When I was a kid, I was on a constant hunt to find a good book set outside of the United States. I wasn’t always successful. That’s why I created this blog, World Reads. I hope this site will become a go-to resource for kids, parents, teachers, and librarians on a quest for a good book set outside of the United States.
By no means is this list an exhaustive list of world books that have earned a starred review from Kirkus. If you know of other world books that should be on this list, please feel to reach out to me with titles and I’ll be happy to include them on World Reads. As I include new titles, I’ll update this list. So feel free to check back as often as you’d like.
For a quick and easy reference, the list is in alphabetical order by title.
Click on the title and it will bring you to the Kirkus Review. Click on the author’s name and it will direct you to the World Reads interview.
I’d like to welcome Lee Carey today at Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who have written a dog book for kids.
AOB: What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group? Illustrator?
‘Flash…the Humble Hero’. Published July 2013 by Sandfiddler Publishing. Pet fiction. Ages 12 & up.
AOB: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? Tell us a little more about him/her.
*In ‘Flash’ (the sequel to ‘Gabby…All About Me’), two pooches sort of share the MC part; however, Flash soon comes into his own to lead by a nose. Gabby is a mixed black lab. Flash is a beagle.
AOB: In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
*A beagle puppy is discarded like trash on the Eastern Shore and lived in fear and hopelessness – until the day Scooter and Gabby pulled into the country diner where he hid out. Little Flash suddenly found himself relocated to Sandbridge Beach, becoming a member of their little family of three. Flash and Scooter bond through a series of adventures that prove him to be a ‘hero’.
AOB: Reviews or blurbs you wish to share:
*Five stars to Lee Carey’s latest, ‘FLASH…the Humble Hero’. It’s a heartwarming story from beginning to end. As the sequel to ‘Gabby… All About Me’, the story begins with Gabby taking top billing. As the tale evolves, Flash’s personality and character develop as well. Gabby is well named because she’s loquacious, out-going, and extroverted enough to be a movie star. Flash is quieter, more humble, and a hero in every sense of the word. Be prepared to feel anger, love, shed a tear or two, and be reminded of some of life’s important lessons.
Y/A author – Larry Webb, MI.
AOB: What inspired you to write this story?
*After the publication of ‘Gabby’, I received many emails from readers around the world asking about a sequel. I had not planned on one, but since little Flash came into the picture at the end, I followed my readers’ requests. I am glad I did.
AOB: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
*I needed to have Flash’s shy and quiet personality slowly blend in with Gabby’s outgoing, snappy one while having Flash take the main stage. I guess just having that subliminal thought worked itself out because on my first read of the draft, I was pleased.
AOB: What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones? AOB: What are these stories about?
*’Gabby…All About Me’ was my first pet novel. And after we had to have her put to sleep at age fifteen, I was inspired to write ‘Pets in Paradise’ which mainly features Gabby, but also all types of animals and birds. And now, hot off the press is my recent publication of ‘Flash…the Humble Hero’.
AOB: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?
*In the fall, I plan to begin another novel featuring our rescue pooch, Angel, and a teenage boy living here at Sandbridge Beach. This one will not have a talking dog, but will be a coming-of-age story with Adam and Angel. Of course, Angel will be one smart canine. And in real life, she certainly is. Must be the Husky, Shepherd, and Lab branches in her family tree.
AOB: What else would you like us to know about you or your story?
*I love pets, the beach, writing wholesome novels, and life.
AOB: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
*’Where the Red Fern Grows’. I was thirteen when I read it, and any pooch novel that could make a country boy cry had to be powerful. I recently read it again…and guess what? Yep, I did. Great story.
AOB: Where can readers go to find out more information about you and/or your books?
*My website: LeeCarey-author.com shows all eight of my novels and my two compilations of short stories on Amazon.
Thank you Lee Carey for joining us Best Dog Books today!
Let’s welcome Robin Brande today to Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a dog story for kids. She’ll talk about DOGGIRL, a young adult novel for kids 12 and up published by Ryer Publishing.
AOB: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? Tell us a little more about him/her.
