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Books for 12 year old reluctant reader - please recommend!

22 replies

OMVM2 · 26/03/2017 21:00

Hi,
My daughter is a 12 year old (only just turned 12 this month) who is a reluctant reader. I could never understand it as I read loads. I always have been. So I had to get my head around this and understand that not all kids are that keen on reading (why?why?why?).
So she was tasked with reading Wonder in June last year, and finish it by start of school in September.
I helped her with reading it, and she absolutely loved it! So I thought maybe she is just not so great with picking the right books for herself. I went to check the school library and.. it is not great at all. I think this was my error - I never actually read books she was reading, and sort of trusted school with the choice.

So I got her couple of books which she so far loved. These are certain type of books, as you can see below - she doesn't like fantasy books. No romance.

The list consists of

  • Counting by 7s
  • The war that saved my life
  • Sweet Pizza
  • Return to Sender
  • One crazy summer
  • Sylvia and Aki
  • Stella by Starlight


I have chosen couple more just not bought them as yet -

  • Threads by Polonsky which is not available till November,
  • The curious incident but I heard there is a bit of a language issue with it?
  • Out of my mind,
  • A Boy called Hope,
  • The Red Pencil - not sure about this one, is it for pre-teenagers really..?
  • Cowgirl,
  • Hour of the bees,
  • The Crossover - experimenting here as this is written as a poem, maybe she will like it though..


Has anyone had any experience with these above?
Maybe someone has got any other ideas?

It is so difficult to find books age appropriate and with a deeper story to it. Covers are great, just the substance not there, which I think makes it difficult for an unexperienced reader to get to the books really worth a read...

Any suggestions highly appreciated!
OP posts:
rogueantimatter · 27/03/2017 19:10

Wonder, by Palacio

Quite short novel about a boy who has a severe facial disfigurement. Very uplifting and an easy, but good quality read.

Hope you get some more suggestions soon. My DC are now 20 and 18.

schmalex · 27/03/2017 22:04

How about Lara Williamson - Just Call me Spaghetti Hoop Boy and others.

schmalex · 27/03/2017 22:06

Oops I see you've already got A Boy Called Hope on your list!

Sarah Crossan could be worth a read too - she writes in verse, which I suppose could be offputting to some but it does make her books quite a quick read. Very beautiful, emotional stories about real life relationships (not romantic).

birdsdestiny · 27/03/2017 22:09

A monster calls. My 12 year old , not interested at all in books, has just devoured it.

Teaandadunk · 29/03/2017 20:39

There is plenty of substance (challenge?) in the Cat's Cradle Trilogy by T. J. Healy and it is age appropriate and very supportive of the changes pre teen girls are going through. More speculative than fantasy but set in a real world our kids can relate to. My daughter and her friend loved all three but they are only on kindle. My niece's friends (13) all read using a kindle app on their phones so if your daughter has a thing about books it might be a way in? (Not saying that's a good thing, I personally don't think you can beat a physical book but it might be an alternative.)
Also, be aware this reluctance might be short lived. My daughter stopped reading for a while then suddenly couldn't get enough.

fruityb · 29/03/2017 20:47

Sarah Crossan books are good but sad!
Everything everything by Nicola Yoon is great. Content wise was fine I think for 12...
I read Counting by 7s which was ok.
Silence is Goldfish a similar style.
Geek girl series is great fun
Star girl is lovely
The apple tart of hope
The Itch series by Simon Mayo

Emlorn · 29/03/2017 21:30

The fault in our stars by John Green?

Emlorn · 29/03/2017 21:33

Posted too soon - it's about a very emotional subject (teens with cancer) but Dd (11, 12 this month) devoured it. We also watched the film as a family and talked about it quite a lot!

mousymary · 03/05/2017 11:22

I agree it's hard. My dd has suddenly gone off reading. And there is a long list of subjects she doesn't like: fantasy, romance, "issues" and a whole lot more besides.

A Curious Incident is, imo, not a children's book. I don't know why it was ever marketed at children. The issues and pain of the adults completely floats over children's heads. A book wasted on the young!

How about Chinese Cinderella? Dd enjoyed that. A good dose of misery lit for children.

FreeArt · 11/05/2017 10:01

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emmaMBC · 26/05/2017 10:16

You've got some great ones there - Cowgirl, Sweet Pizza, A boy Called Hope. Wonder is a great one too - the film is set for release very soon too.
I'd also consider Cosmic by frank Cotterell-Boyce.
The Secret Hen House Theatre is just wonderful.

k8music · 11/06/2017 13:47

<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Katherine%20Blake&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Katherine%20Blake&sort=relevancerank&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Katherine%20Blake&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Katherine%20Blake&sort=relevancerank&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 Hi Tedthe ordinary fish by Katherine Blake is funny - my 8 year old loved it!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 11/06/2017 13:52

Wonder is the one the OP's DD originally read! RTT, people!

DS loved Curious Incident at that age.

llangennith · 11/06/2017 14:08

Dork Diaries
Anything by Jacqueline Wilson

Brighteyes27 · 07/08/2017 15:23

Hi OP did you find any good books my DD 121/2 has dyslexia loves stories about dogs but not if the dog gets hurt or dies. She hates books about love/romance, too grown up books or where anything about dying is mentioned and not typiical teenage girl boy obsesssed friendship issue books.
She doesn't like books which are too young but I would like her to do some reading on holiday. Today we have been to Waterstones and to our local library I suggested a few books as did the librarian and the person at Waterstones but we came away with nothing.
Any suggestions?

skankhunt42 · 09/08/2017 17:49

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Westnorwood · 09/08/2017 17:54

It's spelt Adolf Flowers.

ginflumpsandzebraprint · 09/08/2017 18:02

Both my dad's hated reading but david walliams is a hit with dd12 and dd14 started with throne of glass by sarah j mass at 12 she's still reading on holiday the latest book !

Ohyesiam · 09/08/2017 18:12

Anything by Kate Meryon. The covers look deceptively girly, but they have got substance and wisdom. Takes of every day life, not fantasy, but very perceptively told.

Pancakeflipper · 09/08/2017 18:20

Bubble Boy - Stewart Foster
Beetle Boy /Beetle Queen - MG Leonard
Judy Blume ones like Deenie?
Time Travelling Hamster - Ross Welford

Brighteyes27 · 09/08/2017 18:24

skankhunt42 What on earth did you post to be removed are you a troll?

LinJ56 · 11/08/2017 22:22

Just out and getting good reviews:
The Explorers by Katherine Rundell
Letters from a Lighthouse by Emma Carroll
The Awkward Autumn of Lily McLean by Lindsay Littleson

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