One of my husband’s favorites, Consolation.
He also really like all the John Bellairs, @greenbutton.
Both my boys loved Tamora Pierce, and I enjoyed them too. S1 liked the Magic Steps series best, while younger one liked the Tortall books best, especially the ones about the girl who was good with animals. I always hesitate to bring them up when asked about children’s books specifically because there’s some pre-marital sex in some of them and a kid who reads the first three in a series is pretty bound to read number four even if you might not have started them on the books quite so young if you had known where they were going. I was fine with the way it was all handled, but it other parents may feel differently. My younger son especially was always very interested in reading whatever his 3 1/2 year older brother was reading. I have to say I thought it was very funny what a third grader likes about The Lord of the Rings vs. an older reader.
@greenbutton I seem to remember likingThe Girl of the Limberlost, but I didn’t discover it until I was an adult. Reading the Wikipedia summary it seems like quite a soap opera! I barely remember most of it!
Love Alan Garner and all Heinlein youth novels - I re-read Tunnel in the Sky less than month ago. Also love Children of Green Knowe and sequels. Blanking on author but great slightly creepy in a good. Very favorite is Isaac Asimov anthology of sci fi stories featuring children
Another vote for the Green Knowe series! We own them all, but my kids never loved them like I did…
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck.
Great replies all! Thanks so much for these gems. I’ll try Billy and Blaze for my 5yo. I read Max and Mortiz to my 6.5 year old tonight - it’s very dark, naughty children kill animals and then are themselves killed in a mill (then fed to animals). My son loved it (I was horrified!).
Too many replies since I lest checked to reply to the recs but I’ve read thorough them all.
I don’t think it was mentioned so I’ll share Anatole as a great classic. A mouse becomes a professional cheese taster and has adventures.
Someone mentioned Able’s Island. SWOON. Among my all-time favorites.
Thanks!!