Book recommendations for reluctant 14 yr old

[notnowbernadette]

My dd is a very reluctant reader and has made no real progress a secondary school. She is dyslexic and finds reading a chore but I really need to find something she will read so I'm after ideas. Her main interest is crime drama. Amy thoughts?

If old-fashioned crime would do, how about Agatha Christie? There's a book of Miss Marple short stories which might give a good way in.

Ruby Redfort is ace series, def recommend.

Wells and Wong series too

yy I came on to say Agatha Christie - I always recommend it - short and clever and pretty simple language but neat plots that you don't guess. I loved them when I was about 13-14.

There are loads but my faves include Hercule Poirot's Christmas, The Body in the Library, A Murder is Announced, And Then There Were None, Crooked House and Cards on the Table.

Not crime drama but has she read Philip Pullman's Northern Lights trilogy?

My friend used to be an English teacher and she had great success with that with reluctant readers.

Have you looked on the Barrington Stoke website? Books specifically for children who are dyslexic. Interest age matches their age but the reading ability is a little lower.
Would she try graphic novels? If so have a Google around for those. In terms of not-too-tricky thrillers for teens: Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen or STAGS by M A Bennett.

Thank you for the suggestions. I think I might see if Agatha Christie would interest her.

Agatha Christie often has a LOT of characters. Personally I’d go for something actually aimed at teens if they aren’t a keen reader.

Try Lois Duncan. She wrote ‘I know what you did last summer’
Her books aren’t very long either.

Not so much on the crime side but I wonder if you might have some luck hooking her in with a film. Divergent or Noughts and Crosses, or Looking for Alaska and the Fault in our Stars are by John Green, or The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. John Green has written quite a lot so if you can pique her interest with a film she might give the books a go. He is also quite active on social media. My DD loves a podcast series he does with his brother ?Hank. Northern lights also now the bbc series is out - don't show her the film. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is a fabulous book and the Prime adaptation is decent. It stars David Tennant and Michael Sheen. But the book is much, much funnier.

With strong readers I like them to read the book before they watch the film. I was snobby about doing it the other way round for a long time, but I've discovered it can really open the door for some children.

I also came here to suggest Barrington Stoke. As well as specially-written titles they make sure that the paper colour and typesetting is sympathetic for dyslexic readers.

Katherine Woodfine's Sinclairs mysteries were a huge hit with my DD and Siobhan Dowd's the London Eye Mystery. Agree re Wells and Wong (Robin Stevens). If she struggles, what about the Nancy Drew stories. I know they're ages old and rather formulaic, but they are slimmer volumes which might appeal? And Elly Griffiths, A Girl Called Justice - I love her Ruth Galloway novels and DD has just asked me to get the 2nd in the Justice series for her.

The ‘Earth Girl’ series by Janet Edwards are really good. They are science fiction but credible and very age appropriate.

Not crime, but I remember reading as a teen (although probably older than 14) Twist in the Tale books by both Jeffrey Archer and Roald Dahl. Collections of short stories that have a plot twist. I'm sure there will he more modern versions in a similar vein.

John Wyndham’s book are good for that age, not crime but SF but not graphic.