Sonderbooks Four-Star Books

Four-Star Books

All of the books below earned an "Outstanding" rating from me--books I thoroughly enjoyed, that are well worth owning.

The books are arranged by category, then alphabetically by author within each category.
I am not including Picture Books, since most of the Picture Books I review are at least four-star books.
Click on the book title to read the complete review.

Nonfiction

From the Good Earth, by Michael Ableman

The Story of My Life, by Farah Ahmedi with Tamim Ansary

The City of Falling Angels, by John Berendt

Earth from Above, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

The Earth from Above: 365 Days, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
The Pentagon's New Map, by Thomas P. M. Barnett
Storybook Travels, by Colleen Dunn Bates & Susan LaTempa

The Hills Is Lonely, by Lillian Beckwith
Inside the Kingdom, by Carmen bin Ladin

A Woman's Passion for Travel, edited by Marybeth Bond and Pamela Michael

The Horses of Proud Spirit, by Melanie Sue Bowles

Discipline: The Brazelton Way, by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. and Joshua D. Sparrow, M.D.
The Narrow Road, by Brother Andrew, with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

I'm a Stranger Here Myself, by Bill Bryson

Heal Your Headache, by David Buchholz, M.D.
Losing America, by Senator Robert C. Byrd

For the Love of Ireland, edited by Susan Cahill

Not So Funny When It Happened, edited by Tim Cahill

How To Remodel a Man, by W. Bruce Cameron
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, by T. E. Carhart

The Road from the Past, by Ina Caro

The Waiting Child, by Cindy Champnella

Sixpence House, by Paul Collins
Dr. Folkman's War, by Robert Cooke
The Case Against Lawyers, by Catherine Crier

Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides: Scotland

A Castle in the Backyard, by Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden

Astonish Yourself! by Roger-Pol Droit

Suburban Nation, by Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck

Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
As the Romans Do, by Alan Epstein
There Are No Shortcuts, by Rafe Esquith
The Christmas Box Miracle, by Richard Paul Evans

Eyewitness Travel Guide: Germany

Walking the Bible, by Bruce Feiler

In Code, by Sarah Flannery with David Flannery
Longitudes and Attitudes, by Thomas L. Friedman
Castles of Britain and Ireland, by Plantagenet Somerset Fry

A House Somewhere, edited by Don George and Anthony Sattin
Write Away, by Elizabeth George
How Can We Keep From Singing, by Joan Oliver Goldsmith

Animals in Translation, by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson

The Soul of Capitalism, by William Greider

Lighthouses of France, photographs by Jean Guichard, text by René Gast
If Grace Is True, by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland
The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution, by Frederick Hahn, Michael R. Eades, M.D, and Mary Dan Eades, M.D.
Journey from the Land of No, by Roya Hakakian

You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again, by Suzanne Hansen
Ripe for the Picking, by Annie Hawes

Getting the Love You Want, by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D.

River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, by Peter Hessler

The Coalwood Way, by Homer Hickam

Sky of Stone,by Homer Hickam
Winged Life, by Hannah Hurnaud

Raisin' Brains, by Karen L. J. Isaacson

In Focus: National Geographic's Greatest Portraits

Italy Travel Books

In Search of America, by Peter Jennings & Todd Brewster

Of Paradise and Power, by Robert Kagan

Good Poems, selected by Garrison Keillor

The Writer's Book of Hope, by Ralph Keyes

Shoot Like a Pro! Digital Photography Techniques, by Julie Adair King

Small Wonder, by Barbara Kingsolver

Room to Grow, edited by Christina Baker Kline

Knopf Guides: Scotland

Against Depression, by Peter D. Kramer
Walking Forward Looking Back, by John Labriola

Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott

There's No Toilet Paper . . . on the Road Less Traveled, edited by Doug Lansky
The Summer of the Great-Grandmother, by Madeleine L'Engle
The Irrational Season, by Madeleine L'Engle

The Dance of Anger, by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.
The Dance of Intimacy, by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.

