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Original poster

What classic book did you live when you were 13?

137 replies

Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:04

Hello!

Our family does a thing where we recommend a book we think someone else would like and then we rate it. It's my turn to recommend for my 13 yr old.

I'm trying to remember what I read and loved at 13. There are loads of brilliant YA books around but I think it should be one she wouldn't have come across or thought of for this exercise, and not necessarily a book aimed at children.

I've thought of Little Women and Anne of Green Gables but I know there must be loads more suitable ones!

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
pumpkinscoop · 06/11/2022 10:45

Little House, Little Women, read a LOT of Dickens around that age, and Flora Thompson, Mary Stewart, Jean Plaidy, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, Nancy Mitford.

BestIsWest · 06/11/2022 10:45

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - Betty Smith

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:40

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden I love the fact you counted as well!

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 06/11/2022 10:40

Gone with the Wind
Anne of Green Gables
Little House in the Prairie

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:40

@SuffolkBargeWoman I reread the Dark is Rising trilogy recently! It's still in print. I loved it too, esp Over Sea Under Stone.

@TottersBlankly you're right. I always find his stuff reeeeeeeeally creepy but that's certainly no reason not to recommend it!

OP posts:
Nowisthemonthofmaying · 06/11/2022 10:37

I was that age when I read Pride & Prejudice for the first time, and loved it!

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:36

MichelleScarn · 06/11/2022 10:33

@Mardyface I was, devoured books at that age, makes me sad that I've lost this love of books with work, kids, general life stress, so thanks for this thread as trying to get back into it!

Show quote history

I worry that our kids spend too much time on the internet to experience these golden reading years (but suspect our parents felt the same about telly). It's really lovely to hear about everybody else's favourites.

OP posts:
SuffolkBargeWoman · 06/11/2022 10:36

Definitely I Capture The Castle.
I loved Ursula Le Guin at that age, particularly The Tombs of Atuan.
Also adored The Dark is Rising trilogy, although probably out of print now.

Rwandaiszero · 06/11/2022 10:36

Watership Down for me too. I'm in my 50's and still remember where I was when I read the last pages at around 13 years old

TottersBlankly · 06/11/2022 10:35

but I wonder if she could cope with a bit of John Wyndham

Why would she not? I’m certain before YA happened most readerly teens (including me) consumed vast quantities of sci fi and fantasy - and JW was the gateway to all the rest!

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 06/11/2022 10:35

Rebecca - I read it 22 times that year! I was a bit obsessive.

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:34

How did I forget about the Katy books @stormelf ?! I loved them so much.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 06/11/2022 10:33

Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:15

Oh thank you - some great ideas! I had forgotten about the little house books @Needmorelego . And John Wyndham @CheeseIsMyPatronus ! I've just remembered scaring myself stupid reading Chocky over and over at that age.

@MichelleScarn Sophie's World is a great shout. Were you 13 when you read it? I was much older and wasn't concentrating when I read it but maybe I will try again so I can recommend it.

@Mardyface I was, devoured books at that age, makes me sad that I've lost this love of books with work, kids, general life stress, so thanks for this thread as trying to get back into it!

stormelf · 06/11/2022 10:31

I loved Anne of Green Gables, the Katy books etc however I was more primary school age when reading them
When I was 13 I was mainly reading Lord of the Rings and eagerly awaiting your he next Harry Potter book to be released.

Coldsteadyrain · 06/11/2022 10:31

Sorry, should have refreshed before posting!

Coldsteadyrain · 06/11/2022 10:30

Singleandproud I think the ballet series is by Lorna Hill. No Castanets at the Wells
www.goodreads.com/book/show/6707736-no-castanets-at-the-wells

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:29

I'm really enjoying hearing about everyone's favourites and I'm imagining you all reading them in your bedrooms as 13 year olds.Thankyou all.

@Everydaywheniwakeup no way am I recommending Flowers in the Attic! Though it does for the brief of something it read and enjoyed 😁

I forgot about all the horror books people were reading as young teens too. I got into Stephen King much later. DD isn't a horror lover (fast forwarded the scary bits in stranger things eg) but I wonder if she could cope with a bit of John Wyndham.

OP posts:
Awrite · 06/11/2022 10:24

And Sweet Valley High

Awrite · 06/11/2022 10:24

I also loved Christopher Pile, which was teen horror.

Awrite · 06/11/2022 10:22

At that age I was devouring Judy Blume.

Our P7 teacher had read us the Superfudge series and then the girls in the class found Judy's teen range. Very grown up.

I used to go to the library every fortnight, stock up on books and read them listening to George Michael and Seal (easy listening). Great days.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/11/2022 10:22

All Creatures Great and Small
1984
Judy Blume

I was an eclectic teen reader

TottersBlankly · 06/11/2022 10:21

Lorna Doone - R.D. Blackmore. Fantastically well written historical fiction.

Most of my reading at that age was probably Georgette Heyer and P.G. Wodehouse, though!

LetUsPonce · 06/11/2022 10:21

The Phantom Tollbooth

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:20

Singleandproud · 06/11/2022 10:17

I think I loved Flambards at that age. Although can't quite remember as I just read the synopsis and it doesn't sound right.
I'm sure it was a girl sent to live with cousins and she eventually went away to London to become a ballet dancer which her family were against, in later books her plumper cousin followed her and did Spanish dancing and the main character loved the groundsmen son Sebastian. I'm not sure if I'm mixing two books up that I read at the same time.

Ofcourse there is ballet shoes and subsequent books if she's never read those.

But for your exercise shouldn't it be one that you have read and enjoyed?

Yes it should really @Singleandproud but I'm enjoying the recommendations for ones I haven't read and have read lots of these and couldn't fish them out of my perimenopausal memory for some reason. I definitely never read Flambards but it sounds ace!

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 06/11/2022 10:20

Nvm the ballet book I was thinking of was A Dream of Saddlers Wells... Thank you Google. Perfect if your DD likes ballet and Flambards was quite horsey.