Author Kerry Madden created this list, which she says is "just some of my favorite titles of past and present in children's and YA books!"

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY by Truman Capote
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING by Carson McCullers
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith
THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS by Katherine Paterson
THE AURORA COUNTY ALL STARS by Deborah Wiles
THE PLAIN JANES by Cecil Castellucci
RULES OF SURVIVAL by Nancy Werlin
HOW TO STEAL A DOG by Barbara O'Connor
GRIEF GIRL by Ellen Vincent
SIDE EFFECTS by Amy Koss
EVERLOST by Neal Shusterman
FIREGIRL by Tony Abbott
STANFORD WONG FLUNKS BIG TIME by Lisa Yee
LONG GONE DADDY by Helen Hemphill
WAIT TILL HELEN COMES by Mary Downing Hahn
KATIE JOHN by Mary Calhoun
THE MINER'S DAUGHTER by Gretchen Moran Laskas
ON THE HEAD OF A PIN by Mary Beth Miller
WEEDFLOWER by Cynthia Kadahota
BLIND FAITH by Ellen Wittlinger
BLUE by Joyce Moyer Hostetter
CLEMENTINE BOOKS by Sara Pennypacker
THAT GIRL LUCY MOON by Amy Timberlake
A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT by Linda Urban
LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL by Joanna Knowles
BELLE PRATER'S BOY by Ruth White
THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron
HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Lawson
LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green
THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

Find out what others have read and loved this year.

For more author picks, visit Bildungsroman every weekday for the rest of the month!

'Tis the season of giving. Why not give a critter a home - not just for the holidays, but for life?

There are many cats and dogs in local animal shelters who would love to be a part of your household. If you want to and are able to share your home with a pet, please save an animal who desperately needs a home. You'll have a friend for life.

When choosing a pet, please do not let age be a factor. Yes, baby kittens are adorable, but so are older pets. The adoption rate of adult cats and dogs is much lower than that of the newborns and toddlers, so to speak. Just because a shelter pet is older doesn't mean it has had a hard life; perhaps he had a great life until his owners discovered their child was allergic to dogs. Just because a shelter pet is older doesn't mean she is ill or bad-tempered; perhaps she is the very picture of health and manners, but hasn't found the right human yet.

Perhaps that human is you.

You'd be shocked by how many people think non-humans are disposable. They aren't. I value all forms of life. A cat isn't a dog and a little girl isn't a bunny, but they are all animals. People are animals too. Don't forget that.

If you have some spare change, consider donating it to a shelter - especially a no-kill shelter. You'd be surprised how little it takes to save a life.

If you cannot adopt pets or do not have the funds to make a monetary donation, you can give them attention and love by donating your time and being a volunteer. You will bring some light into their lives, and they will do the same for you. Call your local animal shelter and ask if there is a volunteer program or donation system in place.

I also encourage you to donate your blankets to shelters. Such a simple gesture, easy to make, yet not often considered. Think of how cold it gets at night. Be thankful if you have a home and a bed to sleep in, because you're luckier than many others. If you have a heater, a thick comforter, and warm clothing, you're luckier still. Just because an animal has fur doesn't mean he or she is warm. Many animal shelters do not have adequate heating. Many do not have enough beds to go around, let alone blankets. Kitties won't mind if there are cartoons on their sheets, and neither do hounds. Neither will people, for that matter. If you find you have an abundance of old bedclothes, donate some to an animal shelter and some to a shelter for displaced persons. (Please wash your old blankets before donating them.)

One last thing: If you have pets at home already (or after acting on the recommendations in this post), please do me a favor and pet them for me.

This post is in memory of my cats, Twinkie, Hollywood, and Spooky. I miss you, little girls.

External Links:
Help the ASPCA
ASPCA video with Sarah McLachlan
The Pedigree Adoption Drive
Shelter Stories from Patrick McDonnell