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Children's books

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Original poster

young adult suggestions please

32 replies

cilldara · 19/07/2012 11:14

Hi all. DD is 14 and loves to read but we have hit a bit of a wall in finding books she will enjoy. She is not interested in the vampire/ dystopian future/paranormal stuff anymore. The young adult sections in the bookshops are full of these.

She has read a few adult books including Catcher in the Rye and The Help.
She also enjoyed Siobhan Dowd's books A Swift Pure Cry and Bog Child. She has just finished I Capture the Castle which she loved.

We would appreciate any suggestions.
ThanksSmile

OP posts:
jongleuse · 19/07/2012 23:48

She has excellent taste, Siobhan Dowd was such a beautiful writer. I see MSLITM has been recommended, would also suggest Trash, Andy Mulligan and Between Shades of Grey, Ruta Sepytys as others on the Carnegie shortlist.

Does she like historical fiction? Celia Rees, Sally Nichols, Michelle Lovric and Jennifer Donnelly are all good if so.
I read all the Nancy Mitfords at her age and loved them, The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate especially, she may like these if she liked ICTC.
Hilary Mckay's Casson family series are younger and light going but have a similar feel, maybe good for summer holidays?
Thrillers? Tim Bowler and Anne Cassidy write excellent thriller type books for teens (a lot better than Sophie Mckenzie IMO.)
Fantasy? The Flora trilogy by Yseabeau Wilkes is brilliantly funny and beautifully written with a strong female protagonist. Have heard the Bartimaeus books are also good and of course there is the sublime Terry Pratchett (start with the Witches books.)
All round great writing...Meg Rosoff, Joanne Horniman (an Australian author but can get on A**n), Margaret Mahy
Austen and the Brontes definitely, also Anna Karenina.
Le Grand Meaulnes and The Garden of the Finzi Continis are up there with Catcher as coming-of-age stories IMO. but I would really, really encourage her to browse in the adult library and try out lots of different books for herself.

Can you tell I love questions like this??

chicaguapa · 19/07/2012 22:38

Room is not as harrowing as you expect. I approached it with a bit of trepidation but really enjoyed it.

Has she read Marjorie Blackman or are they too young? The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman has a similar audience to the Bog Child.

MissM · 19/07/2012 22:25

Or what about the Flambards books?

MissM · 19/07/2012 22:24

Try anything by David Almond, especially Skellig and My Name is Mina. Or A Monster Calls, which is spellbinding. Anything by Sophie Mackenzie, Sally Nicholls, Sharon Creech, Jenny Valentine. Or how about classics like Charlotte Sometimes, Little Women, What Katy Did etc. etc?

Original poster
cilldara · 19/07/2012 20:14

She has read Jane Eyre but Daphne Du Maurier would be right up her street I think.
Room is an interesting one. I have it here but haven't read it myself. Is it very harrowing?
I have seen My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece and thought it looked like a good one so will definitely get that.
Thanks!

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 19/07/2012 18:58

My DD is 14, and on her school's recommended reading list was Room, by Emma Donoghue. I had been given this for my last birthday. Told DD I didn't think it was suitable for her age group, and I was going to complain to the school (for the avoidance of doubt, I had no intention of so doing!). DD had read it within the day, and we had many an interesting discussion!

She might also ike My Sister Lives On The Mantlepiece, which is aimed at her age group.

BlueChampagne · 19/07/2012 13:19

How about Brontes (esp Jane Eyre) and Daphne du Maurier (Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek)?