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Original poster

Books for young teens - anyone read these please?

20 replies

KittyKattyFosterMummy · 09/12/2021 07:51

My 13 year old daughter LOVES reading, she is at that odd age of still loving all things pink and unicorns but also being older than her years and doesn't want to read childrens' books anymore. She has read and loved most of C L Taylor's offerings, both her young adult books and her adult books, with the last couple waiting on her shelf to be read in due course.

The only thing (literally!!!) on her Christmas list is books. She's come up with a few which I have looked at but don't recognise any. I was into horror by about 10 so am happy for her to read something quite gritty but also don't want to scare her witless or scar her for life with inappropriate scenes (I can still remember reading Rats at 11 and some of the, ahem, adult scenes in there and I'm 49 now! Blush )

So, long story short, has anyone read any of the following and can offer an opinion please and / or recommend anything in a similar vein?

We live next door - Laura Wolfe
The people next door - Keri Beevis
The woman on the pier - BP Walter
They'll never catch us - Jessica Goodman
The guest list - Lucy Foley

Many thanks!

OP posts:
bibliomania · 09/12/2021 10:30

From that list I've only read The Guest List. It's not great literature, but it's unlikely to scar her for life. Worth introducing her to Agatha Christie - for grown-ups but never very graphic?

My dd recently turned 14 and her favourite book is The Fault in Our Stars, which she sobs pleasurably over.

Original poster
KittyKattyFosterMummy · 09/12/2021 11:07

@bibliomania

From that list I've only read The Guest List. It's not great literature, but it's unlikely to scar her for life. Worth introducing her to Agatha Christie - for grown-ups but never very graphic?

My dd recently turned 14 and her favourite book is The Fault in Our Stars, which she sobs pleasurably over.

@bibliomania Thanks for your reply, much appreciated! Smile Hadn't thought about Agatha Christie, might get her one of hers to have a read of, although they may possibly be a little old-fashioned. I'll have a look at the one you mentioned, although she hates sad books as a rule,. She has refused to read any more Michael Morpurgo, because although she loves his writing style, she hates the fact that they are always so graphically sad! Grin
OP posts:
OrlandointheWilderness · 09/12/2021 11:09

Terry prachett. Incredibly brilliant writer and she'll have a lifelong love.

massistar · 09/12/2021 11:10

What about YA stuff? I've read The Guest List and it'd be fine but it's quite trashy.

My DD, same age, is reading Noughts and Crosses at the moment and is loving it.

bibliomania · 09/12/2021 11:23

If she doesn't like sad books, then I take back my recommendation for The Fault in Our Starts - I've avoided it for the same reason!

Original poster
KittyKattyFosterMummy · 09/12/2021 11:54

@OrlandointheWilderness, Hadn't thought about Terry Pratchett either, but perhaps because I'm not a fan, but maybe she might like him. She does like a murder / mystery a-la CL Taylor though so I'm not sure about TP, might be worth a shot though, so thanks for the suggestion!

@massistar Thank you, I'll have a look at the one you suggest. I kind of missed the whole YA section when I was her age so don't really know any! I just wait straight onto horror! Grin

@bibliomania Grin Grin, I'll not bother then... Wink

OP posts:
massistar · 09/12/2021 12:27

[quote KittyKattyFosterMummy]@OrlandointheWilderness, Hadn't thought about Terry Pratchett either, but perhaps because I'm not a fan, but maybe she might like him. She does like a murder / mystery a-la CL Taylor though so I'm not sure about TP, might be worth a shot though, so thanks for the suggestion!

@massistar Thank you, I'll have a look at the one you suggest. I kind of missed the whole YA section when I was her age so don't really know any! I just wait straight onto horror! Grin

@bibliomania Grin Grin, I'll not bother then... Wink[/quote]
I was the same. Still traumatised by The Rats. Grin

Alicetheowl · 09/12/2021 12:33

The Hunting Party is better than The Guest List, but if she's asked for this then she might have read The Hunting Party already. If she likes this sort of adult mystery stuff maybe The Girl on The Train?

maudmadrigal · 09/12/2021 13:24

Holly Jackson murder mysteries might be good? Also, Karen M McManus, whose books all my young teens (I have 3, plus nieces and nephews) have enjoyed.

I don't think my guys have read any of the titles you mentioned, sorry.

DD2 and I also read All Our Hidden Gifts recently, which we thought was good.

If she's more into adult fiction, my DDs have enjoyed Liane Moriarty, Gone Girl, Girl on the Train etc.

Original poster
KittyKattyFosterMummy · 10/12/2021 08:20

@massistar
They were so good though! I like rats though... On the other hand, the one about the mutant crabs... Still don't trust the evil looking little critters! Grin

@Alicetheowl
She hasn't read The Hunting Party so I'll get her that instead if it's better. Thanks you!

@maudmadrigal
Brilliant, thank you, that's given me some more titles to go for. It's always good to have recommendations!

OP posts:
WhyWhyWhyMum · 10/12/2021 08:44

If you're considering Agatha Christie, Sophie Hannah's books are fab (the Christie estate commissioned her to write continuation novels(, she writes psychological crime thrillers

DuneFan · 10/12/2021 08:54

Not Gone Girl. I'm still scarred from it.

Dorothy L Sayers for some more old style mysteries?

The Robyn Stevens mysteries are also nice, set in a boarding school but quite an adult perspective.

Elzbells · 10/12/2021 10:06

My 14 year old is working her way through Dorothy Koomson at the moment. Psychological with a twist but not too graphic or sexually explicit.

At that age I was reading all my dads Stephen Kings

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 10/12/2021 13:01

How about Emily Barr's YA stuff? The Girl Who Came Out of The Woods, The One Memory Of Flora Banks and 1 other I can't remember. Mystery/suspense type books.

Birdkin · 10/12/2021 13:05

Ann Cleeves’ Vera books are more old fashioned mystery (not graphically violent) and very good.

madamehooch · 11/12/2021 21:46

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
S.T.A.G.S.

Agadorsparticus · 11/12/2021 22:14

I loved all the point horror books at that age but I don't know if they exist anymore.

Remoanercorona · 11/12/2021 22:15

My daughter likes the holly Jackson ones.

Original poster
KittyKattyFosterMummy · 13/12/2021 08:43

Wow, lots more for me to have a look at, should keep her going for a while! Have ordered some off her list an some of the suggestions on her. Thank you everyone! Smile

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 13/12/2021 08:48

@madamehooch

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder S.T.A.G.S.
I was just going to recommend STAGS by M A Bennett - there’s a whole series of them.

Also definitely Karen McManus, One Of Us Is Lying is the first.

I was reading Agatha Christie at the same age and loved them and they were old-fashioned then - you can’t wrong with golden age crime, really.

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