DD (13) wants some new reading material.

[EccentricaGallumbits]

But thinks most of my stuff is too disturbing/boring.
I have a million different sorts of books so hopefully have something to tempt her.

She didn't like the sound of Daphne Dumaurier but was tempted with Agatha Christie. Wants to read My Sisters Keeper but that's the only Picoult I haven't got. She loved The Time Traveller's Wife. I steered her away from Jilly Cooper. She didn't want to try any 'classics'.

Any Ideas?

I discovered PG Wodehouse at about this age. Not trendy, not cool - but the books have become lifelong companions. I always remember my dad recommending them to me

oh and again on the 'not trendy not cool' theme - Georgette Heyer!

I enjoyed The Catcher in the Rye at this age and thought I was extremely cool for reading it. Eccentrica, did your daughter go for any of the suggestions?

A Girls Guide to Hunting by Melissa Banks is a good easy read with a 14 year old narrator.

I have just told dd1 how much she would love G Heyer (have only read three so far myself but they are fab).

Cheapskate - we'll have to agree to disagree on that.

janeite, have you read 'Fridays Child'? I think it's the absolute best Heyer. If you haven't, do read it!!

Nope - so far I have read These Old Shades, Sylvester and Frederica. The libraries here have virtually none of hers but I'm going to look again tomorrow - and haunt the charity shops.

My dd really liked the Across The Nightingale Floor series a couple of years ago - Japanese warrior epic love story sequence - sounds weird but really, really good.

Also I can't remember if anybody has mentioned the Noughts And Crosses series by Malory Blackman.

I think you have a treat in store then if you can find Fridays Child. I just find that a perfect little romance with characters you can believe in and witty dialogue.

forgotten about this.
She has since read I capture the castle and loved it. She is also now trawling through some Agatha Christies.
I have an excellent list for her now. Thanks.

I think I was around that age when I read the Lois Lowry books - A Summer to Die and Find a Stranger Say Goodbye, totally loved them. She has written other stuff, possibly more well known since then that I've not read but these two were amazing coming of age type novels

At 13 I started reading Evelyn Waugh, as Brideshead was on TV at the time, it was my coming of age book, I just loved it. This led me on to Nancy Mitford, Love in a cold climate, The Blessing, then Mitford sister biographies, etc

I agree A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donelly is brilliant one of the best books I read last year which is saying a lot for teen fiction!

Also, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd... my 16-year-old SIL really enjoyed this recently.

What about the old classic Michelle Magorian...I loved her at that age, A Little Love Song remains one of my favourite ever books, Goodnight Mister Tom and Street Kid are also fab.

sorry, It's Street Child and that one's by Berlie Doherty (who also does great teen fiction - Dear Nobody is about teenage pregnancy and The Snake Stone was a big favourite with both me and my brother.)

The Last Free Cat by Jon Blake.

Perfect for a good young reader.

I offered my 12 year old DD The Grand Sophy yesterday and she turned it down scornfully as being too soppy. I couldn't persuade her otherwise.

I DO hope someone sees this, or are threads dead if they haven't had any posts for 11 days?

So:

How about Paul Gallico, sophisticated enough without being scary (especially The Snow Goose & Jennie).

I agree with the recommendation of Nina Bawden. Still have almost all her books from year dot - children and adult.

Someone to Run With,(set in Jerusalem, wonderful), The Zig-Zag Kid - both by David Grossman .

Libby Purves writes well about teenagers.

A bit dated, but The Lark in the Morn and The Lark and The Lark on the Wing by Elfrida Vipont are wonderful depictions of Quaker life (and a teenage girl's discovery of her talent).

Even more dated, but brilliant: Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

The Noughts and Crosses Trilogy by Malorie Blackman is very good.

here

John Marsden's - tomorrow when the war began series

My 13 year old niece loves Phillipa Gregory's historical novels 'The Boleyn Inheritance' series.