Book recommendations for 14 y o reluctant reader

[ShatterResistant]

Hi all. My niece is going into year 10 in September, and is a very reluctant reader. Her mum is worried that her English level is suffering as a result. She says reading is boring, she reads the first 3 pages and gives up etc etc. What books can you recommend? She loves all types of dancing, and is a lovely typical teenager in most respects! I'm thinking maybe short stories may be part of the answer, because then she doesn't have to commit if she isn't enjoying it. Her mum just wants her to read SOMETHING! TIA

How about audio books? They might work

Get her to read something she enjoyed as a film perhaps- or even better, get her to read something she wants to see as a film as an incentive.

The Fault in our stars is popular just now. Also, perhaps the Hunger games trilogy. The book Thief will come out soon and I believe some schools are using it.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Rarely fails, I find.

Comics & teen magazines

& get her to check out the teen section of her local library - does she like the Twilight films ? She might like the books
Or Harry Potter books, how to train my dragon etc
Hunger games

John Green's book are popular with that age at the moment.
Dd started with The Fault in our Stars which has recently been made into a film.

Try Sophia Bennett and Sara Manning. James Dawson. Anne Cassidy's 'looking for JJ' and sequel 'finding Jennifer Jones' have hit the spot with reluctant readers for me. 'We were liars' by E Lockhart too. Rainbow Rowell is another good author. All these are great YA novels, quite grown up with some grown up themes that should get her interested!

This is so helpful, thank you all very much. Are there any collections of short stories for this age group that you think might encourage her?

Watching with interest.
DD just going into yr 11 has only read one book on a voluntary basis in the last three years.
Fault in our stars....Twice!
And yes lack of reading massively affects her English.

Ok, so here I think you are going to need books that look cool as much as anything else. And possibly a bit of reverse psychology too ... 'I think this is a bit too much, but apparently teenagers like this' type of line??

The Fault In Out Stars by John Green - beautifully written, movie is out at the moment.

The Isobel Journal - quirky and absorbing. V quick to read.

The Year of the Rat a great page turner.

We Were Liars - oh this one is so engrossing ... a YA novel that all adults must read too!!

I Predict A Riot an imagined story behind the riots in London, a great page turner.

Half Bad is THE book of the year, especially for fans of Hunger Games etc. Dystopian novel, but ... a little slow to get going.

Also, I'd highly recommend delving into the books by Malorie Blackman, she has a strong & passionate following of teenage readers .. and for v good reason.

My sister-in-law is very grateful. Thank you all so much. I hope she'll turn into an avid reader on these recommendations. I have been extolling the power of Mumsnet, and I wasn't wrong!