Book ideas for 13yo girl who's lost interest in reading? Interests include dance and children

[franch]

Friend's daughter - currently finds books boring and can't find a book to interest her - nothing too taxing to start with I think - keen dancer, wants to work in childcare, otherwise the usual 13yo girl interests - any ideas?

Judy Blume?

Ooh - hadn't heard of her but have just looked her up on Amazon - looks ideal, thanks

check out [http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk]] think they have some deals on Judy Blume's books at the moment

oops
www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10 051&langId=100&pageSize=10&beginIndex=0&searchScope=SimpleSearch&resultType=2&resultCatEntryType=1&c atgrpSchemaType=2&vipStatus=&fromPage=basicSearch&searchTerm=judy+blume&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

will ask dh he's an English teacher...

ok... Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons - she's written more of the same if she likes it.
Gennifer Choldenko 'Al Capone Does My Shirts' - I've read this it's great!
Catherine McPhail 'Dark Waters'....
Neil Gaiman 'Coraline'

any use? they use these in their Lower School reading group and are the most popular with the girls.

hth

Fantastic, fantastic - many many thanks

Noel Streatfeild, maybe? Ballet Shoes or White Boots are both so lovely. Have bits about little children in as well as the dancing / performing stuff. Don't know if too unsophisticated for modern 13 year olds but this 36 year old still likes them

oh btw, if you can't find anything to tempt her, don't panic necessarily. I went off reading about age 12 having been an incredibly prolific reader, and then went straight on to adult fiction a year or two later. There is a definite gap between children's books and adult fiction which teenage books do not always fill adequately, IMO

Try Ballet SHoes by Noel Streatfield - may be out of print but probably available on Amazon - if she's remotely interested in history it's not bad as a story of bygone days - set in the 1930s. Deals with being orphaned, forging your way in the world, overcoming pride and selfishness, etc. OK it's maybe a bit young for a 13 year old but not entirely.

Otherwise, if you're not bothered by slightly 'adult' content (and at 13 a book that's a little bit 'naughty' is quite likely to appeal more than something aimed at kids, if the idea is to get her reading something) then you could try Katie Price's Crystal or something similar about beuatiful girlies finding fame and fortune and wearing designer clothes. Now before everyone goes absolutely ballistic, bear in mind that books like these, however badly written, tend to have quite a strong moral sense: those who end happily are those who have either been kind and friendly all the way through or have learnt through trauma not to be selfish and spiteful. WHile they might depict getting drunk, doing coke and having ill-advised casual sex, they usually make the characters who indulge in such things pay an awful price for them.

I don;t know what your own reading tastes are, but if you can cope with reading that kind of guff and suggesting to her that it's a) too grown-up for her and she's not allowed it and b) would bore her as it's only a book anyway, her interest might be aroused.
I'd give you different advice regarding a 9 year old, obviously, but I really do think that cultivating a taste for reading even if it involves encouraging the reading of disposable pulp fiction, is worth it in the end.

A dance series that might interest her is the Drina books by Jean Estoril. I also recommend Coraline, a bit creepy and rather wonderful. I, Coriander by Sally Gardner is also good.
Ballet Shoes is still in print btw and Red Fox classics have some other great stuff like this which would be an easy but enjoyable read for a 13 year old.

cynthia voights stories fab real life books,
diceys song etc

when i was that age i read sweet valley, jacqueline wilson, babysitters club and the point books.

Many thanks everyone! Will compile a list and offer to buy her one of her choice

my DD (aged 12) says get her a copy of Megan by Mary Hooper, There are 3 in this series or Baby Baby by Viv French

"Ballet Shoes" is gorgeous - dd2 (10) has just read and enjoyed it, although dd1 turned her nose up at it.

A lot of my Yr 9/10s (well the ones that actually READ anyway!) have enjoyed the "Shopaholic" series as well - yes they're lightweight/shallow and product-obsessed but they're also quite good fun!

"Coraline" is really good - both dds enjoyed that, as did all the pupils I've taught it to.

Robert Swindells "Abomination" is about a child being locked up in the cellar by v religious grandparents (child born - gasp - out of wedlock - gasp) and it is v gripping but also an easy read.

And my usual rec - The Georgia Nicholson diaries by Louise Rennison!

Try Sharon Creech - brilliant writer and not too taxing. Jacqueline Wilson I suppose is the obvious one and Judy Blume is indeed brilliant. What about the Gemma stories by Noel Streatfield if she likes dancing (not sure if they're still in print though), or the series by Holly someone called Stage School (I think). Betsy Byars is also good, but again not sure if she's still in print. And there's always Enid Blyton - not everyone's choice, but very popular and easy to read and if it turns her on to reading then what's the harm?

Many thanks!

thanks majorca