*There are three dog stars in the book: Fig, a Great Pyrenees; Jack, a Border Collie; and Heidi, a Dachshund. All are rescues of one sort or another, and are the best (and only) friends of a shy girl named Riley Case. Her sole ambition is to become an animal trainer for the movies, so she practices every day with her pack of three. The dogs are, as people around her are about to find out, quite fabulous. *
AOB: In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
*Riley Case is an expert with dogs, lousy with people. She’s been keeping a low profile at her high school—well, except for that incident with the birds—but when the chance comes to use her talents as a dog trainer to help the drama department win a national competition, she knows she can’t stay in the shadows any longer.
AOB: Reviews or blurbs you wish to share:
For readers who love dogs, love theatre, or were ever “That Kid” in high school, DOGGIRL by Robin Brande is a must-read. This story is absolutely adorable, yet steers clear of being syrupy as it explores the inimitable relationships between dogs and their people, as well as growing up on the fringe of high school life. Brande’s mastery as a
character-driven storyteller is on full display here, with relatable characters (human and canine) and a keen journey as freshman Riley Case takes her first tentative steps beyond relationships with her “pack” and into the world of high school drama (both the literal and figurative kind). An excellent read, highly recommended!
~Tom Leveen, author of PARTY
It’s awesome. Love all the dogs, love this character, Riley and I can’t say enough about the message that resonates in this story. I would highly recommend this to adults and young adults.
I loved this one. I just LOVED this one! . . . I loved DOGGIRL because it felt so honest, so genuine. It’s a novel with a lot of heart. And it’s not just a novel about a friendless girl finding a place to belong. It’s a book for animal-lovers–specifically dog-lovers–and a book for those that love drama and theater–or creative writing, or film-making. It’s for any one who has ever felt different. (It may just be a novel for everyone.)
I read this in one sitting and I’m still smiling about it a few hours later as I type this. . . . I loved every bit of this book. The romance was subtle and doesn’t overdo the plot at all (as it always is with Brande, which I like) and believable and . . . the dogs! The dogs! I’m more of a cat person but I loved these dogs. . . . This book is another example of a feel-good book that you can curl up with your own dog to read. It’s all heart.
~Maya Espersen, Not on Shelf
Another great novel by Robin Brande. . . . I loved “Doggirl” as much as I loved “Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature” and “Fat Cat.” Robin’s ability to create characters that are real, and likable, and relatable is what makes her books as wonderful as they are. . . . A sweet and fun read, perfect for summer.
~Carly, Goodreads
I love this book to pieces. I really do. I want to start reading it all over again just so I don’t have to say goodbye to the characters.
~Michelle Halpern, 120 Books
If you like dogs at all (even a tiny bit) stop what you’re doing and buy this eBook. Seriously, if you have a soft spot for animals, you are going to want to read this book. Robin Brande has written a story that will pull on your heartstrings. . . . [I]t’s definitely one to pick up if you’re looking for something which addresses more serious issues like bullying and social anxiety, while still remaining sweet and light.
~Ashley, Book Labyrinth
Love animals? Love reading? Love Young Adult books? Even if you answered just one yes, you will love DOGGIRL. . . . Robin Brande captures all the coming-of-age ups and downs, from the anxiety and depression from not fitting in and getting bullied, to the triumphant joy of finding that special group, and even that one cute guy, who likes you just the way you are. I adored it and especially appreciated that while true to the high school experience, it’s also something that all my kids can read. (No explicit profanity or sex, thank you very much!) Highly, highly recommend – a wonderful summer read!
~Shiela Calderon Blankemeier, Writings, Workouts, and Were-Jaguars
AOB: What inspired you to write this story?
*When I was growing up, I so desperately wanted a dog, but my parents wouldn’t let me have one. (I know. They were terrible. Hi, Mom!) So instead I read every single book I could find at the library that had a dog on its cover. I’m sure I read hundreds. And now that I’m a writer, I decided it was time to carry that torch forward and write one of my own for people who love animals as much as I do.
By the way, I finally do have dogs of my own. The dogs in this book share quite a few of their personalities! *
AOB: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
*My biggest challenge was writing the play within the book. I used to be in Drama in high school, and I drew on a lot of those experiences to create a play that I thought would be fun. I also participate as a screenwriter every year in a competition called the 48-Hour Film Project, in which I speed-write a script so that a team of actors, director, and crew can produce a complete short film within 48 hours. Very fun, but also pretty stressful! So it’s possible that the character Danny in DOGGIRL, the hyper, slightly-irritable, constantly-stressed writer/director of their play, might be based on me. *cough*
AOB: What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones? AOB: What are these stories about?
