Outside of a Dog Booklist

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"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
—Groucho Marx

We are frequently asked to recommend literature to kids, and while there's nothing better than taking the time to know what the individual likes and recommend for their tastes, we've definitely settled on a number of books that are our personal favorites. This list is meant to promote books that will branch kids beyond the latest pop-fiction, and beyond many of the curricular lists you'll find floating around.

The PDF version of Outside of a Dog offers a page of links helping you navigate the overwhelming resources scattered throughout this website. It includes recommended read-alouds for preschoolers and kindergartners and contains 50+ titles for grades 1-8, offering you summer reading aplenty for years on end. It doesn't promote a liberal agenda, cater to the lowest common denominator, or present books designed to make anyone look smart. We haven't limited ourselves to classics or "must-read" titles. There are plenty of those, but just as many are personal favorites that have kindled our own love of reading. These are books that will open the wide doors of reading to kids turned off by more than standard fare. Throughout the list, author names are links, often taking you to short biographies, links to more information, and a list of what we have.

It's also intended to challenge older readers, with two lists for high school students and two for adults:

150+ great literature and fiction titles
150+ non-fiction titles, containing history, biographies, basic philosophy, and titles that focus on spiritual matters and practical Christian living. We want to encourage you to be culture-changers for Christ

The printed version is a little different. It doesn't include the links, of course, nor does it have the preschool/kindergarten reading lists or the adult lists. It does include an "advanced" high school list, which is what was adapted into the adult lists. Also, in the digital version, the grade level lists have been tweaked, with some new favorites added, and some reading level suggestions adjusted.

This category on our site offers all of our recommended books in one place. We are working on adding an Exodus rating to every single one. Browse the list, or filter by grade with the sidebar.

Whether you're six or sixteen (or sixty!), whether you're a dog person or not, some new best friends are waiting!

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9th-12th Outside of a Dog - Fiction

