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Children's books

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Original poster

book to do in school with very good 12 and 13 year old readers

57 replies

sphil · 02/02/2012 19:12

I am about to start teaching a short English intervention programme for a group of Yr 8 readers who have been classified by the school as Gifted and Talented. The teacher wants me to choose a challenging text, but not one that they will cover again at GCSE. Any ideas? Will also post in Education.
TIA

OP posts:
seeker · 02/02/2012 22:05

The Book Thief.

iseenodust · 02/02/2012 22:06

Call of the wild - London
Heart of darkness - Conrad

both of those are quite short

abbierhodes · 02/02/2012 22:06

Witch Child (similar themes to the crucible so might be good if they do A level later on)
Looking for JJ
Stargirl
Junk
Most books can be challenging depending on what you do with them.

I'd check what they do at GCSE, too, as exam boards vary. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is brilliant, and not all school's do it at GCSE.

You will struggle in 6 hours to do anything, tbh. Assuming you're not just reading that whole time? Will they read at home in between also?

EdithWeston · 02/02/2012 22:06

I've posted on the other thread too.

A couple more suggestions: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, or Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (protagonist is a 14 year old girl).

Original poster
sphil · 02/02/2012 22:21

I think they'll have to read most of it at home - apparently all very motivated. We'll then look at themes, language, narrative voice etc.

OP posts:
blueemerald · 02/02/2012 22:34

What about reading outside the novel format? Could you look at short stories, poetry or a play? This would be especially helpful if they are good at English Lit and may go on to study it at A/S Level.

Also may be easier to study in the time avaliable.

seary · 03/02/2012 00:20

A handmaids tale is used as a ALevel text by some exam boards. I seem to remember Jane Eyre is a GCSE text byone board.
maybe
The Outsiders by S.E.Hilton - sort, well known plus there is a very good film
I like the idea of a play or short story.
(except sherlock holmes or an inspector calls as they are GCSE texts) roald Dahls tales of the unexpected would be good for short stories. Oscar Wilde if you think maybe a play (lots to analyse) some are used at GCSE/ALevel but I don't think a lot or widespread.
Roll of thunder hear my cry would be good but it is long.
The time machine by HG wells
Dr jekell and mr hyde
Fanrenheit 451
Catch 22
Frankenstein or dracula even

seeker · 03/02/2012 08:57

Sorry- I forgot qbout the sex in A handmaid's Tale- I just want everyone to read it! Thinking about it, I didn't give it to dd until she was 14.

What about Slaughterhouse 5? Or My Family and Other Animals. Or Something by KM Peyton?

stressedHEmum · 03/02/2012 12:15

I'm not familiar with the curriculum in England so don't know what might be covered by GCSE but what about:

Catcher in the Rye
Things Fall Apart
Wessex Tales (you could choose which ones to cover)
The Snow Goose (can be as complex as you want it to be and it's short)
Road to Wigan Pier for a bit of social history

What about something more modern like Phillip Pullman, Holes, The Hunger Games, Eva or Boys Don't Cry. Or perhaps a play by someone like Samuel Beckett or poetry by Seamus Heaney, Caroline Duffy or Tony Harrison.

Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:16

1984
Animal Farm
Brave New World
Cider With Rosie

exexpat · 03/02/2012 12:20

Finding Violet Park by Jenny Valentine might fit the bill - would appeal to both sexes, interesting and challenging themes, very well written, and not too long, if you only have a few sessions with them.

SeaweedNK · 03/02/2012 12:23

Agree with poster who suggested something outside of the usual novel format. My most memorable English lessons involved studying plays such as Time and the Conways by JB Priestly and Look Back in Anger by John Osbourne. Good opportunities for reading aloud as a group and watching DVD or live theatre versions as a reward later.

My other suggestion would be PG Wodehouse..

neolara · 03/02/2012 12:23

Don't do A Fine Balance. It's a completely fantastic book but not at all suitable for 12 year olds IMO.

Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:41

A Brave New World was one of my favourite ever books at school and one of the only ones I have felt compelled to reread as an adult. I think the themes are ultra-pertinent and accessible to modern teenagers.

The Great Gatsby?

Original poster
sphil · 03/02/2012 16:12

Ooh now, mention of Fahrenheit 451 has reminded me of Bradbury's short story collection The Illustrated Man, which I used to teach in Year 8 yonks ago and was always very popular. A lovely weekend of reading awaits... Smile

OP posts:
hattymattie · 03/02/2012 16:21

Wow - I remember Fahrenheit 451 and loved it - I wonder if it could be reinterpreted in the light of e-books etc. I loved lord of the flies at school - lots of discussion points (my eldest did it last year and loved it 14 yrs old ) likewise Great Expectations although maybe it's been on TV too much. Again I second 1984 and Animal Farm. Rebecca - simply brilliant but maybe not boy appeal and I feel I got more rereading as an adult woman than as a teenager. Gatsby also - but I think is an A level text. Noughts and Crosses is also a great book plus any Phil Pullman.

vixsatis · 03/02/2012 16:28

PotteringAlong's recommendation is excellent. My ten year old read them but I loved them just as much. They're beautifully written and deeply moving.

Or "1984"
Or "The Owl Service" or "Red Shift" by Alan Garner

BoringSchoolChoiceNickname · 03/02/2012 16:36

Fahrenheit 451 is one that occurred to me too. Extending the classic science fiction theme I'd love to recommend The Stars My Destination but the hero's a rapist so I think it's a no go.
Le Guin's Left Hand Of Darkness or The Dispossessed are worth a thought though.
Wodehouse might be great - or Evelyn Waugh (not Decline and Fall though - it has a "hilarious" comedy paedophile, and not Black Mischief for obvious reasons). Or Cold Comfort Farm.

spendthrift · 03/02/2012 16:45

Cry the beloved country.
The eagle of the ninth.
Far from the madding crowd
Bog child by siobhan dowd about the Irish troubles
Agree animal farm 1984 and my family and o a
If you are allowed cartoon books persepolis
The Sherlock Holmes stories

NotMostPeople · 03/02/2012 17:05

Hattymattie - my 12 year old is reading Great Expectations at the moment and loving it. She was inspired to read it by the tv series recently and I couldn't be more pleased, even if it's because of the handsome chap playing Pip.

BackforGood · 03/02/2012 17:15

Thinking back to when we were at school (Grammar, so I guess would be G&T equivalent nowWink)
We did a different Shakespear each year
Various Charles Dickens novels
Thomas Hardy (which were very boring IMO)
Wuthering Heights
Scoop
Cider with Rosie
1984
Animal Farm
Lord of the Flies

My dcs (15 and 13) have both just read SE Hinton's 'The Outsiders' and enjoyed a lot - there's a lot to talk about there.

BackforGood · 03/02/2012 17:16

Oops - Shakespeare Blush

accidentprawn · 04/02/2012 16:24

great expectations?
Or
something by shakespeare.

FullBeam · 04/02/2012 16:36

At my school, the G&T reading group shadow the Carnegie Medal short list. You can register your group on the website and the students then review the books as they read them.

The 2012 short list has been published Here

The students enjoy discussing the books and feeling part of the awards process.

Even if you don't register with the website, past nominees and winners should give you some ideas for books to read.

Otherwise, I would recommend Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses.

Amaretti · 06/02/2012 11:21

Would you be allowed to do book and film? Jane Eyre or the War Horse could both work for that. Always good to go on a trip...