What should you read the summer you’re 16?

[BumBumCream]

I’m going away with DD for a few days after her GCSEs to lie on a sun lounger & tan. This is a great opportunity to supply her with books that must be read the summer you’re 16!

She used to be a huge reader before the phone crept in, but now is more likely to read thrillers and crime fiction than anything more highbrow, and the holiday probably isn’t entirely time to get her to read Jane Eyre… but what shall I take?

thinking along the lines of Catcher in the Rye, I Capture the Castle (she’s read this though).

There is only one book all 16 year old girls should read, and obviously that‘s Jilly Cooper’s Riders.

After that I’d do a bit of Midnight Library, Romantic Comedy, maybe a How to Murder your Family. Chuck in Bravo Two Zero just to make sure.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume?

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder?

I read To Kill A Mockingbird the summer I was 16. Still one of my favourite books.

Some of the books I’ve given my similarly aged niece recently (although check the content for yourself, my sister is v relaxed about what niece reads)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
How I Grew by Mary McCarthy
Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
We have always lived in the castle by Shirley Jackson
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Mine will only read sci-fi, fantasy and horror. No chance of any of the classics. Honestly if my mum had tried to make me read particular books at that age it would have been No Way. I was into crime, thrillers, espionage, Arthur Hailey, Frederick Forsyth, Jeffrey Archer at that age. So really, I’d let her choose, maybe give her a bookstore giftcard the week before.

I’ve still never read Riders…..

A town like Alice and Rebecca were two of my favourites at that age. And possibly now

DD at the same age enjoyed The Secret History, Donna Tartt, which is just perfect (my favourite book ever). If her MH is good and you have no concerns, Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey Eugenides (sp) is excellent as is Girl Interrupted (Susanna Kaysen?)
If going to Crete, The Island, Victoria Hislop obv.

Catcher in the rye is a great one. I think any of Fredrik Backmans books are great for that age. I read the secret history at 16 and loved it so if you're looking for more high brow maybe that. She could be receptive to some Joan Didion. I really enjoyed David Nicholls at that age although not One Day. Raymond Carver what we talk about when we talk about love would introduce her the beauty of short stories. Patrick Ness is SO good at coming of age stories if you think she might like that. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater if you think she might want to get into a series. Loved the outsiders at that age too. If she can handle more mature themes Eliza Clark has two great books- Penance might be up her street if she's into true crime things. I'm 22 so hopefully these recommendations aren't outdated!

Another vote for A Town Like Alice.

Testament of Youth and The Women's Room were my favourites at that age.

I read the hitchhikers guide at about that age and loved it.

Yes to A Town like Alice/Secret History and Rebecca

Maybe 'I capture the castle'

For a page turner/teen thriller 'We Were Liars' E.Lockhart had DD gripped at that age

I remember reading The Order of the Phoenix the summer I turned sixteen as it had just come out. I spent the family holiday crying by the pool over Sirius 😅

I saw the thread title and came here to say I Capture the Castle, but I see I'm too late
I remember reading The Dud Avocado at a similar age and loving that. I also remember reading Angela's Ashes which had a big effect on me. Also the Order of the Phoenix as per the previous poster!

A sixteen year old will probably love a bit of dystopia such as Brave New World, Animal Farm, 1984.

At the other end of the scale: she has read P&P, hasn't she?

I was just about to recommend these. 1984 has just been read aloud on Radio4 this weekend, there must be a podcast of it available.
If OPs DD hasn't already read The Hunger Games, I'd suggest that series. Also John Wyndham's Midwich Cuckoos, and Cold Comfort Farm.

Another vote for Rebecca 🙂

Definitely Rebecca.

My DDs (15&16) love The Hunger Games and Heartstopper. I have no success recommending books anymore but would suggest the following:

Lace (classic bonkbuster. Shirley Conran intended for it to be read by teenagers, she'd started writing a sex education book but decided a novel would be more fun to write. Not sure how the goldfish fits into that)
Oranges are not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson. Lesbian coming of age.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Both racism in the southern states.
Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes for crime, both very readable but warn about the dated attitudes.
Wodehouse, Nancy Mitford, Stella Gibbons or Douglas Adams for laughs.

But it very much depends what she likes, and at 16 I'd have loved a book voucher and a trip to a bookshop for my holiday reading.

I also immediately thought of I Capture The Castle - I didn’t read it until my early 30s and and am still slightly disgruntled missed out on it as a teen.

I’d also agree with The Secret History - DD (14) read it on holiday recently and loved it and it really fired up her enthusiasm for reading again and she couldn’t put it down for the last 300 pages!

The trouble is what we read at sixteen might be a bit dated now

I was reading Danielle Steele Thurston house at 16 and I know this because it was my first holiday abroad by myself!

I liked Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden at that age, quite easy to read too.

I was just about to suggest that @RedHelenB!

I was reading Jean Plaidy.

I loved Catch 22 at that age

Just remembered another one I loved at that age - The Life and Loves of a She-Devil by Fay Weldon. It definitely awakened the feminist in me! I even ended up doing my English dissertation on it.

Also was obsessed with Chocolat by Joanne Harris.