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Recommendations please - I've got one shot at this!

53 replies

SheenMcQueen · 15/03/2021 10:20

I am an avid reader as is DS
DD, not so much
Apart from books assigned by school, she has failed to finish a book in years (and I'm not convinced she even reads her English set books properly).

She is 15, bright but just not a reader. We both know that her English tests and comprehensions suffer due to a general lack of 'language' going into her head and she also accepts that too much time on her phone/social media/youtube etc has not helped with her concentration levels. She been reading a short book I bought her a few Christmas' ago for about four years. She says it's ok and she quite likes it but she can't get lost in it (Eleanor and Park).

I suggested audible to her as a way. to ease herself back into finding a love for stories and she is very skeptical. She listens to music all the time and thinks this is 'stealing' her music time. But she knows she has to do something. So she has agreed to 'try one book'.

One!
The pressure to get it right is high!

It can't be too challenging initially and she needs to be drawn in quite quickly. Nothing 'fantasy' or twee. She is a typical teen (whatever that means). She into music and skating mostly and is quite 'streetwise'.

I wondered about something with a big twist like 'We Were Liars' as I think she'd like the jolt at the end and also the element of 'angst' or 'Girl in Pieces' for the same 'angsty' vibe, but wondered if anyone had any good suggestions. If she hates it, I'm going to have to work hard to make her try again so it would be brilliant to find something that she likes.

Sorry for the essay but I thought background would be useful!

OP posts:
CluelessMama · 15/03/2021 13:35

The Hate U Give maybe?

Clockingon · 15/03/2021 13:24

I have 3 dc one is an avid reader of anything and everything (and you can tell this has a direct inpact on grades), one is severely dyslexic and hasn't picked a book up in years and the third is just lazy.
He's 12 so a little younger, he did try audible over the summer and enjoyed it but hasn't kept it up since the going back to school in September. The only thing he'll read is non fiction to do with his hobbies so at the moment the English teacher has told us to encourage this as it's better than not reading at all has she got any hobbies /interests?

SheenMcQueen · 15/03/2021 13:08

Bump. Anyone?

OP posts: