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Children's books

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Original poster

A short but engrossing novel for a 14yr old girl who HATES reading?

40 replies

FormerXibishonist · 15/02/2012 20:41

She's bright and wants to do well at school, but she hates reading anything at all. She is an amazing swimmer, however, and spends 15 hours a week at the pool.

Does anyone know of any unputdownable books for her? They must be short! Perhaps something to do with swimming?

Help please.

OP posts:
GetDownNesbitt · 15/02/2012 20:54

The Outsiders by SE Hinton is short and gripping. I loved it at that age.

Not sure about swimming ones - will have a think.

Original poster
FormerXibishonist · 15/02/2012 21:33

Thanks - never heard of it myself, but read up on it on wiki and it sounds promising. Can't believe the author was only 15 when she wrote it!

Has anyone read 'Fat Boy Swim'?

OP posts:
CelticPromise · 15/02/2012 21:35

How I live now- Meg Rosoff.

I read it not long ago it's great.

I always recommend 'i capture the castle' but prob not for a reluctant reader.

CelticPromise · 15/02/2012 21:35

How I live now- Meg Rosoff.

I read it not long ago it's great.

I always recommend 'i capture the castle' but prob not for a reluctant reader.

CelticPromise · 15/02/2012 21:37

Sorry phone spasm Blush

GetDownNesbitt · 16/02/2012 09:02

Celtic Promise, are you me? Those two sprang to mind last night and was coming back to post them!

Not read Fat Boy Swim but you could give it a go.

ConstantlyCooking · 16/02/2012 09:11

Every year around World Book Day, a range of authors do "quick reads". These are short, easy-to-read books aimed at reluctant adult readers who may have poor literacty skills (not a prob for your DD I know). They might be a good starting point for her as they are so short, they are easier to read than to moan about reading - although DS (15) has still not worked out that moaning about homework for 2 hours followed bby doing it slowly is not an efficient use of time! Smile

monstermissy · 16/02/2012 09:18

Forever - Judy Blume i loved it as a teenager. Although it may be dated by now.

geogteach · 16/02/2012 09:18

Does it have to be a novel? I work with some very reluctant readers and 'tales of the unexpected ' by Roald Dahl has been popular with some, they are short stories, I have used 'Lamb to the slaughter' and 'The Landlady'.

BlueChampagne · 16/02/2012 13:11

How about graphic novels, like Neil Gaiman's "Sandman", or "The Ballad of Halo Jones"?

IHeartKingThistle · 16/02/2012 13:25

Gave my reluctant readers in Yr 9 a big box of books and got them all to choose what they wanted to read. Lots chose Fat Boy Swim and those that did enjoyed it.

BrigitBigKnickers · 16/02/2012 13:27

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night.

CelticPromise · 16/02/2012 16:29

Great minds GetDown Smile.

Tales of the Unexpected is a good idea geog, as long as she doesn't scare easy... at the memory of some of those!

Persepolis gets good reviews if she fancies a graphic novel, only seen scraps of it myself though.

jongleuse · 17/02/2012 13:40

Don Calame Swim the Fly -American in-betweeners and swimming
Does she have problems reading or justtoo busy for long reads with swimming and schoolwork? I ask because Barrington Stoke do a fab range of 'teenage' interest books which are easy reads so dyslexia friendly.
Sherman Alexie The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian? No swimming but basketball..
Mal Peet has done some footie ones, Penalty etc
Catherine Gilbert Murdock has done some about a girl who plays American High School Football (Dairy Queen)

The Hunger Games seems to be the one that all the teenagers I know can't put down though I wasn't so keen myself-too old I suppose...

madamehooch · 17/02/2012 17:06

I don't automatically think that you should get her books with a swimming theme just because she likes swimming. You may like knitting but I bet you wouldn't want to read a book about it would you? I would go for books with lots of action, which get where they're going quickly and which she can relate to ie 'real life' books such as 'Looking for JJ', 'Roxy's Baby' and 'Thirteen Reasons Why.'

BackforGood · 17/02/2012 17:10

Agree about 'The Outsiders' - I've just re-read it funnily enough, and then my ds (15) and my dd(13) both read it and thought it was great.
Animal Farm is a very short book too if you are looking for a classic.
I've recently read 'The Tent, the Bucket and Me' by Emma Standing, which I found to be really, really hilarious. Again, my dcs read it and both thought it was funny too - not especially short though.
What about 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and 3/4' by Sue Townsend - she's just at the right age to appreciate it.

Sorry, don't know any about swimming.

acsec · 17/02/2012 17:13

The Cat Royal books, by Julia Golding. The first is called The Diamond of Drury Lane - an engrossing read and if she likes it there are 7 in total I think.

I really liked Sharon Creech when I was her sort of age.

gothicmama · 17/02/2012 17:41

If she likes avril lavigne or maybe even if she doesn't her graphic books are good. WH Smith had a whole display of quick reads which looked good when I was in there earlier in the week

holyShmoley · 25/02/2012 14:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CharminglyOdd · 25/02/2012 14:19

Persepolis is great but involved. How about a book of short stories by Roald Dahl (his adult ones, like Henry Sugar) or Daphne Du Maurier. Another that I felt went past quickly was Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. Second Adrian Mole.

My favourite quick reads (but it depends on how mature she is/how it fits into her other reading) are the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, which I started reading at her age. They've made me laugh until I cry.

I don't know about swimming unless she's read Swallows and Amazons? But they are quite dated.

Amaretti · 25/02/2012 14:22

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

wordfactory · 25/02/2012 18:18

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime?

goingtobefree · 26/02/2012 08:29

Alex by Tessa Duder. It about Alex, who is a teenage girl and how she trains for Newzealand Olympic swimming team.

notnowImreading · 26/02/2012 08:43

Not sure about short, but The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has been the biggest sure-fire hit with my reluctant (although not particularly weak) readers. If she gets into it, there are three, with a film coming out soon so it may get her going.

elleroses · 12/03/2012 16:33

A series of unfortunate events are great books xx

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