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	Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank from HarperCollins Apocalyptic novel for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.99
	All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown All-of-a-Kind Family Series #2 by Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Beth & Joe Krush from Lizzie Skurnick Books Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $12.95
	Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon from HarperCollins Historical fiction for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $14.95
	Anna Hibiscus Anna Hibiscus #01 by Atinuke Reprint from Candlewick Press for 1st-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Anne of Green Gables Anne #1 by L. M. Montgomery from Tundra Books (NY) Orphan Stories for 5th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Apple and the Arrow by Conrad & Mary Buff from Houghton Mifflin Realistic Fiction/Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1952 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Bear That Heard Crying by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock & Helen Kinsey from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Beezus and Ramona Ramona Collection Book 1 by Beverly Cleary Reissue from HarperTrophy for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.39
	Belles On Their Toes by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey from HarperCollins Family Stories for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.99
	Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook by Shirley Hughes from Red Fox for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.99
	Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy 1^st edition from Vintage Classics for 11th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.00
	Book Thief by Markus Zusak from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 8th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.99
	By the Shores of Silver Lake Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Cheaper By the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey from HarperCollins Family Stories for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt from Atheneum for 6th-10th grade 1983 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $12.99
	Dobry by Monica Shannon, illustrated by Atanas Katchamakoff from Puffin Books for 4th-8th grade 1935 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Dry Divide Little Britches Series #7 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Farmer Boy Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Fields of Home Little Britches Series #5 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	First Four Years Little House Series #9 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Floss by Kim Lewis from Candlewick Press Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Four-Story Mistake Melendy Quartet #2 by Elizabeth Enright from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $12.99
	Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter from Indiana University Press Romance for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter from Dover Publications Romance for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Gardener by Sarah Stewart & David Small from Sunburst Book Realistic fiction for Kindergarten-4th grade 1998 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade 1952 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter from Indiana University Press Realistic Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter from Dover Publications Realistic Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Going Solo by Roald Dahl from Puffin Books for 7th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, illustrated by Beth & Joe Krush from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1958 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman from HarperCollins for 6th-9th grade 2009 Newbery Medal winner, 2010 Carnegie Medal in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.99
	Home Ranch Little Britches Series #3 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Home Ranch Little Britches Series #3 by Ralph Moody from Purple House Press Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Horse of a Different Color Reminiscences of a Kansas Drover Little Britches Series #8 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman from Sandpiper Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith from St. Martin's Griffin for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.99
	Journey to Topaz A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida from Heyday Books Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Journey to Topaz A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida from Heyday Books Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.00
	Little Britches Father and I Were Ranchers Little Britches Series #1 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Little House in the Big Woods Little House Series #1 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Little House on the Prairie Little House Series #2 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Little Pear The Story of a Little Chinese Boy by Eleanor F. Lattimore from Harcourt in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrated by Tasha Tudor from HarperCollins for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Little Town on the Prairie Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Long Winter Little House Series #6 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Lord of the Flies by William Golding from Penguin Putnam Utopian and Dystopian Literature for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $12.00
	Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $15.99 $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Man of the Family Little Britches Series #2 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Mary Emma and Company Little Britches Series #4 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina from Candlewick Press 2019 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Middle Moffat Moffats #2 by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade 1943 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully from PaperStar Books Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-2nd grade 1993 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney from Puffin Books Realistic Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Mitchells Five for Victory Mitchells Series #1 by Hilda Van Stockum from Bethlehem Books Family Stories for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.95
	Moffat Museum Moffats #4 by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Moffats Moffats #1 by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Moominland Midwinter Moomintrolls Book #5 by Tove Jansson from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 1st-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Moominpappa at Sea Moomintrolls Book #7 by Tove Jansson from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 1st-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Moominsummer Madness Moomintrolls Book #4 by Tove Jansson from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 1st-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Moominvalley in November Moomintrolls Book #8 by Tove Jansson from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 1st-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	More All-of-a-Kind Family All-of-a-Kind Family Series #3 by Sydney Taylor from Lizzie Skurnick Books Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $12.95
	My Heart Lies South The Story of My Mexican Marriage by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño from Bethlehem Books Biography for 8th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert from Random House Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	No. 1 Car Spotter and the Broken Road No. 1 Car Spotter #05 by Atinuke from Kane Miller for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	No. 1 Car Spotter and the Car Thieves No. 1 Car Spotter #03 by Atinuke from Kane Miller for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	No. 1 Car Spotter and the Firebird No. 1 Car Spotter #02 by Atinuke from Kane Miller for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	No. 1 Car Spotter Goes to School No. 1 Car Spotter #04 by Atinuke from Kane Miller for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Obadiah the Bold by Brinton Turkle from Beautiful Feet Books Historical Fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.95
	Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling from Houghton Mifflin Realistic fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Caldecott Honor Book in BFB Holling Geography (Location: HISCUR-BFG) $13.99
	Peter Duck A Treasure Hunt in the Caribbees Swallows and Amazons #3 by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.95
	Peterkin Papers by Lucretia P. Hale from Dover Publications Humorous Fiction for 7th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Rachel and Obadiah by Brinton Turkle from Beautiful Feet Books Historical Fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.95
	Return to Gone-Away by Elizabeth Enright, illustrated by Beth & Joe Krush from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.99
	Rufus M. Moffats #3 by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Saturdays Melendy Quartet #1 by Elizabeth Enright Reissue from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Seabird by Holling C. Holling from Houghton Mifflin Realistic fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in BFB Holling Geography (Location: HISCUR-BFG) $12.99
	Separate Peace by John Knowles from Charles Scribner's Sons for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.00 $8.50 (4 in stock)
	Shaking the Nickel Bush Little Britches Series #6 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Sir Gibbie Classics for Young Readers by George MacDonald from P&R Publishing Realistic Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Sky Boys How They Built the Empire State Building by Deborah Hopkinson from Dragonfly Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99
	Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan from Dutton Children's Books Historical Fiction for 3rd-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Spiderweb for Two Melendy Quartet #4 by Elizabeth Enright from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.99
	Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp from HarperCollins Biography for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Swallowdale Swallows and Amazons #2 by Arthur Ransome from David R. Godine for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.95
	Swallows and Amazons Swallows and Amazons #1 by Arthur Ransome from Overlook Press Family stories/boating for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Tanglewoods' Secret by Patricia St. John 2^nd edition from Moody Press Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston from Harper Perennial for 11th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Then There Were Five Melendy Quartet #3 by Elizabeth Enright from Square Fish Publishing for 4th-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $14.99
	These Happy Golden Years Little House Series #8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee from Harper Perennial Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.99
	Treasures of the Snow (adapted) by Patricia St. John, adapted by Mary Mills 2^nd edition from Moody Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling from Houghton Mifflin Realistic fiction for 3rd-8th grade in BFB Holling Geography (Location: HISCUR-BFG) $12.99
	View From Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg from Aladdin Paperbacks for 5th-9th grade 1997 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.50 (3 in stock)
	Waterless Mountain by Laura Adams Armer from Dover Publications for 4th-8th grade 1932 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.99
	We Were There on the Oregon Trail by William O. Steele from American Home-School Publishing Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead from Yearling for 5th-9th grade 2010 Newbery Medal winner in Science Fiction (Location: FIC-SCI) $7.99
	Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck from Puffin Books Humorous Family Stories for 5th-9th grade 2001 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)

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