Book recommendations for a 13 year old girl please??

[multitasker]

She has done all the Twilight type books and I want to get her a few good books for Christmas. She would read anything really - any ideas for something challenging?

[MardyBra]

My DD likes Mallory Blackman's Noughts and Crosses series. Or The Hunger Games. (can't remember the author)

[Themumsnot]

Definitely she must read The Hunger Games. The Book People have the three-book set for £4.99 atm, so it is amazing value. Sophie McKenzie is good too - try Girl, Missing or Blood Ties. I think The Book People have Siobhan Dowd's books on offer too atm - A Swift, Pure Cry is an amazing book, very powerful and beautifully written. Eva Ibbotsen is good too - try A Company of Swans for instance. As well as the Noughts and Crosses series suggested above, Malorie Blackman's newest book - Boys don't Cry is very good. And I've just finished reading an Australian teen novel called Tomorrow When the War Began, by John Marsden that I thought was excellent. HTH.

[nickelbabe]

oh, yes, agree wholeheartedly with The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) - and before the film comes out!

otherwise, there's Celia Rees (loads of titles), anything by Eva Ibbotsen, Maggie Stiefvater, Cynthia Leitich Smith (the series starts with Eternal)

[nickelbabe]

there's a good new one by an author called Miriam Halahmy - Hidden is the title.
It's about a girl and her friend who save an immigrant from drowning, and what happens next - basically they have to decide whether to tell the authorities what's happened, because they're pretty sure he's illegal

[OtterHumbjug]

Good ideas here, but what about boys?

My 13-year-old has fallen out of the habit of reading for pleasure. He reads lots of non-fiction, doesn't like vampires or horror and not keen on science fiction/fantasy. Any pointers gratefully received.

[nickelbabe]

Hunger Games is great for Boys too!
and the Malorie Blackman
Melvin Burgess is great for boys, Skullduggery Pleasant, Vampirates...

[nickelbabe]

doesn't like vampires

[nickelbabe]

let him read non-fiction if he prefers it, though :)

[nickelbabe]

give me some ideas of subjects he's interested in, and I'll come up with some ideas.

[HedgeHop]

Tess of the d'urbervilles? I still remember being upset when she shaved her eyebrows off.

[OtterHumbjug]

I love you, nickelbabe. He is into guitars, rugby, Top Gear, The Big Bang Theory and unsuitably adult comedy shows. He does study song lyrics, but won't read poetry. Doesn't like 'woeful orphans' or 'girly talking about feelings for half a chapter'. He liked Animal Farm when they did it at school and a book of real life heroes that was his dad's.

I'd like him to see reading as another leisure activity, on a level with Playstation games, rather than something he has to do. Am I asking too much?

[Hullygully]

Otter! You nicked my ds!

My ds (14) likes the Quantum Prophecy series, Neil Gaiman (recommended on MN), The Left Handed series, Skulduggery Pleasant, John Wyndham

will try and remember more

[ScatterChasse]

I liked Agatha Christie at that age, nothing like a good mystery.

Agree with Eva Ibbotson, there are five which are a sort of set, with girls' faces on the front, A Company of Swans that Themumsnot said is one. She does some younger children's books too.

Adele Geras, The Girls in the Velvet Frame is lovely.

Has she read Eragon etc? The last one comes out soon, so there might be some good offers on the earlier ones.

[nickelbabe]

well, if he liked Animal Farm, he might like Nineteen-eighty-four.

there's an A-Z of the big bang theory isbn:9781843585411
also, there are millions of books by jeremy clarkson on his un-pc views of the world. My ex used to read those all the time (usually weeping with laughter)
Top Gear does Christmas is new "Contains a platter of tasty treats to take away the sprouty taste of yuletide boredom. This title includes a guide to wrapping presents, a guide to festive jumpers, and the strange secrets of The Stig's Christmas dinner. " isbn9781849901543

Mother, Brother, Lover by Jarvis Cocker isbn9780571281909 "A collection of lyrics and commentary by Jarvis Cocker, one of the most original and memorable lyricists and performers. It presents a selection of sixty-six lyrics, with commentary and an introduction by the man himself. It features such classic Jarvis lyrics as "Common People", "Disco 2000", "Babies", "This is Hardcore" and more."
Lyricvs of Leonard Cohen "When his first album made him an unlikely star in the late 1960s, Leonard Cohen was hailed as the new poet of song. His melodies were hauntingly melodic but his lyrics were like no one else's - poignant, romantic, mystical and darkly comic. This book contains the lyrics to over 100 classic songs. " isbn 9781847728029

any good? close?

[ScatterChasse]

I've just checked, the last one is out now. I don't know if I'll feel a bit daft buying it now though, I read the first one when I was about 13 so have been hanging on for a while!

Oh, how about The Fire Within series by Chris d'Lacey?

Has your ds read the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Otter? There's lots about lifestyles when earth was covered in forest, about hunting etc. as well as the story, so he may quite enjoy that?

[nickelbabe]

yeah, it came out on 16th november - it was a long time coming!
you should definitely read it though Scatter

[OtterHumbjug]

Really good. I've got the Top Gear annual (they each get an annual in their stockings). DH would love the Leonard Cohen book.

Is John Wyndham 'The Day of The Triffids'? I think we've got that, and another of his.

Just googled the Quantum Prophecy series. That might be a good idea, if he reads one and likes it perhaps he'll continue. Thanks Hully.

I wondered about the latest Eragon one, but he just told me he never finished Brisinger (sp?), so perhaps not. He loved the first one though.

[redlac]

another vote for Hunger Games - fabulous trilogy. What about some of Carl Hiasson stuff - he does books for younger readers, quite eco warrior thrillery books. I read Hoot and Flush without even realising they were for his younger readers! www.carlhiaasen.com/young.html

[JAMW]

I'm 21, so can (sort of) remember being that young. I was quite studious, but my guilty pleasure was the angus thongs and perfect snogging series!

[JAMW]

ooooh chinese cinderella by adeline yen mah. so good! i;ve read the adult version falling leaves which is great too!

[ScatterChasse]

And Garth Nix (I can't keep away from this thread!).

[OtterHumbjug]

Definitely, Carl Hiaasen. I got DNeice one last Christmas (she was 13) and actually got a hand-written thank you note.

[SecretSpi]

For a 13 year old girl, "I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith is great.

[BlueChampagne]

Second Secret Spi

Red Shift by Alan Garner?