Shirley Dent has an article in The Guardian that talks about why "girl" books focus on home.  While I read the article, I was nodding in agreement.  Yes, the appeal of Little Women is in the home, that Christmas, the family, the warmth, especially in contrast to the War.  Yes, that focus is also true of the Little House on the Prairie series and most of Frances Hodges Burnett’s books like Secret Garden and A Little Princess.  So yes, many of them are focused on the feeling of home.

BUT

Then I started thinking (dangerous, I know) about all of the books that I would not label as "girl" books.  And yes, I hate that term and it gives me pangs to use it.  Farmer Boy by Wilder appeals to both genders and that home is one of the most warm and well-fed in literature.  Harry Potter is entirely about family and home and how to find it without it being right there for you. 

I started making a serious list, but found that almost every book I thought of has a sense of home in it as a central theme.  I believe it goes hand-in-hand with the natural theme of belonging and individuality that do their dance in almost every book for children and teens out there. 

So yes, "girl" books focus on home.  But so do a majority of books that all children and teens will enjoy.  Sad really that such a sexist theme had to be given to the article.  I believe the power of the piece would have been even more with the realization that this is a theme in all of children’s lit.  Peter Pan, anyone?

Richie of Richie’s Picks has released his best of 2008 list.  You will find great nonfiction and fiction for middle schoolers and older.  Though he does sneak in one wonderful wordless picture book at the very end.

Richie is fabulous for finding boy-friendly titles and books that kids will love but which are also really well written.  This is a great list of books.  Also check out his reviews that come out regularly throughout the year.  There are treasures there that didn’t make his annual list.