Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

The Tuck family has a secret and they are put at risk when a ten year old girl and an evil man in a yellow suit discover what it is.

The Spider and the Fly by Tony Diterlizzi

A cautionary tale for children who might be flattered into going with strangers.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

From chapters.ca:
Set at a boys' boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The movie version of William Goldman's book has become a classic.

Buttercup is one of the most beautiful women in the world and she has a true love. When her love is killed by pirates she agrees to marry Prince Humperdink, but those plans go awry.

Puss in Boots

The classic tale of a third son who is left nothing but a cat when his father dies and how he managed to come out ahead.

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

On the ALA Top 100 Banned Book list. Written by Hinton when he was 15, this book explores the lives of teenagers affected by gang warfare, poverty, and class conflict.

The Phantom Toll Booth by Norton Juster

Milo, a bored ten-year-old comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth''s gates and begins a memorable journey.

Out of the Blue by Sarah Ellis

From chapters.ca:
Megan is on the brink of her 12th birthday, and the household just doesn’t seem the same. Her parents seem secretive, and Megan hopes it’s because they have a surprise for her. In fact they do have a surprise, only when they deliver the news, it’s nothing like she had expected. Out of the blue, Megan’s life is turned upside down as the clearly drawn lines of her world begin to smudge.

The Once and Future King by T. H. White

This is the classic version of The Sword in the Stone. The rest of The Once and Future King continues through the Arthurian legend to its conclusion.

Olivia by Ian Falconer

This book became wildly popular very quickly.

Olivia is an energetic young pig and has a number of adventures in a number of books by Ian Falconer.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

From the back of the book:
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think about life before the war. But it's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town.
The Nazi won't stop. The Jews of Denmark are being "relocated," so Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family.

Monsieur Saguette and His Baguette by Frank Asch

Monsieur Saguette goes out to buy a baguette to have with his meal. On the way, his bread turns out to be extremely handy.

Man Who Walks Between Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

When the Twin Towers were still under construction, a man walked a tightrope between the two buildings. This is his story.

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Trixie goes to the laundromat with her father and knuffle bunny. While there, knuffle bunny goes missing and they must find it again.

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

From chapters.ca:
Just like other kids, Zinkoff rides his bike, hopes for snow days, and wants to be like his dad when he grows up. But Zinkoff also raises his hand with all the wrong answers, trips over his own feet, and falls down with laughter over a word like ""Jabip.""

This book will tug at your heart strings.

Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang by Mordecai Richler

From chapters.ca:
Poor Jacob Two-Two. Not only must he say everything twice just to be heard over his four brothers and sisters, but he finds himself the prisoner of the dreaded Hooded Fang. What had he done to deserve such a punishment? The worst crime of all – insulting a grown-up! Although he’s small, Jacob is not helpless, especially when The Infamous Two come to his aid.

If you enjoy this one, Jacob has a number of other adventures.

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

This is a humorous tale of a king who refuses to get out of the bath and the court that tries to lure him out..

Imagine a Day by Rob Gonsalves

This beautifully illustrated book that will give anyone a lot to imagine.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Now made famous by Miyazaki's film version, this is the novel from which the story was taken.

Sophie is the eldest of three sisters and, as we all know from fairy tales, that means she is doomed to misfortune. Sophie resigns herself to work in a hat shop until a witch puts a curse on her and she sets off to do something about it.

Hot Air by Marjorie Priceman

This is the (mostly) true story of the first human made structure to successfully fly through the air.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

This is a well written and insightful look into the lives of those children that lived though the Second World War in Germany and were not persecuted.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley's family has very bad luck because of a curse put on his great grandfather and Stanley himself if convicted of a crime he did not commit. While he is serving his time at Camp Greenlake the way to end the curse is accidentally put in motion.

Hero of Lesser Causes by Julie Johnston

The Second World War is over and everything seems to be getting back to normal when Keely's brother becomes infected with polio. He gives up the will to live and she must help to save him.

Happily Ever After by Anna Quindlen, illustrated by James Stevenson

Kate loves baseball and fairy tales. She also has a magic baseball mitt which grants wishes. Kate discovers that being a princess might not be all it's cracked up to be.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet keeps a notebook in which she writes all the details she notices about people's lives as she spies on them. What would happen if it fell into the wrong hands?

Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning

The Pied Piper is called to rid the town of Hamelin of rats.

This is Robert Browning's adaptation of the well known German tale.

Graphic Alphabet by David Pelletier

An alphabet book by graphic designer David Pelletier.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

From chapters.ca:
It started when she was served a soft drink laced with LSD in a dangerous party game. Within months, she was hooked, trapped in a downward spiral that took her from her comfortable home and loving family to the mean streets of an unforgiving city. It was a journey that would rob her of her innocence, her youth -- and ultimately her life.

I have to say that personally, I hated this book, but it is a classic.

Flotsam by David Wiesner

A boy finds an old camera washed up on the beech and develops the film to reveal an amazing world under the waves.

George and Martha by James Marshall

These stories about two hippopotamus friends, George and Martha, have become a classic of children's literature.

