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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:
Schnooze · 06/11/2022 10:20

Watership Down

Everydaywheniwakeup · 06/11/2022 10:18

Although I have always been a book lover, that wasn't an age I was reading many classics and I too would have been more Judy Blume. Little House, Anne of GG etc were more 10ish, as well as my beloved Streatfeild books.
I definitely read Flowers in the Attic around then. Maybe The Bell Jar too, not that I understood it.

Toomanysleepycats · 06/11/2022 10:18

I fell in love with the Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. It’s part of a trilogy. It’s based on the legend of King Arthur and Merlin.

The protagonist starts as a young boy and you follow his life. He is a very gentle soul so is very easily appealing to female readers.

Its full of magic and longing and whispers in the night. I still reread it as an adult.
My other favourite Book is Precious Bane, but I didn’t read that til I was an adult.

Thats a lovely family tradition you have.

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:17

Thank you @ItsHitTheFanNow I haven't read the Chrysalids myself but I'm really tempted to go back to John Wyndham now.

OP posts:
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?

Original poster
Mardyface · 06/11/2022 10:16

@TwoBlondes another brilliant one. I did too. Not sure why I have forgotten all these!

OP posts:
ItsHitTheFanNow · 06/11/2022 10:16

I also loved Anne of Green Gables and The Chrysalids by John Wyndham.

Original poster
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.

OP posts:
TwoBlondes · 06/11/2022 10:15

DD loved I Capture the Castle at that age

MichelleScarn · 06/11/2022 10:10

Not as classic as above, but I loved the philosophy from Jostein Gaarder (sp) Through a Glass Darkly, The Christmas Mystery and Sophie's World.

CheeseIsMyPatronus · 06/11/2022 10:09

I was all about Anne Shirley at that age. Although Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret? and Deenie and the others by Judy Blume were good (although I may have been 11 or 12)

I liked some fantasy and science fiction so Ursula Le Guin, John Wyndham (Chrysalids, Midwich Cuckoos etc) were also favourites.

Needmorelego · 06/11/2022 10:07

At 13 I loved the Little House series. I especially liked the ones where Laura was a teen (Little Town on the Prairie, Happy Golden Years).