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Original poster

gripping books for 14 yr ds

65 replies

Hullygully · 25/06/2011 15:11

Please oh please.

Ds has requested books "as gripping as Infernal Engines and Eragon."

He has read the "Gone" "Hunger Games" series, is quite mature and wants a break from his non-fiction physics books...

All ideas appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hullygully · 27/06/2011 10:09

Thanks, I appreciate it. He has read all the Colfer and he had to read Of Mice and Men at school - so no longer terribly keen. I think they are too young for those, the writing is easy enough to understand, but they don't yet have the emotional maturity/depth to really appreciate the ishoos.

I'll look at the others.

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stressedHEmum · 27/06/2011 09:52

Abhorsen Trilogy is Garth Nix ( Sabriel, Abhorsen and Lirael).

My older boys read my books when they were that age, mainly fantasy stuff, but the others don't bother even looking at them. I sometimes read their's though. I love Artemis Fowl Blush

Think Rosemary Sutcliffe might be a bit too young for a 14 year old. I mentioned it to DS1's English teacher when he was about that age and the teacher kind of scoffed.

Marcus Sedgewick books are quite good. Cornelia Funke is worth a read as are Kevin Crossley Holland's Arthurian books (The Seeing Stone, The Crossing Place and another one that I can't remember it's name.)
Classics like Lord of the Flies, 1984, Animal Farm, OF mice and Men and the Pearl and old ones like Dracula, The Invisible Man and Dorian Grey are challenging reads for this age group.
Neil Gaiman might be worth a look. Markus Zusak is quite good as well.
Howl's Moving Castle was well received by all my kids
Eion Colfer's books for older kids are fab, The Wish List, the Supernaturalist, ones like that.
Jeanne DUprau - City of Ember
James Daschner's Maze Runner books
Catherine Fischer.

I'll keep thinking about it. Over the years, we have had so many author's and books that it's hard to keep track, to be honest, but I might remember some more.

Original poster
Hullygully · 27/06/2011 09:26

Thanks - lots there I haven't heard of!

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Colyngbourne · 27/06/2011 09:20

Unwind - Neal Shusterman

Philip Reeve's Larklight series is light-hearted and fun

Bloodsong and Bloodtide - Melvin Burgess

Books by Robert Cormier

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon

Books by John Wyndham

The Piratica series by Tanith Lee

The Dead & The Enemy - Charlie Higson

Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Little Brother - Cory Doctorow

Perhaps things like the George RR Martin series behind the TV series Game of Thrones?

Ian Fleming novels

Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 22:32

Funnily enough, have just ordered Shogun as lost my v old copy.

Read I am No 4 - liked it. Will look at Higgins and Follet. He has read a lot of Alistair Maclean which I loved at his age.

Will look again at R Sutcliffe, we've got the Eagle 9th lot, but they aren't v popular.

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Takver · 26/06/2011 20:53

Has he read Rosemary Sutcliff's books - thinking of the Mark of the Horse Lord, Outcast etc.

PrinceHumperdink · 26/06/2011 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

startail · 26/06/2011 17:05

If you really don't mind sex and violence, shogun and the two early wartime Ken Follet's "eye of the needle and key to Rebecca" be warned these are adult books and have both.
Jack Higins "the eagle has landed" also " the day of the Jackal, lots of detail that may appeal to a physics addict

Asinine · 26/06/2011 16:55

My DD12 uses the library and I pass anything I read to her unless it's really unsuitable. Some of the teen books she used to read were quite shocking ( she was getting them from the library when she was 10ish). But aside from the terrible sexy bits, the values in them were often horrid, about realationships, shopping and parents. I'd rather she read something well written.

boysrock · 26/06/2011 16:54

Pointing even.

boysrock · 26/06/2011 16:53

Nope you've done a good job. Hope mine are bookworms at that age. But I would be poonting him in the direction of amazon and waterstones now.Grin

Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 16:52

buy even

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Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 16:52

He does sometimes put books in my Amazon basket and request I look at and by them.

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Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 16:50

Absolutely agree - in fact was wandering around Waterstones today having that v same thought.

I think it's partly habit, I have always placed piles of books in their rooms since they were tiny, and partly a total aversion to shops (unless computer games or in airports). I think as well they are used to asking again since tiny) and being provided with things I know they'll like. Have I made it too easy??

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roguepixie · 26/06/2011 16:50

Young Sherlock Holmes series - Andrew Lane

boysrock · 26/06/2011 16:48

Im a bit puzzled. why is he asking you for books? Why is he not being let loose in a bookshop/library to make his own choices?

Part of the fun is selecting your own books and searching out not so available books isn't it?

Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 16:46

Thanks - I'll check them all out too.

ABhorsen not mentioned in your list?

My ds did like all the John Wyndham's - they're good.

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Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 16:45

Do your dc read your books? I must have five thousand books all over the house, but they seem to pass largely unnoticed...what is that about?

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Asinine · 26/06/2011 16:43

Ooh 'the wasp factory' I loved that one. And 'the crow road'

Another good Scottish one is 'Lanark' by Alastair Gray.

Asinine · 26/06/2011 16:41

'starter for 10' 'one day' David Nicholls
Robert Goddard, quite boyish but good stories, not high brow, though

DD13 is reading Paolo Coehlo, is about sex in places, but within the bounds of a moral fable...

Donna Tart 'a secret history', about college kids, but intelligent writing
Dead Poet's Society
The god of small things
Dd12also enjoyed 'the book thief'
If you don't mind sex/ violence in context 'the kite runner'

Teenage classics like 'catcher in the Rye', 'to kill a mocking bird'

I would say go to the library, forget the teenage section if he's mainly read it all and scan for books you've enjoyed in the past.

stressedHEmum · 26/06/2011 16:20

Banned and the Banished series by James Clemens
Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
Godslayer series also by James CLemens
Redemption of Althalus by David Eddings
Sir Sparhawk books also by Eddings
Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne MacCaffrey if he liked Eragon
Edge Chronicles by PAul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve
Deathscent by Robin JArvis also his Deptford books and Whitby Witches ones
Dark is Rising by Susan COoper
Bartimaeus triogy by Johnathon Stroud

ABhorsen series is my personal favourite out of these but all my boys have loved any combination of all of the above.

Original poster
Hullygully · 26/06/2011 14:11

good good. am checking them all out. I had all Roald Dahl's books - god knows where they are now. so annoying.

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madamehooch · 26/06/2011 14:03

Left Hand of God. Comes with an adult and child cover.

pointydog · 26/06/2011 11:08

Roald Dahl's short stories are fab for teens.

lostinpants · 26/06/2011 09:44

Kiss kiss - Adult Roald Dahl - there are others too
Lord of the flies
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
THe Giver by Lois Lowry
I Robot stories - Issac Asimov