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I want to buy DD twelve books for Christmas that she'll enjoy but that will also help her with GCSE

82 replies

OccamsLadyshaveToo · 29/11/2015 17:17

She's in Y9 and a strong reader but for the past year has got stuck in a rut of fanfic, manga, anime etc. She is a bit worried about English and the new GCSE format because it's the subject she struggles most at. They have been advised to read as much as possible and with as much variety as possible so on her Christmas list she's put "12 books that will make me pass GCSE!" She plans to read one each month.

So far I've got:

To Kill a Mockingbird
An Austen - probably Pride and Prejudice
The Color Purple
Catcher in the Rye
The Handmaid's Tale
Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything
Some poetry - maybe Ted Hughes?

She's quite political - particularly gender politics. Her teacher at parents eve recommended a real mix of genres, eras etc. I haven't got a play in there yet. An Inspector Calls is the obvious one but I think they are doing that this term at school. If not it will go in.

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 29/11/2015 17:32

What other subjects is she doing?

hippospot · 29/11/2015 17:32

I second The Women's Room.

Great list so far - The Handmaid's Tale made a big impression on me at that age.

I capture the castle - Dodie Smith
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Brideshead Revisited

These were all favourites of mine in my late teens.

FauxFox · 29/11/2015 17:31

Diary of Anne Frank

FauxFox · 29/11/2015 17:30

Sophie's World

FauxFox · 29/11/2015 17:29

Wild Swans too...

FauxFox · 29/11/2015 17:27

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy
Some Maya Angelou?
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Persepolis
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Bone Clocks David Mitchell
The Kite Runner
When Hitler stole pink rabbit

...I could go on forever Grin

MaryFlynn · 29/11/2015 17:25

At about that age, a lovely friend of my Mum's gave me "The Women's Room by Marilyn French. It had a massive impact on me at the time. Not sure if it would be as ground breaking for a girl today (not read it for years) but might have to re read it and send a copy to my own daughter.