A Mind at a Time, by Mel Levine, M. D.

The Myth of Laziness, by Mel Levine, M.D.
Of Other Worlds, by C. S. Lewis. Edited by Walter Hooper

One Nation: America Remember September 11, 2001, compiled by the editors of Life magazine
The Hope of the Gospel, by George MacDonald
Wisdom To Live By, by George MacDonald
Walking a Literary Labyrinth, by Nancy M. Malone

Unfinished Business, by Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Deborah Perry
Love, Greg and Lauren, by Greg Manning
The Mystery of Marriage, by Mike Mason
Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes
A Poem a Day, edited by Karen McCosker and Nicholas Albery
A New Kind of Christian, by Brian D. McLaren

The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch, by Sally Melville

The Knitting Experience Book 2: The Purl Stitch, by Sally Melville

Bringing Down the House, by Ben Mezrich
Busting Vegas, by Ben Mezrich
The Best of Lopi, compiled by Susan Mills and Norah Gaughan

Feynman's Rainbow, by Leonard Mlodinow

In the Spirit of Happiness, by The Monks of New Skete

Moyers on America, by Bill Moyers

Raising a Reader, by Jennie Nash

The Universe: 365 Days, by Robert J. Nemiroff and Jerry T. Bonnell

Castles and Ancient Monuments of Scotland, by Damien Noonan
The Power of a Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian
The Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartian

Remarkable Trees of the World, by Thomas Pakenham
Let Your Life Speak, by Parker J. Palmer

It Must Be True, by Denys Parsons

Glimpses of the Devil, by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins
Running on Empty, by Peter G. Peterson
Here Speeching American, by Kathryn Petras and Ross Petras

The Other Side of the Dale, by Gervase Phinn

Over Hill and Dale, by Gervase Phinn
Head Over Heels in the Dales, by Gervase Phinn
Up and Down in the Dales, by Gervase Phinn

Seven Steps on the Writer's Path, by Nancy Pickard and Lynn Lott
Letters to a Young Therapist, by Mary Pipher

The Middle of Everywhere, by Mary Pipher

The Sea, photographs by Philip Plisson

Lighthouses of Europe, photographs by Philip Plisson and Guillaume Plisson, text by Daniel Charles
The Threatening Storm: The Case For Invading Iraq, by Kenneth M. Pollack

The Oasis, by Petru Popescu
Rogue Nation, by Clyde Prestowitz
Imagined London, by Anna Quindlen

Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction, by Tom Raabe
The Weekend Novelist, by Robert J. Ray
Angles of Reflection, by Joan L. Richards

Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers, by Fred Rogers
The End of Poverty, by Jeffrey D. Sachs

End of the Spear, by Steve Saint
Secrets, Lies, Betrayals, by Maggie Scarf
The Complete Peanuts: 1950 to 1952, by Charles M. Schulz
The Complete Peanuts: 1953 to 1954, by Charles M. Schulz
The Complete Peanuts: 1955 to 1956, by Charles M. Schulz
Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz

Natural Energy, by Erika Schwartz, M.D. with Carol Colman
Depression Fallout, by Anne Sheffield
The Working Poor: Invisible in America, by David K. Shipler

America 24/7, created by Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen

Burned Alive, by Souad

The Child That Books Built, by Francis Spufford
The Spiritual Journey Toward a Healed Marriage, by Charlyne Steinkamp

The New Sugar Busters! by H. Leighton Steward, Morrison C. Bethea, M.D.,
Sam S. Andrews, M.D., and Luis A. Balart, M.D.

Driving Over Lemons, by Chris Stewart

The God I Love, by Joni Eareckson Tada

The Opposite of Fate, by Amy Tan

You Just Don't Understand, by Deborah Tannen, Ph.D.
Sweeping Changes, by Gary Thorp
My Love Affair With England, by Susan Allen Toth

Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss

Love in the Driest Season, by Neely Tucker

The Art and Science of Web Design, by Jeffrey Veen

The Philosopher's Demise, by Richard Watson

Traveling While Married, by Mary-Lou Weisman

Wild Writing Women: Stories of World Travel

The Impressionists' Paris, by Ellen Williams
Pooh and the Philosophers, by John Tyerman Williams
Soul Survivor, by Philip Yancey

The Way of the Wanderer, by David Yeadon
Take Joy! A Book for Writers, by Jane Yolen

Remarkable Reads, edited by J. Peder Zane

Fiction

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
Duty and Desire: Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman, Book 2, by Pamela Aidan

Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen

China Run, by David W. Ball
Jane and the Wandering Eye, by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Ghosts of Netley, by Stephanie Barron

Death of a Village, by M. C. Beaton

Quentins, by Maeve Binchy

Render Unto Caesar, by Gillian Bradshaw

The Wolf Hunt, by Gillian Bradshaw
The Wrong Reflection, by Gillian Bradshaw

The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown The Curse of Treasure Island, by Francis Bryan
The Thirty-Nine Steps, by John Buchan
Drummer in the Dark, by T. Davis Bunn

Every Boy's Got One, by Meg Cabot
In the Stacks, edited by Michael Cart
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Uncle Petros and Goldbach's Conjecture, by Apostolos Doxiadis
Stealing the Elf-King's Roses, by Diane Duane
The Game of Kings, by Dorothy Dunnett

The Far Side of Evil, by Sylvia Louise Engdahl

Lost In a Good Book, by Jasper Fforde

The Well of Lost Plots, by Jasper Fforde

Something Rotten, by Jasper Fforde

The Big Over Easy, by Jasper Fforde
The Zygote Chronicles, by Suzanne Finnamore
A Moment on the Edge, edited by Elizabeth George

Otherwise Engaged, by Eileen Goudge

The Five Quarters of the Orange, by Joanne Harris
Legacy of Love, by Joanne Trollope writing as Caroline Harvey
A Second Legacy, by Joanna Trollope writing as Caroline Harvey
Learning to Fly, by April Henry

The Probable Future, by Alice Hoffman

The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau, by Anthony Hope

Seven Blessings, by Ruchama King

The Fairy Godmother, by Mercedes Lackey

One Good Knight, by Mercedes Lackey

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, by Lorna Landvik
Till We Have Faces, by C. S. Lewis
Out of the Silent Planet, by C. S. Lewis
Perelandra, by C. S. Lewis
That Hideous Strength, by C. S. Lewis

The Shop on Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber

A Good Yarn, by Debbie Macomber
The Four Feathers, by A. E. W. Mason

Tears of the Giraffe, by Alexander McCall Smith

The Kalahari Typing School for Men, by Alexander McCall Smith

The Full Cupboard of Life, by Alexander McCall Smith

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, by Alexander McCall Smith

Blue Shoes and Happiness, by Alexander McCall Smith

The Sunday Philosophy Club, by Alexander McCall Smith
Sunshine, by Robin McKinley

Parnassus on Wheels, by Christopher Morley
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, by Louise Murphy

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
The Elusive Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy
Eldorado, by Baroness Orczy

Case of Lies, by Perri O'Shaughnessy

The Dive From Clausen's Pier, by Ann Packer

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, by James Patterson
Balance of Power, by Richard North Patterson

A Christmas Guest, by Anne Perry
Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters
The Curse of the Pharaohs, by Elizabeth Peters

Lord of the Silent, by Elizabeth Peters

Vanishing Acts, by Jodi Picoult

Davita's Harp, by Chaim Potok

Moving Is Murder, by Sara Rosett

Killer Smile, by Lisa Scottoline

The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
Eight of Swords, by David Skibbins

The Wedding, by Nicholas Sparks
The Cinderella Pact, by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Jerusalem Scrolls, by Bodie and Brock Thoene

