Novels for 16 year olds

[HoggleHoggle]

Would be very grateful for reading suggestions for a 16 yr old! Would ideally like to avoid the teen lit genre, but am at a loss as to what to choose. I remember reading things like Pride and Prejudice at that age but I don't think she's going to be keen on that.

I was wondering about The Poisonwood Bible?

All thoughts appreciated!

I guess they do fall in the Young Adult category but they aren't dystopian like some of the other novels and are an important read, but I have three suggestions:

Asking For It - Louise O'Neill (it's about Irish rape culture and victim blaming).

Only Ever Yours - Louise O'Neill (it's about how society can pressure a person to be perfect and covers themes such as: addiction, body dysmorphia, eating disorders and homophobia).

The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson (it follows two boys from different perspectives, one wants to be popular and the other wants to be invisible. They have one thing in common: they're both transgender.)

Thanks so much all!

Tranquility I've just read the Cazalet series myself! Can't even begin to say how much I loved them. I agree that could be a really good choice, I could buy her the first 2 now then the others for Christmas maybe.

Cathpot all she's said is no romance as it bores her

The handmaids tale and Only ever yours.
Both have a similar storyline but imo are different enough to enjoy both.

How about The Flowers in the Attic seires? I loved that at her age.

Oh I loved that too fresta. I also really really loved the Heaven books.

Hitchhikers Guide - obviously

If you can't get her to read Pride and Prejudice try her with the Keira Knightley film to start with. I love the book but it took mum a while to persuade me to give it a chance. There is also a really good reading by Rosamund Pike on Audible that you may be able to persuade her to listen to.

At that age I also read The Woman in White and The Moonstone for the first time. Also Villette is my favourite Bronte and I first read it about then for.

If you are looking for a more adult version of a teen dystopia how about Children of Men?

Rebecca? My 13 yr old loved it (bit of an age gap I know, but she's a fairly mature reader). She also liked I Capture the Castle. I'm planning on getting her Jane Eyre next.

The Ultimate Teen Book Guide is helpful. Maybe you should buy her that??

The Secret History? (quite long and grown up)

To be honest, they are reading adult books at that age and there is a huge range of different tastes. Do you know anything about what she likes?

This list is not a bad starting point:

www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/mar/06/world-book-day-ten-best-teen-reads

I loved Iain Banks at that age 'The Wasp Factory' his debut novel was incredible. I also loved magical realism, The Angela Carter book 'Nights at the Circus', 'The Changeover' by Margaret Mahy, Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy. The adult fiction world is open to you at 16 as you will have exhausted the YA section by then.

And also on a theme of nights and circuses 'the night circus' by Erin Morgenstern is also fantastic- magic realism , uplifting , page turning.

Bigmouth The Wasp Factory is a great idea!

I think I'm going to get that, and the first Cazalet book.

You've all been brilliant, thank you