*EVOLUTION, ME & OTHER FREAKS OF NATURE (2007): Features a pack of puppies! And a girl starting high school among people who used to be her friends and are now her worst enemies—all because she tried to do the right thing.
FAT CAT (2009): No animals, despite the title! Sorry. Just a fun story involving a high school science student who decides to turn herself into her own science project.
PARALLELOGRAM series (2011-2013): High school physics genius Audie Masters discovers how to journey to a parallel universe, where she meets the parallel version of herself. One of the reasons that parallel version is so much cooler? She has a dog—an awesome Labrador named Red. Adventures ensue. The dog is part of it all.
REPLAY (2012): High school athlete Cara Campbell dies during surgery. The doctors revive her, but what happened during those 42 seconds of death will change everything about her life. (No dogs. Again, sorry. But as with FAT CAT, I hope I’ve made up for that with a very dreamy guy.)
SECRET SECURITY SQUAD series (2012-2014): Underground group of junior-highers form a squad to take back their school from the bullies and other destructive forces. Yes, there are dogs! Dogs who are being trained to do even more than Riley’s dogs in DOGGIRL. More to come as the series progresses.
AOB: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?
*I’m currently working on the last two books in the PARALLELOGRAM series. Those will both feature the yellow Labrador Red. And since all of my dogs have made appearances in my books, I know I’ll be writing one some time in the near future featuring a black Lab named Moose. He’s the latest addition to our pack.
AOB: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
*It’s not my first, but it was my first gut-wrenching cry—of course because it featured dogs. WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS by Wilson Rawls. Those of you who have read it know why you can never forget it. I reread it a few years ago, and I bawled just as much as I did when I was a kid. That book was amazing. I also really loved ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O’Dell. Why did I read that book? Dog on the cover. Great story of a girl surviving alone—with her faithful dog, that is—on a deserted island.
Thank you for joining us at Best Dog Books, Robin Brande!
Let’s welcome Anjali Banerjee today at Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a dog story for kids.
AOB: What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group? Illustrator?
SEAGLASS SUMMER, Wendy Lamb Books/Random House (hardcover and library binding, 2010; trade paperback, 2011), realistic middle grade fiction. Cover art and interior chapter spot openers by Ann Boyajian.
AOB: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? Tell us a little more about him/her.
*Stu is the main dog character, short for “Studebaker Chatterji.” When Poppy Ray, the 11-year-old main character, arrives on Nisqually Island, in Washington State, to spend the summer working at her veterinarian uncle Sanjay Chatterji in his animal hospital, his dog companion, Stu, comes with him to greet Poppy at the ferry landing. Stu is a large, affectionate yellow dog, perhaps a Labrador mix, who loves to go for walks, pee on mailbox posts and slobber on people.
AOB: In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story?
*Eleven-year-old Poppy Ray has always wanted to be a veterinarian, even though she has never had a pet. So when Poppy spends a summer month with her Uncle Sanjay in his veterinary clinic on Nisqually Island off the coast of Washington, she is in for big surprises. She learns about life and death, love and compassion, and the pain and joy of working with animals.
AOB: Starred reviews or blurbs you wish to share:
*—Nominated for 2014 Illinois Bluestem Award
—One of Scholastic Teacher’s 18 Road-Trip Reads
—One of PBS Parents’ Four Special Summer Books
—Nominated for the 2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award.
“This novel…reflects a quiet contemplativeness that leaves readers both pensive and satisfied.” —Chicago Sun-Times
“Sometimes amusing, sometimes gross, and always true to itself, this should find a wide readership.” —Booklist
“This engaging and realistic tale is a top pick for reluctant readers and anyone with an interest in what veterinary care entails.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Animal lovers will appreciate the warm, fuzzy moments, cry at the sad times, and feel at home in this rural island community off the coast of Washington state.” —School Library Journal
AOB: What inspired you to write this story?
*I read an article in India Abroad about an Indian veterinarian who moved to the U.S., faced formidable obstacles to practicing his profession here, and eventually succeeded. He now owns and runs two busy veterinary hospitals. He also performs community service helping local animal companions and wildlife, and he makes house calls. I interviewed him as research for my novel. Plus, I’ve always loved animals.
