is thought by her family to bring bad luck. Her life is made more miserable when her father marries again as her new stepmother has little time for her. After being sent off to boarding school meant she no longer had to tolerate the physical and emotional abuse. Being very intelligent and strong willed she manages to pursue her own dreams for the future.

The Penderwicks

A summer Tale of Four Sisters Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy

by Jeanne Bidsall

first Published New York By Knopf 2005
National book Award (America) 2005 Winner

Series The Penderwicks 1

Genre  Realistic fiction

9+

The four Penderwick girls and their father rent a cottage in the Berkshire Hills in the grounds of a country mansion. Soon they are exploring the grounds and a treasure filled attic. Their best find is Jeffrey Tilton the son of the mansion owner who joins them in their adventures. His mother is not so happy with his new found friends, especially as they encourage him to stand up to her and to make his own decisions about his future.  A lighthearted easy read.

The Source

Mother Number Zero

By Marjolyn Hot

Groundwood Books Canada 2011

Genre Realistic Fiction

9+

Fay and his sister Bing are both adopted. He has not thought about it much except to note that none of his family look alike. After he meets a new friend Maud who asks him lots of questions about what it feels like to be adopted he begins to wonder about his Bosnian birth mother. This causes some strain within the family as his sister was an abandoned baby and cannot search for her birth mother. A moving story written in an attention grabbing style.

Novelist

Salt River

by Elizabeth Hegarty

Scholastic NZ 2009

Genre Historical

10-14 yrs


This story is based on the true story of the Pook family who lived in a remote area of the Kaipara Harbour in the 1920's. The story begins Tom's parents go away for a weeks holiday to finally get married they leave 14 year old Tom  in charge of his seven younger brothers and sisters. He must ensure all the daily chores are done and keep the family fishing business going as well as looking after the younger children with the help of his 10 year old sister Mary. This story gives an insight into life in  the not so distant past that will astonish kids of today.

The Source

Danny The Champion of The World

By Roald Dahl

Illustrated by Quentin Blake
 

Publisher Puffin 2007
Originally published London Cape 1975

Genre     Realistic Fiction


Age        9-12


Danny's mother died when he was four months old and he has been raised by his loving father. They live in an old caravan behind the petrol station in the small village they live in. When Danny is nine years old he learns about his fathers obsession with poaching. This leads to a great poaching adventure.Fast paced and funny an easy read. Quentin Blakes illustrations help add an extra dimension to the story.


The Source

The Willoughbys

By Lois Lowry

Boston : Houghton Mifflin 2008

Genre Fiction

9-12 yrs

The Willoughbys, Timothy, his twin brothers Barnaby A and Barnaby B and their little sister Jane are old fashioned children who love old fashioned adventure. As their parents are rather neglectful they begin to wonder if they would be better off as orphans like so many children in stories  they have read such as Anne of Green Gables, James and the Giant Peach . They concoct a plan to get rid of their parents by sending them on a dangerous trip. Meanwhile they are left with a nanny who turns out to be just what they need. Includes a humourous glossary of old fashioned words.

Stories of the Wild west Gang

Author Joy Cowley

Illustrations by Trevor Pye

Publisher Gecko Press 2011

Genre RealisticFiction

10+

This compilation of ten stories about the West family is full of fun and adventure. Michael is an only child but when his uncle and aunt and cousins move in to his neighbourhood his life becomes much more exciting.  From mud fights to chewing gum pies the Wests go from one riotous adventure to the next.  Great stories for an adult to share with a child or for confident readers to enjoy on their own.