101 Books Every Girl Should Read

Need some books for girls? Here are 101 books for girls that we have read and loved!

It’s no secret that my daughters and I love to read. To dive into a good book — whether we’re reading aloud together or finding some quiet time to read alone — is a true joy. Thanks to the library and free or inexpensive books on the Kindle, it’s also an inexpensive activity that greatly enriches our minds and hearts. As I was reflecting on what to read next, I began a list of books that we consider favorites for all ages. These are the books that we can read again and again. Even as an adult I enjoy these stories because they are timeless and universal in the truths about life and character they show us. I thought at first that I’d stop at 101 titles since that sounded like a lot, but I kept going well past that number! I’m just including the first 101 and will save the others for another time.

Note: I’ve gone into more depth with some of the books in my Classic Books for Girls series, too. I marked those titles with an asterisk so you can read more about them if you’d like. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

101 Books for Girls

I have divided the books by age level for convenience: Early Readers, Middle Readers, and Teens. Some of the books in the Early Readers category were actually read alouds we did at that age, not necessarily books my daughters read on their own. I’ve arranged them with subject matter in mind, not just reading ability, so please consider that. Even struggling readers and younger children can enjoy great books when you read aloud, which I greatly encourage!

They are not ranked in particular order of favorites. I just wrote them down as my daughters helped me to name off books we have enjoyed. In other words — this is not a scientific list, but rather a list of books that real girls have really liked.

Note: Remember that age levels can be very subjective, so please keep that in mind when choosing books. These are my personal estimations based on when we read them in our family.

Early Readers

1. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
2. Heidi by Johanna Spyri*
3. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
4. Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
5. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
6. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett*
7. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
8. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
9. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
10. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
11. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
12. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
13. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
14. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
15. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
16. The Boxcar Children by Getrude Stein Warner
17. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
18. Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary
19. Matilda by Roald Dahl
20. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
21. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
22. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
23. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
24. Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
25. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
26. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
27. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
28. The Doll People by Ann Martin
29. The Meanest Doll in the World by Ann Martin
30. The Runaway Dolls by Ann Martin
31. More All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
32. All-of-a-Kind Family Uptownby Sydney Taylor
33. All-of-a-Kind Family Downtownby Sydney Taylor
34. Ella of All-of-a-Kind Familyby Sydney Taylor
35. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
36. Mandie by Lois Leppard
37. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
38. Diary of a Real Payne by Annie Tipton
39. Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary
40. Lily Lapp by Suzanne Woods Fisher
41. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
42. On the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
43. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
44. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
45. Leah’s Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich
46. Mack by Patricia Polacco
47. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
48. Stormy, Misty’s Foal by Marguerite Henry
49. Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
50. Justin Morgan had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
51. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
52. The Doll’s House by Rumer Godden
53. Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
54. American Girl book series
55. Sisters in Time book series
56. In Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson
57. More Stories from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
58. Still More Stories from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
59. Sixteen and Away from Homeby Arleta Richardson
60. Treasures from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
61. Eighteen and on Her Ownby Arleta Richardson
62. Nineteen and Wedding Bells Aheadby Arleta Richardson
63. At Home in North Branchby Arleta Richardson
64. Christmas Stories from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
65. Stories from the Growing Yearsby Arleta Richardson
66. A School of Her Ownby Arleta Richardson
67. Letters from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
68. A Day at the Fairby Arleta Richardson
69. Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson
70. A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla
71. The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
72. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
73. Misty’s Twilight by Marguerite Henry
74. The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

    Middle Readers

75. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
76. Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
77. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
78. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
79. Elsie Dinsmore by Martha Finley
80.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery*
81. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott*
82. Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
83. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
84. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
85. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
86. Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell
87. The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery
88. Christy by Catherine Marshall
89. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
90. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
91. Phoebe the Spy by Judith Berry Griffin
92. Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
93. Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
94. Rainbow Garden by Patricia St. John
95. A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
96. National Velvet by Enid Bagnold

    Teens 

97. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
98. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
99. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
100. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
101. Stepping Heavenward: One Woman’s Journey to Godliness by Elizabeth Prentiss

Are your favorites on the list? What would you add?

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Sara

Author/Speaker/Consultant at Heart and Soul Homeschooling

Sara is a homeschool mom to 3 creative girls. She holds a degree in Social Work specializing in early childhood development, which led to her interest in individualized educational options like homeschooling. She believes that learning should be a lifelong adventure, not just a checklist to get through. She is a writer, avid reader, introvert (INFJ), and dreamer of dreams.

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