Books for very reluctant 14 year old dyslexic

[Meadowbreeze]

I am at a loss and need some suggestions. We have tried so much to try to get DD 14 (Y10) to read. She is dyslexic and has DLD (language disorder) which makes things that much more difficult but she has no chance of passing her GCSEs if we don't raise her reading age. Shes just tested on return to school as reading age 12y8m. She's 14y5m.
The only books she has ever liked were:
Diary of a wimpy kid - this will do nothing to raise reading age
The whole series of super readable rollercoasters. She's read them all and enjoyed every one.
She also enjoyed graphic novels but the font in most is not very accessible for dyslexics.

Things she hasn't liked which I thought she would:
Anything Barrington stoke.
Agatha Oddly
Murder most unladylike
The land of stories

I have just ordered the London eye mystery but she's 5 chapters in and says it's not working out.
Audio books don't work. Her receptive language isn't good enough to process it all. It's been suggested to get an audio book and the physical book she can follow along with but I don't see that improving her reading stamina or age, and frankly that game is a bit out of my tax bracket.

Any suggestions?

My son is dyslexic and read 'The outsiders' by S E Hinton at around that age. He loved it, first book he really enjoyed.

The Red Eye book series are the only books my dyslexic teenage daughter has ever read willingly. She loves them. Frozen Charlotte being her favourite. Amazon sell the book set.

Definitely agree with this. Libraries take the pressure off their choices, particularly if she’s aware that you’ve spent a lot already.
Also, I’d try to get to the bottom of why she likes Wimpy Kid so much. If it’s the style of writing, there are lots of recommendation lists based around Wimpy Kid, like the Books For Topics Branching Out lists or ReaderTeacher. If it’s the lines on the page that make things more comfortable to read, then there are other books published that way, or perhaps a lined overlay or something might be worth a try.

Some excellent suggestions! Thank you so much. I've also ordered one of the red eye books, warriors the cat one and the outsiders which I think is the one she'll enjoy. I'll update soon.

They have some dyslexic friendly books at the library. Sorry don't actually know details but might be worth looking into?

I'd ask a librarian. They know a lot of books and have met a lot of children! My eldest DD doesn't like my book recommendations but she's open to trying things the librarians suggest to her.

@Celeryfavour I agree normally but our library isn't very good and the school librarian has been less than helpful sadly. This thread has been brilliant though and has given me lots of ideas.

Apologies if it's already been suggested

The Louise Rennison books - Angus, Thongs & Full Frontal Snogging; It's Okay I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers etc written in diary style, funny and engaging for a 14 year old. The series has about 5 books I think.

@RosettaTheGardenFairy ooh good shout! She liked the Angus thongs film. Didn't realise it was a series.

Actual librarians are an endangered species now. Local authorities employ customer service staff in libraries and schools use TAs to cover their libraries. Saves a lot of money but a very different service.

I can see @Lacdepassy has already suggested the recruit but that is actually the first in 17 book long series called CHERUB. I absolutely loved it as a teenager and its the only book series my dyslexic brother ever managed in full. Should be a good fit if she likes thriller/mystery type novels and its aimed at young teenagers so should be doable with her reading age

@Meadowbreeze - they're great! I'm 35 on mat leave and am not ashamed to say I just re-read them, so good! They won't necessarily raise her reading age, but I think they'll get her enjoying reading.

Perhaps after that, something like the Sophie Kinsella Shopaholic books, or the Narnia series depending on what she likes. Always helps if there's a good movie to watch first, to get her familiar with the story so she knows she'll enjoy it.

What about non-fiction? I have an 11 year old DS with dyslexia and despite me buying fiction books related to his interests he won't read them. He has pulled his reading up to 'age appropriate' by reading non-fiction - I think the layout is generally easier with subtitles, photos etc. I tried to get him to read fiction for a long time, before which it was hard to get him to read at all, now I'm just happy he is reading something voluntarily.

@Jenn3112 That's a really good idea and someone earlier mentioned it. She loves skateboarding and fashion, Japan style streetwear stuff, as well as anything to do with hair. I'm going to get googling. I'm feeling very positive after this thread. Thanks everyone!

Audio books are good for developing vocabulary - pod casts also.

I've used this site as well as Barrington stoke
www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/dyslexia-friendly-books

We've not has the issues with graphic novels and reading/text you seem to have had.This was a favorite series with all mine though at a younger age Hades: Lord of the Dead

www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/graphic-novels?page=2
This site seems to suggest these ones are dyslexia friendly - one of mine did love the Amulet series.

A post on here made me sign up youngest to I think Dracula Daily - basically she gets an e-mail sent with entry from on for each date - it's worked really well for her bite sized chucks and helped build suspense - I think I read it too fast when I read it an was unimpressed.

Some Authors used simpler languages - Some of Agatha Christie books use simple langue but complex plots.

They did also for a bit use text-to-speech feature on their kindle fires - not sure if that would be helpful.

Often it's finding something in area they already like - with one of mine that was history -Lucy Worsley did sort of YA history Tudor stories and before that - Anne Perry Timepiece series write with struggling readers in mind - with another child it was comics then graphic novels and then non-fiction books- with third it seems to be sort of modern adventure/fantasy books - and I have to take her with me to find and get.

The Week Junior - this a good non fiction magazine which might help.

This is a brilliant thread. I totally agree that graphic novels tend to be written in tiny cramped text and are impossible for my dyslexic teen too, though they seem like they should be good idea.
We’re in the same boat that we really need to encourage reading for his English Nat5 (exams taken in 4th year of high school) but it feels like s chore to him. He needs a good nat5 pas for most further options. Lots of great ideas here thanks

At 14 would she read books aimed at adults? The Quick Reads series are for adults and by recognised authors, are short and designed to be accessible for less confident readers. Not in a dyslexia font though, as far as I know.

readingagency.org.uk/adults/quick-guides/quick-reads/

It's hard to find info on reading age for the Quick Reads series (perhaps they think adults may be put off if it's too upfront — I think the series is designed to have as mainstream an appearance as possible, not childish or in any way "special", and not be something people would feel self-conscious to be seen reading) but a couple of older press releases say aimed at adults with a reading age around 9 or 10. I've seen them in lots of libraries and there's lots of different genres represented, so could be worth a try.

@FurryDandelionSeekingMissile thank you so much for this! It's brilliant.
@itsalwayscycling sending you a big hug. Completely understand. I'm so glad lots of people have sent lots of amazing suggestions and hope some work for you.

I've read one or two myself which were enjoyable short reads, but a bit low on the reading-age side of things to really stretch her, I suppose, since she's ahead of that. Maybe being aimed at adults they might stretch other areas while not being so hard to slog through on the mechanical reading side of things, though, and I think there's something to be said for the benefits of just getting through plenty of reading matter that's easy enough to be enjoyable.

I would try Graphic Novels. My 15 yr old, (who is not dyslexic), just told me that’s what he enjoys.

Cookery books? Some have a page or two about the recipe first. When you make the recipe you have to read and reread the method. Then you've made something that the family can eat.

Perhaps one by Nigella or Jamie?

This. Get her watching videos when it comes to GCSE revision. None of my kids read fiction btw, and they had good reading ages.

Wonder, by RJ (?) Palccio

Boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

Goldfish Boy (can't remember the author)

Something like Wimpy Kid would be both Middle School (J Patterson) and Tom Gates (Liz Pichon) series. You might not think that either will increase her reading level, but might help her enjoyment, which will in turn encourage her to read.