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Original poster

Please recommend some books to get a teen dd (age 14) into reading

42 replies

Whatliesbeneath707 · 23/04/2022 15:16

We went to Waterstones today to look for some books. We ended up in the young adult section but the choice of books really surprised me. They seemed to be very dark and many were about watching people die, addiction or being bullied/having a really hard time.
What's happened to all the nice, easy to read first romance type books? Do they not exist now? My daughter can read but struggles to focus to read a book. I want her to be able to sit & get lost in a book & I want her to be able to read a whole book.
Can anyone recommend any nice easy reads please? Nothing dark or sinister. Thanks.

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 23/04/2022 15:29

Kindly, if she hasn’t found the joy in getting lost in a book (I’m with you on that one!) by 14 it’s unlikely to happen so I’d just leave it. I speak as a bookworm who has been heartsore at the fact that my kids (now grown up) have never read a book for fun. They did however read play scripts (hobby related!), magazines and websites (about geeky stuff of interest) and both have successfully completed degree courses.

LethargeMarg · 23/04/2022 15:33

I read twilight as an adult and thought it was brilliant so try that . My 13 yo has raced through it .

RedskyThisNight · 23/04/2022 15:38

Is she on TikTok? My DD has pretty much stopped reading, but started again following recommendations on TikTok as it became more of an "in" thing. I suspect you won't otherwise persuade a reluctant reader to start.

I'll ask my DD (she's 16) for her suggestions and post later (she's not into anything dark or sinister :) )

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Children's books
Gettingthereslowly2020 · 23/04/2022 15:41

Why not try books that aren't in the children's section? Biography of her favourite band/actor/comedian? Self help/motivation books - I used to find them easy to read and enjoyable.

Like PP suggested, perhaps look at hobby magazines.

lljkk · 23/04/2022 15:42

I always recommend the Holly Black Curse Workers series. They have suspense, humour, suitable teenage angst, mystery & romance without being creepy and dark AF.

What kind of things has she like & read in past, OP?

I can check DD's bookshelves -- she has loads of teen romance books Including series, that aren't heavy or dark.

One, by Sarah Crossan. Beautifully written, highly recommended.

lljkk · 23/04/2022 15:42

ps: One is an 'easy' & relatively quick read.

Notonthestairs · 23/04/2022 15:44

Adrian Mole?

LethargeMarg · 23/04/2022 16:02

Gettingthereslowly2020 · 23/04/2022 15:41

Why not try books that aren't in the children's section? Biography of her favourite band/actor/comedian? Self help/motivation books - I used to find them easy to read and enjoyable.

Like PP suggested, perhaps look at hobby magazines.

Yes this is good advice the only book my 16 yo has read is carrie fishers princess diaries as she hates reading but loves Star Wars!

Duracellbunnywannabe · 23/04/2022 16:06

I read Jilly cooper at that age. I’m not sure I would recommend them.

At 14 I would take her to the library and select books by some famous authors in different genres and get her to give them ago.

VanderlyleGeek · 23/04/2022 16:18

Might she prefer audiobooks to physical books? Many libraries have an excellent selection available.

HRTQuestions · 23/04/2022 16:28

Have a look at barrington stoke (I think). They do easier to read books, which have a higher interest age than reading age. Or comic books?

BeyondMyWits · 23/04/2022 16:33

Why is reading so important to you? Is it to her? If it was she'd be doing it.

Does she see your desire to get her to read as a method of control? Hint... yes, probably - with words like "I want her to...". My mum wanted me to read. Don't know why... my degree is in Maths, my interests do not lie the way of books.
Would let her develop her own hobbies.

AlexanderTheGreat · 23/04/2022 16:35

Agatha Christie is great for that age and the whodunnit plot is great for focus.

anormalperson · 23/04/2022 16:40

'Flying Tips for Flightless Birds' by Kelly McCaughrain is a gorgeous read for this age group. It comes under 'clean teen' so has all the romance without any darkness. Lovely book

MrsBrodie · 23/04/2022 16:41

A lot of popular teen books have been made into Netflix series or films available on iplayer - Heartstopper, One of us is lying, Nicola Yoon books, etc. If she's enjoyed watching any of them, she could read another book by the same author?

