author recommendations for 13 year old

[MacarenaFerreiro]

Advice from DD's English teacher is that she needs to stretch herself more with her reading. She reads every day for pleasure, both in school and at home. She is however stuck in a bit of a rut with Jacqueline WIlson and similar style books. She lacks confidence in a lot of things and although is capable of reading more challenging stuff, she likes the familiarity and that it's an easy read.

She doesn't like fantasy - not interested in Harry Potter, Hobbits, anything with vampires or dystopian things like Hunger Games. She likes happy endings and "realistic" scenarios. She is interested in murder mystery, whodunnit type things, but not grim and grisly ones. Death in Paradise is her favourite TV show. Oh, and she doesn't like "old fashioned books". (i.e. what I was reading at her age).

So we're looking for suggestions of age-appropriate fiction for a 13 year old who is fussy ;-)

[LoniceraJaponica]

DD loved the Lemony Snicket books at that age.

[QuaterMiss]

Goodness. Thanks Trout - I hadn't heard of that (not as far as I remember, anyway). May have to read it ...

[YeOldeTrout]

How is it detrimental to reading abilities to read 'above their age group'? How could they tell it had harmed their reading ability? What outcome measures were reported on to show the harm?

Says the kid who Read The Painted Bird when I was 7yo. Coz it had a pretty cover. Still a bookworm 43 yrs later.

[Colorbomb]

Frank Cottrell Boyce and Ross Welford are fantastic. Also Katherine Rundell.

Murder Most Unladylike are fun but a bit babyish for a young teen. I think Y6 is her target market.

Malorie Blackman and Patrick Ness are fabulous although they do tend to the dystopian!

Eva Ibbotson is brilliant even if accessible for younger readers; at least they are well written.

[MacarenaFerreiro]

I have no desire to rush her straight from Jacqueline Wilson into adult fiction. Also agree that there's nothing intrinsically "wrong" with her books. However, DD's English teacher believes (and we agree) that it would improve her vocabulary, grammar and expand her horizons by pushing herself to try different things.

DD lacks confidence and would prefer to carry on doing something which she finds easy than push herself to do something challenging, that she could potentially fail at.

[QuaterMiss]

children reading above their actual age (e.g. a 10 year old getting books from the young adult section) is actually detrimental to their reading abilities.

I really don't want to be rude but ... are you saying some researcher has gone through every book on the planet and age-graded it? Are you? Seriously? By what criteria? On whose authority? Are you sure the people delivering your training actually understood the material they were working from?

(You do know it's nonsense, don't you?)

[pouraglasshalffull]

Just a warning, we have had extensive training recently through studies that have shown that children reading above their actual age (e.g. a 10 year old getting books from the young adult section) is actually detrimental to their reading abilities. Maybe incrementally buy books that are more difficult? There is absolutely nothing wrong with her continuing to read JW books- they are great. And as long as she is still reading she will continue to improve. One of the worst thing you can do is progress them beyond their age

Obviously there are exceptions to this, and I don't want to sound condescending but this is a big deal in our school at the minute and it is backed up by research

[PandaG]

Ah I see. Perhaps try a Christie or Allingham on kindle at home, and a paperback Cherub or similar to take in to school? Worth a try if she already has one?

[MacarenaFerreiro]

She has a Kindle which she does use at home. At school though they are encouraged to take in books of their choice to use in free reading during English periods. Kindles aren't allowed.

[Iamnobirdandnonetensnaresme]

The murder most unladylike series

Cherub series

[PandaG]

Try reading on a kindle? Much less obvious that a book as written a few years ago, and one of the things that puts me (an avid reader 40+) off some older books is the small typeface, serif font crammed in on the page. I find it physically more difficult to read after a sans serif larger print modern paperback, especially if i am tired. The beauty of a kindle is you can choose the size and shape of the font, making a classic instantly more accessible for me!

Regarding - yes to Young Bond, Cherub series, Malorie Blackman.
John Green is not cheery, but when DD thrust one of his books into my hands and said you must read this, and i did in one hit, I was just delighted that I could enjoy recommendations from my teen as well as the other way round.

Crime fiction - do see if she will give Agatha Christie a go. Janet Evanovitch Stephanie Plum series is probably suitable, i can't remember if it is racy at all, but is relatively modern.
Or the Sue Grafton alphabet series A is for Alibi and so on...some more adult themes perhaps, but although set in the 1980s are being written now. Easy to read thrillers that i enjoy. Some peril and sex scenes iirc.

[lljkk]

At least she still reads. My youngest isn't a reader at all despite 3 bookworm older siblings & all my efforts.

[robinwasntred]

My dd enjoyed the Murder Most Unladylike series.

[SockEatingMonster]

Have a look at E.Lockhart (of We Were Liars) and her young adult fiction. Modern but on the cusp between easy-reading and literary.

[MacarenaFerreiro]

Thanks for all the recommendations. The Murder Most Unladylike ones sound right up her street. Have notes all the rest of the recommendations too.

We're in Scotland so I have no idea if she would be year 8 or year 9 in England. She is an end of August birthday so probably year 9 as one of the very youngest? As it is, we have a different intake here so she's in her second year at secondary and is in the middle of her year in terms of age.

There is an awful lot of tween and "young adult fiction" out there and the difficulty is knowing how to find the good stuff. There's a lot of dross. I spent a year suffering through the Rainbow Magic series with her when she was about 6 or 7 and the quality was just so poor.

[Wandastartup]

Has she read the murder most unladylike series?

[AnotherEmma]

www.amightygirl.com/books?age_range_filter=6&cat=8&other_characteristics=13

[sunshineandshowers21]

maybe some classics? the secret garden, the little princess, what katy did etc. i received a box set of classics when i was 13 and i absolutely loved them.

[Storminateacup74]

Judy Bloom?. I used to love them and my DD has just started are you there God its me Maragret?. This was prob one of my fave books growing up and she is liking it so far.

[YeOldeTrout]

I have No Secrets is other book I was thinking of (DD remembered the title).

Story of the Dog in the Nighttime is appropriate, although I rate Sister on the Mantlepiece more highly

[YeOldeTrout]

yr8 or yr9?

JW books are quite emotional; DD read them avidly.
Local librarian might be able to help, if they recognise the type.

If she likes JW & modern books, try
The Sky is Everywhere, One (Sarah Crossan), I'll Give you the Sun, Girl Missing, Panic (Lauren Oliver), What I thought was True (& other books by Huntley Fitzpatrick), The Great Elephant Chase (gillian Cross), Boys Don't Cry (Malorie Blackman).

What's the name of the book about the teenage girl with locked in syndrome who finds out about the murder? Name of that book escapes me, but great story.

[rootsandbranches]

Have a look at 'Love reading for kids' website. They make great recommendations based on age category 13 + and young adult being two categories. You can read extracts, there are new recommendations each month but you can go back through previous months. Sometimes they're cheaper to buy from but other times I just research there and buy elsewhere.

[Lara53]

Robert Muchamore
Malory Blackman
Eva Ibbotsen
JD Salinger
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

[Tinty]

Thanks to this thread I have now spent another £25 on 10 books on ebay for DD, she will be pleased. .

Thank you OP and PP's

[happygardening]

Should read maybe not the best rather than “the best”