Carry On, Jeeves, by P. G. Wodehouse

Jeeves in the Offing, by P. G. Wodehouse

Young Adult Fiction

Crossing the Panther's Path, by Elizabeth Alder

Crispin: The Cross of Lead, by Avi

The Frog Princess, by E. D. Baker

I Am Not Esther, by Fleur Beale
The Folk Keeper, by Franny Billingsley
A String in the Harp, by Nancy Bond

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares

The Princess and the Pauper, by Kate Brian

All-American Girl, by Meg Cabot

Princess in Waiting: The Princess Diaries, Volume IV, by Meg Cabot

Goddess of Yesterday, by Caroline B. Cooney

The Widow and the King, by John Dickinson

A Wizard Alone, by Diane Duane

Wizard's Holiday, by Diane Duane
Wizards at War, by Diane Duane
By These Ten Bones, by Clare B. Dunkle

Rat Boys, by Thom Eberhardt

The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer

The Oracle Betrayed, by Catherine Fisher

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
Singing the Dog Star Blues, by Alison Goodman
Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale
The Last Chance Texaco, by Brent Hartinger

Stravaganza: City of Masks, by Mary Hoffman

City of Stars: Stravaganza, Book Two, by Mary Hoffman

City of Flowers: Stravaganza Book Three, by Mary Hoffman
The King's Swift Rider, by Mollie Hunter

Drowned Ammet, by Diana Wynne Jones

Dark Lord of Derkholm and Year of the Griffin, by Diana Wynne Jones
Dogsbody, by Diana Wynne Jones

Unexpected Magic, by Diana Wynne Jones

The Hunting of the Last Dragon, by Sherryl Jordan

The Shamer's Daughter, by Lene Kaaberbol

The Shamer's Signet, by Lene Kaaberbol
Gilbert and Sullivan Set Me Free, by Kathleen Karr

Owl in Love, by Patrice Kindl
Magic or Madness, by Justine Larbalestier

Wolf Wing, by Tanith Lee
Gifts, by Ursula K. LeGuin

The Other Wind, by Ursula K. LeGuin
The Changeling Sea, by Patricia A. McKillip

Anne of Windy Poplars, by L. M. Montgomery

Anne's House of Dreams, by L. M. Montgomery
Rilla of Ingleside, by L. M. Montgomery
The Road to Yesterday, by L. M. Montgomery

The Year of Secret Assignments, by Jaclyn Moriarty
The Beast, by Walter Dean Myers
Out of Bounds, by Beverley Naidoo

Daughter of Venice, by Donna Jo Napoli

Slaves of the Mastery, by William Nicholson

Firesong, by William Nicholson

Across the Wall, by Garth Nix
Thunderhead, by Mary O'Hara
Waters Luminous & Deep, by Meredith Ann Pierce
The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope

Pollyanna Grows Up, by Eleanor H. Porter

Shylock's Daughter, by Mirjam Pressler

After, by Francine Prose

Millicent's Gift, by Ann Rinaldi
Taking Liberty, by Ann Rinaldi

I Had Seen Castles, by Cynthia Rylant
The Schwa Was Here, by Neal Shusterman

Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Golem's Eye, by Jonathan Stroud

The Winter Prince, by Elizabeth E. Wein

A Coalition of Lions, by Elizabeth E. Wein
Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld
Pretties, by Scott Westerfeld
Shayla's Double Brown Baby Blues, by Lori Aurelia Williams
The Grand Tour, by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Book of Enchantments, by Patricia C. Wrede

Sword of the Rightful King, by Jane Yolen

Children’s Nonfiction

Thura's Diary, by Thura Al-Windawi

The Pot That Juan Built, by Nancy Andrews-Goebel. Pictures by David Diaz

The Future of the Earth, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, adapted by Robert Burleigh

The Princess and the White Bear King, retold by Tanya Robyn Batt, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli
911: The Book of Help, edited by Michael Cart

George Washington's Teeth, by Deborah Chandra & Madeleine Comora. Pictures by Brock Cole
Through the Tempests Dark and Wild, by Sharon Darrow, illustrated by Angela Barrett

