Book suggestions (For a 13 year old)

[redimp]

Our daughter Jayde is a bookworm,she reads all the time.

Starting with the Jaqueline Wilson (Tracey Beaker books) she has well surpassed them now.

After the HP and LOTR books,she needed a new higher level to read,the only one we could think of that we had in the house was 1984,she loved it!!

Any thoughts on what she could read next? We have thought about Brave New World or Catcher in the Rye?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance
Shelly x

[Claw75]

I was an avid reader as a kid too.  I think I was around 12 or 13 when I started reading some Shakespeare stuff - might be worth a go if she's not read them yet.

[Claw75]

Oh - and I'm sure a lot of us remember reading Judy Blume's 'Forever' at that age too

[danafish]

"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. I think deep down that book's why Jen and I read Classics at college.

[HOLDorFOLD]

Hi Shelly

I read 1984 at school at that age and straight after that we had to read All Quiet on the Western Front - and although it may not seem like the best of recommendations it's the one book I thoroughly enjoyed reading at school and have always remembered.

FWIW it seemed to go down well with the whole class - as in the majority of us finished reading it at home when we were 'supposed' to read a chapter at a time lol.

I am also an avid bookworm, about 14-15 was when I discovered Crime Fiction books which opened me to a whole world of Forensics. If I could turn back time and change my study options I would love to have studied towards that.

Mich/x

[celtic]

Harrington on Holdem? The trilogy.

Very educational & interesting.

Dont thank me.

Vinny.

[Renegade]

Has she read all of the LOTRs books? There is still the Hobbit and Silmarillion if not. I remember when I was in school and we were forced to visit the Library once a week for like an hour I used to just look at True Crime books. Like Jack the Ripper and modern stuff. But if your looking for fantasy like Harry Potter and LOTRs then you should try some Phillip Pullman stuff, Amber Spyglass, Northern Lights, they're all great books. 

[madasahatstand]

To kill a mocking bird?

[AndrewT]

Let Jayde loose on Amazon. Look up the books she has read and liked and see what other people who bought the book have liked.

I wouldn't worry about the specific fact she's 13 - if she's done 1984 and LOTR then she's passed 'kid's books'. Seeing as she's read 1984, Brave New World is an obvious choice - I read it at about that age and loved it.

In terms of classic books, Charles Dickens' stuff is very readable (schools do too much Shakespeare and not enough Dickens, IMO). Jane Austen as well might be good.

[Tonji]

try some Phillip Pullman stuff, Amber Spyglass, Northern Lights, they're all great books.

I'd recommend these also.

What about joining the local library. The most fantastic local resource for communities, & they are never used enough.

The book that really got me into reading as a kid was "My Family & Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell. I've just started reading it again, its still a magical book to me.

[rex008]

I have to say I'm not a big fan of reading old stuff just cos it's old. I read vast amounts when I was young, and still do. Easily get through a book a week, and sometimes 2.
How about Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy? Main character is a girl around 13 YO. Ignore the film - the books are way way better (although I quite liked the film, but I'd already read the books). And once she's read them, you can read them as well - they work on many levels. Wonderful books.
I'd recommend anything by Terry Pratchett as well. Recent discworld stuff works on many levels as well - she may not get some of the satire in there, but you don't really have to to enjoy them.
How old is she? I'd recommend Iain Banks for some "grittier" reading, but there's some fairly adult stuff in a lot of his books.

Andrew

[Laxie]

Gone With the Wind might be a good one.

[littlemissC]

when i was that age i was reading the Bronte sister books..Jane Eyre,Wuthering Heights and so on.
i also think the hobbit is a must if she has not read that.

[ACE2M]

"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. I think deep down that book's why Jen and I read Classics at college.

i'm half way through this, brilliant so far.

phillip pullmans trilogy is perfect imo.

some sebastian faulks i always recommend to anyone, beautiful language and images.

[boldie]

Catch 22 is good. Tom Sawyer is fantastic for a 13 YO  would say