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Nancy likes to be fancy but her family just doesn't get it.

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Ferdinand is not like the other bulls, although he is strong and large, he prefers to smell the flowers than to fight.

Dream Speaker by Cam Hubert

From chapters.ca:
11-year-old Peter winds up in an institution for delinquent boys. He escapes into the forest where he encounters the Dreamspeaker.

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and the Last Enchantment follow Merlin through his life. They provide a unique angle to the Arthurian legend.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley

A Victorian artist, Waterhouse Hawkins, created life sized models of dinosaurs from what was known at the time of dinosaur anatomy.

A wonderful picture book for any child who is fascinated by dinosaurs.

Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service

A classic Canadian poem with a catchy rhythm.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

This book is a series of letters written to God by Celie. She describes her life as a black woman in the South as well as her relationships with her father, husband, sister, and the other people in her life.

A very moving book.

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

Chester and Harold feel threatened by the new member of their household. That rabbit has big teeth...even for a a bunny.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

Henry loves books. He loves them so much, he eats them!

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

Paddington is a well known and loved bear. There are abut 15 books and a TV show about Paddington. Found at Paddington station by the Brown family, Paddington has a knack for getting into trouble. This is a great book for children to read to themselves or hear as a bed time story.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield

From the Noel Streaftfield website:
Ballet Shoes tells the story of Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil, who were adopted as babies by Great Uncle Matthew (or "Gum"). When Gum goes away on an extended journey, money becomes tight, and Syliva decides to take in boarders. One of the boarders is a ballet teacher at The Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. After seeing Posy dance, she arranges for the head of the school, Madame Fidolia, to train them free of charge.

There are other books in the series.

A House Called Awful End by Philip Ardagh

First book in the Eddie Dickens trilogy.

From the author's website:
When both Eddie Dickens's parents catch a disease that makes them turn yellow, go a bit crinkly around the edges, and smell of hot water bottles, it's agreed he should go and stay with relatives at their house, Awful End.

Also from his website (as I think it will help illustrate the tone of this book):
Philip Ardagh is over 6 feet 7 inches tall with a big bushy beard. Not only is he very large and very hairy, but he has also written more than sixty children's books for all ages.

Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson

Theo's life is difficult. Her mother is too young and irresponsible to raise her, so Theo creates her own world and her own family. Is her dream more than just a dream?

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Charlie Gordon is a mentally challenged janitor who volunteers for an experimental procedure that enhances intelligence. The same treatment was earlier applied to a mouse named Algernon.

The story is told through diary entries made by Charlie.

The book has been banned from a number of school libraries for sexual content and is on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.

Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Back of the book:
I squeezed my bag to my stomach and ran. The train was going faster and faster. People were jumping on and reaching back to help others. I finally got to the tracks and was running as hard as I could. I looked up into the boxcar and saw Bugs
I used both hands to trow my suitcase at the train. Bugs caught it and as he set it behind him the blue flyer blew out of the twine and fluttered outside the door. But it was like a miracle, the flyer flipped over three times and landed right in my hand. I slowed down and put it in my pocket.
Bugs reached one arm out and screamed, "Bud, don't stop! Run!"

Click Clack Moo: Cows the Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

A very funny book about some cows that find a type writer and the demands they begin to make.

Other books by Doreen Cronin: Giggle Giggle Quack, Duck for President, and Dooby Dooby Moo

The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix

From chapters.ca:
Since childhood, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who refuse to stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorson, is missing, and Sabriel must cross into that world to find him. With Mogget, whose feline form hides a powerful, perhaps malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage, Sabriel travels deep into the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more than her life and comes face to face with her own hidden destiny.

Lirael has never felt like a true daughter of the Clayr. Abandoned by her mother, ignorant of her father’s identity, Lirael resembles no one else in her large extended family living in the Clayr’s Glacier. She doesn’t even have the Sight -- the ability to See into the present and possible futures -- that is the very birthright of the Clayr. Nonetheless, it is Lirael in whose hands the fate of the Old Kingdom lies. She must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil -- one that opposes the Royal Family, blocks the Sight of the Clay; and threatens to break the very boundary between Life and Death itself. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, to help her, Lirael must find the courage to seek her own hidden destiny.

I can't really describe the third book without giving away parts of the first two.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer begins his series with young Artemis Fowl, a child genius and criminal mastermind and his plan to kidnap a member of "the fair folk" and ransom him/her for fairy gold.

An excellent series for both girls and boys

The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins is a quiet, peace and food loving hobbit and has no desire to go adventuring, but all that changes when thirteen dwarfs turn up on his doorstep needing a burglar to help them on their journey to reclaim their home and treasure which have been stolen by a dragon.

Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker

From chapters.ca:
Taken away from her mother by a ruthless slave trader, all Julilly has left is the dream of freedom. Every day that she spends huddled in the trader’s cart travelling south, or working on the brutal new plantation, she thinks about the land where it is possible to be free, a land she and her friend Liza may reach some day. So when workers from the "underground railway" offer to help, she is ready.