String Games, by Richard Darsie

DK Revealed: Human Body, by Dr. Sue Davidson and Ben Morgan
Open Your Eyes, edited by Jill Davis

Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology

Ben Franklin's Almanac, by Candace Fleming

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, by Mordicai Gerstein

Journeys With Elijah, by Barbara Diamond Goldin. Paintings by Jerry Pinkney

A Book About Design, by Mark Gonyea

The Spider and the Fly, by Mary Howitt. Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi

A Kick in the Head, selected by Paul B. Janeszko, illustrated by Chris Raschka

Actual Size, by Steve Jenkins
Wonders and Miracles: A Passover Companion, written and compiled by Eric A. Kimmel

Wilma Unlimited, by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by David Diaz

A Life Like Mine

Helen Keller: A Determined Life, by Elizabeth MacLeod
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales

The Wand in the Word, compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus
1000 Play Thinks, by Ivan Moskovich
Show; Don't Tell! by Josephine Nobisso, illustrated by Eva Montanari
Poetry Speaks to Children, edited by Elise Paschen
Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage, by Plimouth Plantation

Unlikely Pairs, by Bob Racza

When Marian Sang, by Pamela Munoz Ryan. Pictures by Brian Selznick

The Milestones Project, photographs by Dr. Richard Steckel and Michele Steckel

Corn Chowder: Poems by James Stevenson

The Best of Times, by Greg Tang

Casey at the Bat, by Ernest L. Thayer. Illustrated by C. F. Payne

Under the Spell of the Moon

Children’s Fiction

The Arkadians, by Lloyd Alexander

Strange Happenings, by Avi
Chasing Vermeer, by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum

Vendela in Venice, by Christina Bjork

A Week in the Woods, by Andrew Clements
The Boggart and the Monster, by Susan Cooper

Lion Boy, by Zizou Corder

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, by Bruce Coville
Bloomability, by Sharon Creech

Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, by Sharon Creech
Iqbal, by Francesco D'Adamo
Swan Sister: Fairy Tales Retold, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo

The Tears of the Salamander, by Peter Dickinson

Hanne's Quest, by Olivier Dunrea

The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau

The Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis

Parvana's Journey, by Deborah Ellis
The Wolves in the Walls, by Neil Gaiman
Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Bartlett and the Ice Voyage, by Odo Hirsch

The Whale Rider, by Witi Ihimaera
Conrad's Fate, by Diana Wynne Jones

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, illustrations by Jules Feiffer

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Jean Kerr

Babe: The Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith, illustrated by Maggie Kneen
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place, by E. L. Konigsburg
King Matt the First, by Janusz Korczak

For Biddle's Sake, by Gail Carson Levine

The Fairy's Return, by Gail Carson Levine

Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowry

More Perfect Than the Moon, by Patricia MacLachlan

Indigo's Star, by Hilary McKay

Permanent Rose, by Hilary McKay
The Exiles at Home, by Hilary McKay

Lulu's Hat, by Susan Meddaugh

Anne of Avonlea, by L. M. Montgomery
Rainbow Valley, by L. M. Montgomery

The Other Side of Truth, by Beverley Naidoo

The Prince of the Pond, by Donna Jo Napoli
Jimmy: The Pickpocket of the Palace, by Donna Jo Napoli

Gracie: The Pixie of the Puddle, by Donna Jo Napoli

My Friend Flicka, by Mary O'Hara

A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park

Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
Wren to the Rescue, by Sherwood Smith
Wren's Quest, by Sherwood Smith
Wren's War, by Sherwood Smith

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri
Between, by Jean Thesman
Smith of Wooton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham, by J. R. R. Tolkien
Instead of Three Wishes, by Megan Whalen Turner

Heir Apparent, by Vivian Vande Velde

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, by Vivian Vande Velde

Millicent Min, Girl Genius, by Lisa Yee

Girl in a Cage, by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris

The Bagpiper's Ghost, by Jane Yolen