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?

I wouldn't dismiss Barrington Stoke. There's absolutely loads of choice on the website. What is it she doesn't like about them? My reluctant readers have all really loved Brock, for example. I think they've surprised themselves actually. These are kids who can't be doing with anything book related.

So hunger games... may I suggest Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? Try bribery.. if you read the book I'll take u to see the movie as soon as it comes out next Nov. It's actually a pretty easy read and not too graphic.

I'm slightly surprised to hear that GCSEs require a reading age of 15! Loads of 16 yr olds take and pass them - OK maybe not with the top grades, but pass grades - who won't have a reading age of 15!

It would be beneficial if you can get her reading more but not, IMHO, as much as maintaining good family relationships and increasing her confidence generally, as others have said.

And I'm a school librarian!

I think the trick is to read books about something that interests you, I’m dyslexic but I love history so I have read all of Philippa Gregory Books . I never read a book for pleasure until my auntie gave me a Harold Robbins novel when I was 16 went on to read all his books , I remember her asking me on holiday why I was not reading a book on the sunbed I said I found them boring and told her I had never read a book for pleasure she threw me over 79 Park Avenue and said well you won’t find this boring , that was the start of my love of reading. My reading as a adult has improved every decade, unfortunately I can’t spell. I also enjoyed reading all the David Williams books with my Gd . We tried to read the Harry Potter books, but gave up and just watched the films instead. Roald Dahl Was also a hard read for us. Have you tried the Hunger games books they might catch her.

I'm not sure where people have got the idea that she's low on confidence :S
She's very happy, has lots of friends, is in competitive swimming and part of a girls football club, both of which she loves. Gets plenty of time shopping and chilling with friends, is in the school play too.
I just wanted some book suggestions lol

@Tintackedsea I'm not sure but we've honestly tried a lot of them and she's hated them all.
@Kathy34 I think we bought that book before and it was too long. The bribery ship sailed long ago, she gets £5 for each book she finishes and passes a quiz on 😂

ZaZathecat

The Dairy of Adrian mole now that’s is a funny book, I read that on the train to work when I was about 18 and would laugh out loud on the 8.15 to Liverpool Street. Easy to reading.

She may qualify for a reader for her GCSEs: someone to read the questions to her in every exam that isn’t testing reading. Or extra time, if she just needs more time to read the questions.

@HeddaGarbled thanks. I've already mentioned she has access arrangements in place.

I struggle with audio books in the same way as your daughter. Perhaps (as someone else suggested) she can read a single chapter, listening to it at the same time, then give it chance to "go in", repeating it if necessary?

Book suggestions, what about Lemony Snicket books, Goldfish boy etc?

Also there's a website of audio books for those who are unable to read well (visual impairment, dyslexia etc) which might be worth investigating.

I'm really sorry that your school librarian isn't helpful. I am one, and all the colleagues I know would love to help your daughter find something that fits with her interests and enthusiasms - I'm taking notes of all of the good suggestions here myself, in the hope that it will help me improve our offering to students with dyslexia (including my own son).

Meadowbreeze

so pleased to hear she is a confident girl, as I said I am dyslexic and was also a confident ,happy , popular girl at school, have never had any problems holding down a job, managed to get seven CSE’S as they were called in the 1970,s All my friends know I’m dyslexic. I have always worked in sales and have done really well in it , as I can talk the hind legs of a donkey , as one of my bosses told me once you could sell sand to the Arabs if you are in the mood to do it.

Being Dyslexic now is much easier then it use to be as the iPad and spell check had helped me out no end. But sometimes not even the predictive text does not have a clue what I’m trying to say .

I think that being dyslexic made me the rounded confident person that I am as it made me try hard to be successful.

My husband says he would have never want to change me being dyslexic as it really is part of my personality.

What's her personality like? Maybe some like shitty chick lit would be fun for her. I stole Bridget Jones diary from my mums room at that age and devoured it. If the key is to get her reading better to read trash than nothing

EscapeRoomToTheSun

totally agree reading trash is better then reading nothing. And again they are very funny books.

Just thought I'd update- not sure who suggested poppy fields murder mystery but she has just finished the first book in one week. She's never read a book this quick before. Thank you! I'm thanking my lucky starts there's 10 in the series.

Hullo! I'm going to echo others and say Heartstopper. They're a 'gateway drug' into other books.

'Half Bad' is about to have a Netflix series (out at half term, I think). It's gripping and, yes, it's magic (sorry)- but it's going down well with her age at the moment. Reading age is about 12, but it's YA.

I know you said she's not been keen on barington stoke, but some of their more recent YA titles are awesome. It might honestly be worth another look....

(Please ignore the usual Adrian Mole recommendations. Adults remember them very fondly, but they haven't aged well and there is much better stuff out there now).

Just another update in case anyone finds this helpful. She finished 4 poppy fields books in one month. They were brilliant but she got a bit bored of it now and we have moved onto A girl called Justice. She is reading this in school and likes it.

Thank you for the calibre audio suggestion, we are using it to access more difficult books at home. She takes the easy book to school as they have 20mins reading a day and at home we are doing the audio book before bed. Currently on uglies and following on in the book. She's enjoying it so far.

The ones that have been successfull:
Poppy fields
A girl called justice
Uglies (audio book)
This is for a y10 with a reading age of 12/13 if anyone needs suggestions.

Thank you for uodating. Really glad Calibre was useful, even more glad that you've found some new things she likes :)