Once again I'm looking for book suggestions. This time I need ideas for my dd15. Unlike my older kids, she's just not much of a reader. If she chooses a book to read it will likely be something by Sarah Dessen. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The books are relatively clean and harmless, but they are formulaic and well, Chick Lit Jr, in my opinion. And that's totally okay some of the time. The problem is that she won't read anything more challenging or what I consider more substantial. So, here's what I'm looking for: -must be current; let's say written in the past 10 years -not historical fiction (she hates) -not fantasy (doesn't usually care for these) -has something important to say, ie, not just a romance -however, not so heavy that it would overwhelm a sensitive girl (some cursing would be okay, but too much graphic language or reckless sex not good) -no "Christian literature" I hope all these perameters don't make it impossible. Please help. Thanks!
Your dd and I have similar reading tastes, when i was her age, mine was very much the same. I enjoyed "13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher. It is about a girl who commits suicide and leaves a tape for her "friends" explaining the 13 events that drove her to it and how they all played a part. There are no graphic parts or strong language, but it is a very good read about how everything we do affects other people in ways that we sometimes don't realize. I also liked "Never Promised You A Rose Garden" by Joanna Greenberg. Hope this helps! :wink:
She's 15. I'm all for letting a young person make their own literary choices. But I also feel that, as her educator, YOU can make a few of those choices, too. Her perameters are too narrow. I would pick out a book that you think has merit that she might (or might not!) enjoy. And don't give her a choice about it. Or maybe give her a list of ten, and tell her she must read four or five of them this year. Some suggestions: The Chosen by Chiam Potok, A Seperate Peace by John Knowles, something by Jane Austen, something by Charles Dickens, Shakespeare (OK, I would NEVER make someone READ Shakespeare, but I would make them watch a play! We're doing Romeo and Juliette this year because Ballet Met will be performing the ballet this spring) What about the Hunger Games or Twilight? They're big, though I've never read them (nor have any desire to!), but this is your daughter's tastes, not mine! If you give her a list of many books to chose from, you might consider telling her that one must be fantasy or historical fiction. It wouldn't hurt her to read something along those lines, though I certainly agree you don't need to emphasize it! Is there a book of the Dead Poet's Society? It was such an excellent film....
I might not have made myself very clear. I'm looking for books for her to read this summer. Not required reading or reading for next school year. I'm looking for books that I can get out of the library and have laying around in case she gets bored (or that I can say Oh here, honey, I hear this is a good book). So, the real literary stuff I'll force her (or do the pick 5 out of these 10 idea), but right now I'm just looking for some good summer reading that will have her enjoy reading. But I don't want complete fluff. She dislikes reading enough that it interferes with her ability to comprehend more challenging books like The Chosen or Separate Peace. So I want something that she can enjoy but at the same time speak about something important. Does that make sense?
What about Anne Of Green gables the whole series by LM Montgomery,I read it as an adult and it was very good! Almost historically accurate.
I should add that these books are really funny and enjoyable reading. They inspired me to learn to be a more creative writer as well as really took me into Prince Edward Island!
OH and if she is into mysterys try one of Brandyln Collins' books or her daughters! Very good! Well written and she will be glued to the book!
Sorry! I thought you were looking for literataure suggestions! I asked my girls, and Rachael says "Remind me later when I'm at the computer...." She might come up with something for you, but I sure have no idea!
I asked my older daughters, who are 14 and 15, for some suggestions. They recommended The Westing Game, The Mother-Daughter Book Club series, and A Match Made in Heaven. The last book is by Kristin Walker, and sounds like a romance, but there is a message in the book about being ready for marriage. A lot of the books my DDs read are either historical fiction or involve a bit of fantasy, so I am not really sure what else to recommend. Good luck!
Oh, I forgot one last suggestion: Just as Long as We're Together, by Judy Blume. Although this book was written in the late eighties, my oldest daughter read it recently, and told me that it didn't feel "dated" at all. I have not read this book, so I am going on her suggestion alone.
Is it A Match Made in High School? Btw, my younger daughter has read Mother-Daughter book club. Some of them more than once. Thanks for the suggestions!
My DD12 & 17 are both reading The Lightning Thief. My 18 year old when she came here "didn't like" vampires or fantasy - but LOVED the Twilight series (I refused to let her rent the movies to catch up - she had to read the books) "The Summer I Turned Pretty" was one my 17 year old just finished and liked. Alexis liked "Catching Jordan"....."Matched" was an interesting read (it's a series as well)... if you have an e-reader of any sort - check out "Pixel of Ink - Young Edition" - it's awesome and has a lot of free downloads for girls - dd12 LOVES it (and so do I) http://youngedition.pixelofink.com/
Well, I love anything by Rick Riordan. Even though the books would fall in the category of fantasy, they're what would be defined as low fanatasy. It's mythology meets real world. So, people talk normally, have normal names [except for the Greek/Roman/Egyptian gods], drive cars, eat normal food, etc. She'd probably like the little romance that threads through the series as well. My son and I have been reading both the Percy Jackson series and the Kane Chronicles series. Really, they're just a lot of fun.
Shelley, Faythe has picked up a series called "Son of Angels", the first one is called "Spirit Fighter". She says it's a lot like Percy Jackson. Your son might want to check them out.
Oops, yep, that was a "duh" moment, lol! The title of the Kristin Walker book is "A Match Made in High School".
my dd suggested the "Books of Ember" if she were into fantasy I would have suggested the "Guardians of Ga'hoole" for dd, she loves both sets of books. My 14 almost 15 ds likes reading the Ember books too.
My dd15 is sensitive, too, and basicly has the same perameters as your daughter, although she likes to read. Someone mentioned "The Hunger Games". My daughter began to read it but the subject matter was too intense for her. She didn't like that the teens were put in that situation, being chosen to fight to the death. One book my daughter did enjoy is "13 Little Blue Envelopes" by Maureen Johnson. (17 year old Ginny receives a packet of envelopes from her favorite aunt, leaves her home to criss-cross Europe on a sort of scavenger hunt that ends up transforming her life). Hope that helps
We loved City of Ember. We had read it aloud many years ago. Dd15 loved the Warrior series which I think is very similar to Ga'hoole series (which my ds loved years ago). But recently she has specifically stated that she likes realistic books.
dd12 read this. She really really was enjoying it. But then Anne got older and she didn't like that. So, her review of the book probably has not encouraged dd15 to want to read it.