As someone mentioned above, she might enjoy recommendations from BookTok?

She might also prefer non-fiction, graphic novels, magazines, autobiographies rather than fiction.

MrsBrodie · 23/04/2022 16:44

You can also probably join your local library online and access their Borrowbox service for ebooks and magazines. She may prefer reading online rather than a physical book.

Sickoffamilydrama · 23/04/2022 16:48

VanCleefArpels · 23/04/2022 15:29

Kindly, if she hasn’t found the joy in getting lost in a book (I’m with you on that one!) by 14 it’s unlikely to happen so I’d just leave it. I speak as a bookworm who has been heartsore at the fact that my kids (now grown up) have never read a book for fun. They did however read play scripts (hobby related!), magazines and websites (about geeky stuff of interest) and both have successfully completed degree courses.

That's reassuring to hear I've always read to mine and neither of the older two seems to want to read for pleasure it word me that they won't do as well academically if they aren't good at reading.

reluctantbrit · 23/04/2022 17:15

DD is 14 and reads an absolute mix of books, she loves books with gay characters and I know got several at her school library who has a great selection.

But, she also reads biographies, historical factual books, historical fiction, crime. She doens't like anything supernatural or fantasy which is tricky as YA is quite heavy on these subjects.

At our local library she moves between YA and "normal" fiction.

I would see if you have a library with a decent audio catalogue or try and get books as e-books. Maybe that's a better medium for her.

MirandaWest · 23/04/2022 17:17

I asked my 16 year old DD for some suggestions and here they are

YA Romance

⁃	The Gravity of Us - Phil Stamper 
⁃	Everything Everything - Nicola Yoon
⁃	Yes No Maybe So - Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (any Becky Albertalli is good) 
⁃	A Snowfall of Silver, Under a Dancing Star, A Sky Painted Gold - all Laura Wood 
⁃	Perfect on Paper, Only Mostly Devasted - both Sophie Gonzales 
⁃	Excuse me While I Ugly Cry - Joya Goffney 
⁃	Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating - Adiba Jaigirdar
Glowinglights · 23/04/2022 17:21

For an easy read my DDs enjoyed the Geek girl series - nothing complicated, just easy bedtime reading

Kanaloa · 23/04/2022 17:28

Is she into books or are you into books? I love the joy of getting lost in a good book as you put it but some people aren’t really that into it. Same as my DH loves getting really into a workout but it’s not for me at all! Sometimes our kids just aren’t into what we’re into - and if she can’t find a single book she fancies at Waterstones then I’d say it’s because she doesn’t want to.

One of my nieces started getting really into a ya series after watching the Netflix programme - I forget the name of it but it’s sort of a fantasy series, I think six of crows? But she watched the programme then really wanted to get the full back story so got into the series too.

Kanaloa · 23/04/2022 17:30

Duracellbunnywannabe · 23/04/2022 16:06

I read Jilly cooper at that age. I’m not sure I would recommend them.

At 14 I would take her to the library and select books by some famous authors in different genres and get her to give them ago.

I really really wouldn’t drag a 14 year old to the library and select famous books and ‘get them to give them a go.’ How is that going to spark any interest in reading at all? Even as an adult I struggle with some of the books I have to read for uni - prescribed reading is never ever the way to ‘getting lost in a book.’

doadeer · 23/04/2022 17:48

What about the shadow and bone series (was a Netflix series).

sophienelisse · 23/04/2022 17:55

I was reading Jackie Collins at 14 but my mum wasn't a reader so didn't realise it wasn't age appropriate.

Would she like the twilights series? The host by the same author is also a really good read and she appropriate.

doadeer · 23/04/2022 17:57

In a few years Sarah J Mass is really addictive but she's maybe a bit young now

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