AOB: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
*As research for the book, I sat in on appointments at a local veterinary clinic, but I wasn’t sure how to assemble anecdotes and observations into a coherent story with a beginning, middle and end, and featuring a single protagonist who learns something and matures by the end of the story. It took several drafts to find a central story thread.
AOB: What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones? AOB: What are these stories about?
*My other middle grade novels for Wendy Lamb Books/Random House are MAYA RUNNING and LOOKING FOR BAPU. While I love animals, these two stories do not feature key dog characters. However, my novel for adults, ENCHANTING LILY, is written partly from the viewpoint of a wise and charming cat.
AOB: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?
*My next book is not about a dog, but I have a special love for animals, so you can be sure animals will appear in my books in the future.
AOB: What else would you like us to know about you or your story?
*During her month at her uncle’s veterinary clinic, Poppy encounters other dogs and puppies, quirky humans, and she befriends a boy named Hawk, who works at the clinic. In the end, Poppy and the dog, Stu, face a crisis on a beach on the island. Read the book to find out what happens.
Also, my husband and I live with five rescued cats. They’re wonderful companions with lively, individual personalities.
AOB: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
*I don’t remember the first one. There were many. I loved the Chronicles of Narnia. I loved Aslan the lion in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I checked out Curious George books numerous times from the library. Growing up in Canada, I read many adventure and mystery novels by English author Enid Blyton as well. When we moved to the U.S.A., I discovered that many people here had not even heard of Enid Blyton! I also loved a hardcover called The Bear Who Couldn’t Sleep. I’ve always loved the animals in children’s books.
AOB: Where can readers go to find out more information about you and/or your books?
I’d like to welcome Elizabeth Ross today to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who have written a children’s story set outside of the United States.
What is the title of your book? The pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group?
Belle Epoque
June 11th 2013, Delacorte Press/Random House
Historical Fiction
12+
Where is it set?
Paris, France, 1888-1889
In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
Impoverished sixteen-year-old Maude answers a mysterious advert: ‘Young Women Wanted for Undemanding Work. Apply In Person To The Durandeau Agency.’ But the work is very strange indeed. Maude discovers she is to be a repoussoir – an ugly young woman hired by Parisian socialites to enhance their beauty.
Maude is humiliated – but faced with destitution, what choice does she have? Quickly (and secretly) selected as the perfect companion for the Countess Dubern’s daughter Isabelle, Maude is thrown into a decadent world full of parties, glamour and astonishing cruelty.
Links to reviews or blurbs you wish to share:
“This delectable Parisian tale left me sighing with sweet satisfaction. J’adore Belle Epoque!”
Sonya Sones, author of What My Mother Doesn’t Know and To Be Perfectly Honest
How are you connected to the setting of your story?
My parents used to take us to France almost every summer when I was a child. I spent time in Paris, (sans parents!) when I was 16, like Maude. It was a magical time. At university I studied French and one summer holiday I worked as an au pair near Montparnasse where Maude lives.
What inspired you to write this story?
I read a short story called “Les Repoussoirs” by Emile Zola. It was a humorous and biting account of the character of Durandeau setting up his agency of ugly women. As fascinating as Durandeau was, I realized that the more interesting story would be the point of view of one of those agency girls. To be treated as an ugly foil felt to me like a quintessential moment from adolescence. It really struck a chord. This is a story set in another time and place but it has such relevance to today’s world and the pressure on girls to be attractive above all else.
What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
One challenge was bringing the concept of the beauty foil to life and making it believable to readers. Zola’s story was very much a satire. He took something ridiculous – an agency of ugly women – and used it to poke fun at the Parisian bourgeoisie and the idea that they would try to make money out of anything. I had a lot of fun creating the world and tried hard to make it convincing. The reader has to feel acutely for the main character, Maude, and what she has to go through otherwise the story wouldn’t work.
What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it set outside of the United States? If so, where? And what is it about?
My next book is set in 1940’s Los Angeles – a film noir mystery. Some of the characters have fled war-torn Europe so there is definitely an international element.
What else would you like us to know about you or your story?
Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?
I loved The Midnight Folk by John Masefield, a true classic in children’s fantasy. It was thrilling to imagine that after midnight a whole other world came to life.
