Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Original poster

Ideas for discerning (picky!) 13yo reader?

35 replies

SpringBluebellWoods · 21/06/2021 10:17

I’m looking for books for my 13yo dd who loves to read but is finding it hard to find things she likes. She is currently re-re-reading Terry Pratchett, has tried (and disliked) teen books like Everyone Is Lying and various other dystopian type novels, and has tried but rejected all the fantasy / sci-fi stuff that I read at that age (Asimov, Clarke, McCaffrey).

She doesn’t like scary / gruesome / angsty or anything with adult themes. I think she’d like murder mysteries if they were gentle enough, but definitely no rape / torture / graphic stuff. She’s very academic, so difficult is fine, but she has already read Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre etc. She just won’t read anything badly written.

She likes fact books, too, but is specifically looking for fiction if possible.

I had amazing advice from MNers last time I had this problem, so I’m asking again (a few years later).

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Mincepiesallyearround · 23/06/2021 22:10

At that age I loved Elizabeth Lairds books Kiss the Dust and Red Sky in the Morning. They’re for children but with serious themes - the first about a family escaping war in Kurdistan and becoming refugees, and the second is about a girl whose baby sibling is born severely disabled.

Saisong · 23/06/2021 22:10

My 14yo has just finished
Cold Comfort Farm
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
To Kill a Mockibgbird
A Kestrel for a Knave

Previously she has really been into
I Capture the Castle
A Room with a View
Wolf Brother series
Call of the Wild and White Fang
Dark is Rising series
Children of Greene Knowe
Owl Service
Quite a bit of Frank Cotrell-Boyce
Little Women etc

CaptSkippy · 23/06/2021 22:00

Forgot to mention, If she hasn't read it yet she may also want to try Washington Square by Henry James. Catherine is an unconventional herione.

CaptSkippy · 23/06/2021 21:39

Has she tried Elizabeth Gaskell? Very much like Austen or Brönte.

Dogoodfeelgood · 23/06/2021 21:34

Don’t know if this has been mentioned yet but Robin Hobb series starting at the Assassin’s Apprentice would be amazing. The most beautiful fantasy books ever.

EwwSprouts · 23/06/2021 21:16

A woman of independent means
North and South
South Riding
Children of the New Forest
Of the teen books has she tried Skullduggery Pleasant? Detective stories at heart.

SomeCatsLikeCheese · 23/06/2021 21:00

How about The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins? Classic detective story. The Woman in White is a great read as well.

She might like the Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Howard - some of the earlier books are partially narrated by the teenage characters.

I agree with the recommendation of Dervla Murphy - I discovered her books around this age. Full Tilt is a great place to start, as would be Wheels Within Wheels (her autobiography).

Original poster
SpringBluebellWoods · 23/06/2021 20:55

She read Murder Most Unladylike a few years ago and liked it. But I didn’t know about Philip Pullman’s other books, I’ll try her with one of those.

The books on feminism for teens thread is also giving me ideas.

OP posts:
Hereforthedramaz · 23/06/2021 14:34

I enjoyed things like the Phillip pulmans at that age.
He did the Victorian setting ones as well as the obvious!

Also if she likes Terry Pratchett, has she tried the Terry Goodkind books, similar(ish)?

BlueChampagne · 23/06/2021 12:49

Maybe try Silas Marner instead of Middlemarch - it's not so chunky.

Would Murder Most Unladylike be suitable (I haven't read it but DS1 who is the same age enjoys them).

MadMadMadamMim · 22/06/2021 15:53

Diana Wynne Jones is a great suggestion.

I'd add Neil Gaiman - try Stardust and The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Original poster
SpringBluebellWoods · 22/06/2021 14:48

YeOlde - I read Jane Eyre aloud to her (it was our lockdown thing), and she misses out the scariest bits of Sherlock Holmes. But also, archaic language makes it less real, and therefor less scary. Thanks for your suggestions, I’ll have a look.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringBluebellWoods · 22/06/2021 14:46

SirVix - In terms of non fiction, she’s really enjoyed the biography of Malala, Watching The English, some of the Dara O’Brien science books (a bit young, but fun) and also the Usborne intros to economics and politics. Also a few of the David Foster Wallace short stories based on a cruise ship and a state fair (but we pointed her to the easier / more suitable ones).

OP posts:
yeOldeTrout · 22/06/2021 14:45

Doesn't like angst or horror but did like Jane Eyre ?

Does like Sherlock Holmes (which has a fair bit of horror on it)... ok, I'll try to work with that.

Dick Francis - the better rated ones. Not as formulaic as Christie.
Mirage Modern book
Mirage (James Follett)
Curse Workers trilogy
Full Tilt, Dervla Murphy
The Book Thief

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 22/06/2021 14:44

All Creatures Great and Small? just lovely

SirVixofVixHall · 22/06/2021 14:27

I have similar issues with my dd who is 14.
She hates anything gruesome or disturbing, and I must admit that I am horrified at the stuff she has to read for school, sexual abuse etc. I read nothing like that at 14 and I was a very keen reader.
My dd has actually been put off fiction for this reason and has started reading travel journals and comedy, so I am looking at other people’s suggestions closely.
She might enjoy quite a few of the Persephone books ?

minipie · 22/06/2021 14:24

Oh - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - wonderful book and perfect for this age.

minipie · 22/06/2021 14:23

Margaret Mahy

Catherine Storr

Leon Garfield (historical , so may not suit, but really well written)

Nicholas fisk (may be too young)

John Christopher (Tripod series)

Lynne Reid Banks

I have an 8 year old not a 13 year old but she seems similar in that she has reading ability well ahead of her age but prefers content on the younger end, definitely nothing heavy or scary. I’ve tried her on older books and she always gives up and reverts to the less challenging stuff. I’ve decided I don’t care as long as she is reading…

At 13 I was a very advanced reader but as I recall was mostly reading Point Horror and trashy airport novels… and Terry Pratchett.

ContessaVerde · 22/06/2021 14:21

Alison Uttley, A traveller in time

ContessaVerde · 22/06/2021 14:21

Diana Wynne Jones

Original poster
SpringBluebellWoods · 22/06/2021 14:17

Loads of ideas, thanks! I’m going to buy a big pile of secondhand books, and see what she goes for.

OP posts:
Beamur · 22/06/2021 14:13

Difficult women is a really good read. A series of chapters on different women, each who brought something to feminism. I really like the fact that they are genuinely difficult women! Not all their actions or opinions were good and it's been a really good way to talk to my DD about how feminism changes, how opinions change over time and about critical thinking generally. On the strength of that she's bought herself Jenni Murray's book. She wants to read Invisible Women, but I'm reading it first!

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 22/06/2021 14:10

mine's a big fan of du Maurier
also like The Go-Between

How about Nancy Mitford - The Pursuit of Love ? Or Barbara Pym? Celia Fremlin?

Original poster
SpringBluebellWoods · 22/06/2021 14:06

I’ve tried her on St Mary’s (my own comfort read) but she wasn’t keen.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringBluebellWoods · 22/06/2021 14:06

Ooh, I have a small feminist, too. Invisible Women was a hit, is Difficult Women similar?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread