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Quick answer: If you loved Walk Two Moons, read Sharon Creech's Love That Dog, then Bridge to Terabithia, Because of Winn-Dixie and When You Reach Me. All are heartfelt middle-grade novels about grief, family and growing up.
Sharon Creech's 1994 Newbery Medal winner follows thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle on a road trip with her grandparents while she tells the story of her friend Phoebe and searches for her missing mother. It is funny, sad and full of surprises. The books below share its emotional honesty, memorable voices and mix of humour and heartbreak.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love That Dog | Sharon Creech | Ages 8-12 | more Creech |
| Bloomability | Sharon Creech | Ages 10-14 | growing up abroad |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson | Ages 9-13 | friendship and loss |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 8-12 | a dog and a town |
| Bud, Not Buddy | Christopher Paul Curtis | Ages 9-13 | Depression-era quest |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | Ages 8-12 | kindness |
| When You Reach Me | Rebecca Stead | Ages 9-13 | mystery and time |
| Hello, Universe | Erin Entrada Kelly | Ages 9-13 | connected stories |
| Crenshaw | Katherine Applegate | Ages 8-12 | imaginary friend |
| Out of My Mind | Sharon M. Draper | Ages 10-14 | voice and ability |
| Moon Over Manifest | Clare Vanderpool | Ages 10-14 | small-town mystery |
| The Wednesday Wars | Gary D. Schmidt | Ages 10-14 | funny coming of age |
| A Long Way from Chicago | Richard Peck | Ages 10-14 | grandma stories |
| Holes | Louis Sachar | Ages 9-13 | mystery and fate |
| Number the Stars | Lois Lowry | Ages 9-13 | courage in war |
1. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
A boy learns to love poetry in a story told in verse. Short, sweet and moving.
Best for: more Creech.
2. Bloomability by Sharon Creech
A girl moves to a Swiss boarding school. Warm and full of insight.
Best for: growing up abroad.
3. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Two children invent a magical kingdom in the woods. Beautiful and heartbreaking.
Best for: friendship and loss.
4. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl and a stray dog bring people together. Gentle and funny.
Best for: a dog and a town.
5. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
A boy sets out to find his father. Funny and moving.
Best for: Depression-era quest.
6. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A boy with a facial difference starts school. A modern classic, told in many voices.
Best for: kindness.
7. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
A girl receives mysterious notes in 1979 New York. Clever and touching.
Best for: mystery and time.
8. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
Four children's lives collide in a day. Warm and funny, and a Newbery winner.
Best for: connected stories.
9. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
A boy facing hardship is visited by a huge cat. Gentle and honest.
Best for: imaginary friend.
10. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
A brilliant girl with cerebral palsy cannot speak. Moving and powerful.
Best for: voice and ability.
11. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
A girl discovers her father's past in a Kansas town. A Newbery winner.
Best for: small-town mystery.
12. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
A boy spends Wednesdays alone with his teacher, reading Shakespeare. Funny and touching.
Best for: funny coming of age.
13. A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
Siblings spend summers with their formidable grandmother. Humorous and warm.
Best for: grandma stories.
14. Holes by Louis Sachar
A boy is sent to a camp where he must dig holes. Clever, funny and moving.
Best for: mystery and fate.
15. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
A girl in Denmark helps her Jewish friend escape the Nazis. Short and powerful.
Best for: courage in war.
How to Choose
For more Creech try Love That Dog and Bloomability. For emotional stories pick Bridge to Terabithia or Wonder. For funny, warm voices choose Bud, Not Buddy or A Long Way from Chicago. For mystery try When You Reach Me or Moon Over Manifest. Several books on this list deal with loss, so they work well when read alongside a parent or teacher. Walk Two Moons is also a good book club read for ages 10 and up, since its stories-within-stories invite a lot of discussion. If your child has finished Walk Two Moons, a good next step is another Newbery winner. Hello, Universe, Holes and Number the Stars are all strong choices. For a gentler read, try Because of Winn-Dixie. Reading the book together lets you pause at the emotional moments and talk about them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Walk Two Moons about?
Salamanca takes a road trip with her grandparents while telling a story about her friend and searching for her mother.
Who wrote it?
Sharon Creech.
Did it win a prize?
Yes, the 1995 Newbery Medal.
What age is it for?
Usually ages 10 to 14.
Is it sad?
It deals with loss, but also includes humour.
Is it a good classroom read?
Yes, it is widely used in schools.
Does it have a sequel?
No, it is a standalone.
What should I read next?
Try Love That Dog or Because of Winn-Dixie.
Is it appropriate for classroom use?
Yes. It is widely taught, and its themes of grief and friendship invite discussion.
Is Walk Two Moons a good read-aloud?
Yes, its stories within a story are fun to share.
Does the book have humour?
Yes, especially in the stories Salamanca tells about her friend Phoebe.