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Original poster

What shall 14 year old DD read next? What grabbed you at that age ?

59 replies

Mollscroll · 08/11/2020 07:55

She’s a great reader. Or was till the phone took over. She’s just read Rebecca at my suggestion. She’s done a lot of Agatha Christie, Pride and Prejudice, and a lot of YA stuff. She’d
enjoy Jane Eyre but I think she needs something a bit easier first to reengage her.

I remember really enjoying A Town Like Alice at that age. Any other suggestions ?

OP posts:
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hernameis · 19/11/2020 01:29

At her age some of my favourite books were by Joan Lingard and I loved Linda Hoy's Your Friend Rebecca

Seeline · 18/11/2020 18:01

My DD loved
His Dark MAterials series
RUby in hte Smoke series also by Pulman
Noughts and Crosses series
Anything by Frances Hardinge
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency
Agatha Christie - Miss MArple
Lauren St John books

FraterculaArctica · 18/11/2020 17:58

The Go-Between

Nymerialuna · 18/11/2020 17:55

Tamora Pierce
Phillip Pullman - His Dark Materials series
Terry Pratchett - Discworld Series (maybe start with the Tiffany Aching books)
Robin Hobb - Farseer books
Jasper Fforde - Thursday Next series

at her age I also read Virginia Andrew Flowers in the Attic books (which I devoured!) but they are not suitable for all teens.

Londonmummy66 · 18/11/2020 17:42

Emma and Sense and Sensibility. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer would be a good one to introduce her to that author.

Very hard to get hold of but Masha and The Youngest Lady in Waiting by Mara Kay (set in imperial Russia).

Jean Plaidy - perhaps start with Madonna of the Seven Hills (Lucretia Borgia) as a protagonist of a similar age might well appeal

yikesanotherbooboo · 18/11/2020 17:32

My DS started reading political biographies at that age. He doesn't read fiction at all but is an avid reader. Has your DD got any particular interests?

NeonBella · 18/11/2020 10:39

At that age I started reading Stephen King.
Many many years later and I still enjoy a re-read occasionally.
I also read Jane Eyre around that age and it remains on of my favorite books.

It's a tricky age. I remember having outgrown the YA stuff but the adult stuff I was interested in was probably a bit too grown up.

I recently read the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers (The long way to a small angry planet, A closed and common orbit and Record of a space born few) and absolutely loved them. Whilst reading i thought that they'd be good for that inbetween age.

User56770987 · 17/11/2020 16:06

The Book Thief
I quite liked a bit of John Grisham and also Maeve Binchey around that age.
Bill Bryson also

IwishIwasyoda · 17/11/2020 09:43

Stephen King classics - Salem's lot, Pet Cemetery, The Shining, Carrie,

Original poster
Mollscroll · 09/11/2020 19:02

Thanks I’ll look again for the Dunmore Burning Bright.

And fire Frost In May is my all time favourite book. I loved it as a teenager despite having no familiarity with convents or converts or Catholicism. I hesitate to give it to DD - if she doesn’t love it like I did I’d feel bereft.

OP posts:
forgetthehousework · 09/11/2020 17:08

Anne McCaffrey
Dorothy L Sayers
Georgette Heyer
Bill Bryson
Laurie R King
JD Salinger - 'Catcher in the Rye' is the ultimate teenager book!
Erin Morgenstein - 'The Night Circus'

Heathercob · 09/11/2020 16:58

Swain, not Dwain!

Heathercob · 09/11/2020 16:57

Not sure whether they'd be a bit old for your daughter, but she might like to try something by Heidi Dwain or similar?

Choccyp1g · 08/11/2020 23:35

I checked on my Kindle and the Burning Bright I mean is definitely by Helen Dunmore. Strange though, because I read it years ago, and couldn't remember the name and had to search for ages to find it again on the Kindle. There are 2 pages of burning brights books!
The first one that comes up is a Tracy Chevalier book which is ok as well.

ladybird69 · 08/11/2020 23:35

The shell seekers by Rosamunde pilcher. Favourite book ever, I reread every year.
Some thing different The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch.
The house at Riverton by Kate Morton.

BertieBotts · 08/11/2020 23:28

Bali Rai - fantastic author! I liked (un)arranged marriage.

Robert Swindells, I read a lot of his books at that age. I remember Brother in the Land.

Hailtomyteeth · 08/11/2020 23:26

Our Lady of the Flowers. I'd finished reading Kerouac and went on to Jean Genet.

Pasithea · 08/11/2020 23:20

Thomas hardy.
Shakespeare.

From 10 I read a lot of cathrine Cookson. Cos my mum had them all.

Firefretted · 08/11/2020 23:12

Oh and Antonia White's Frost in May quartet are beautiful books for intelligent, sensitive teenage readers

Firefretted · 08/11/2020 23:10

Definitely I Capture the Castle!
Eva Ibbotson's YA books
The Flambards series by KM Peyton
I loved the Cazalet Chronicles at that age
Sisters of the Quantock Hills

yikesanotherbooboo · 08/11/2020 22:59

I'm finding this thread really nostalgic and will add;
Molly Keane
MM Kaye
PG Wodehouse
Scoop
Cold Comfort Farm
Diary of A provincial lady
Mazo de la Roche

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/11/2020 22:39

Helen Forester's books starting with Tuppence to Cross the Mersey
Stan Barstow A kind of loving
On trashy notes we devoured Jilly Copper, Thornbirds and North and South at this age.

kowari · 08/11/2020 19:11

Tomorrow, When the War Began (series)

kowari · 08/11/2020 18:57

Looking for Alibrandi