I need a list of books suitable for a 13 yo girl

[SoreArms]

A couple of years a go I wanted to get my little sister to read more (and watch less TV) so I bribed her with a "prize" for evey book she read. Prizes where as simple as going to the movies, going out to eat at restaurant of her choice, some new toy, etc..... but I also allowed her just about any book, even school assigned ones (to make it simple for her at first). I think I want to step it up a bit and assign her a list of books to read. The "prize" will also be stepped up, of course. I am looking for things that will tell about worlds/cultures beyond what she's experienced thus far, give her thoughts/opinions about life, direction, goals, etc..... I just want to totally expand her horizons as well as help her become a smarter, well rounded person.

Help me put a list together, give me the names of some books that you reccomend (for a 13 yo girl)

thanks in advance

Would Catcher in the Rye be suitale (I can't remember at what age I read it)?

Edit:I hope you gals don't mind, I copied this here hoping to get more help and insight than in C&C

 

[*MissFit*]

hmm go to chapters and take a peak catcher in the rye.. boring

 

[*MissFit*]

Cat's Eye - Margaret atwood

Elaine Risley is an artist who has returned to Toronto for a retrospective of her art. Upon returning to the city she is flooded with memories of her past, specifically centeredd around one girl named Cordelia. Cordelia is one of a trio of girls who basically tormented Elaine, inexperienced in the ways of little girls, until high school. Once in high school the tables turn and Elaine becomes the strong one. Cordelia fails out of high school and Elaine loses touch with her, going onto university where she studies art history. The novel describes Elaine's relationships, her first marriage, and her rediscovery of Cordelia who is now in a mental institution after having tried to commit suicide. Elaine makes many conclusions about herself, her art, and her life at various stages in the novel which are somewhat summed up in the end

 

[musclemom]

Don't know how I ever missed this ... I read voraciously as a kid (comes from not having friends).

In order of difficulty of the material (I'm talking literally vocabulary and some concepts):

A. Limony Snickets stuff, I've never read them personally, I don't know if they're for a younger age group ... I've read everything else I'm recommending at about the same age as your sister.

1. The Harry Potter books (safest).

2. Anything written by Judy Blume (some teen-mature themes, but the books are written towards that FEMALE age bracket).

3. Anything written by James Herriot ("clean" but not written for children, she may need to keep a dictionary on hand. Stories about life as a vet in England just before WWII, wonderful stuff, but lots of talk about the realities of farm life, death and birth, I adored these books when I was a teen, I still love them!).

4. Anything written by Richard Adams (vocab. is a little more complicated, some animal violence, ethical concepts).

5. Horse books (e.g., Black Beauty, My Friend Flicka).

6. The Yearling.

And I found this list on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/1C9DO018FX30V/103-4920889-2224649?_encoding=UTF8

You can see some of the stuff I recommended is on the list.

I personally don't believe in dumbing down reading material for kids; if they have a solid basic vocabulary, as long as they have a good dictionary, teenagers can pretty much handle most material. Obviously you don't want to pass along material that contains excessive vulgar language, graphic sex, graphic violence and drugs portrayed in a positive light, but everything else is pretty much fair game. Just let the kid know there are grownups around to discuss things that get them thinking!

 

[Puddles]

My daughter will be 14 in Feb and she loves to read. She's got a great understanding of vocabulary and when she was tested in 5th grade she had an 11 grade level.

Holes I know was something she read a few yrs. ago before it was turned into a movie. She read it a few times.

She just got The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis (it's in the theaters now) and I'm guessing she'll get through a good portion of the book, but not completely, before we see the movie, it's nearly 800 pages long in softcover.

She also liked the Harry Potter series and anything by Stephen King. There was another series, The Indian in the Cupboard that she enjoyed when she was younger.

On a light side, she's got a book called Zombie Butts from Uranus, it is the sequel to The Day My Butt Went Psycho! by Andy Griffiths. It is a Scholastic book, probably aimed towards boys but my daughter has a warped sense of humor and enjoys this stuff.

She's also got a collection of Anime books but you've got to screen those for appropriateness. While they may not seem like advanced book reading, they actually teach lessons of morals.

I agree with MuscleMom on the Judy Blume books. I read those when I was younger and I know my daughter's read at least one.

I also read The Flowers In the Attic and the rest of that series. Most of those books I read multiple times. The stories really held my interest and I will be picking those up for my daughter this year.

She's also read Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence. It is a collection of stories about teenagers discovering their sexuality (gays and lesbians) and what they had to endure. My daughter has a lot of gay/bi friends and reading this has helped her understand and help them with this situation. She found this book in her school library. This book definitely falls into the category of what you're looking for when you said "I am looking for things that will tell about worlds/cultures beyond what she's experienced thus far, give her thoughts/opinions about life, direction, goals, etc..... I just want to totally expand her horizons as well as help her become a smarter, well rounded person."

I think what you're doing is a wonderful thing. Some of the books I mentioned above have been made into movies. Maybe a good treat would be to buy the book and the dvd, but she has to read the book before being able to see the movie.

 

[lanky]

A couple of years a go I wanted to get my little sister to read more (and watch less TV) so I bribed her with a "prize" for evey book she read. Prizes where as simple as going to the movies, going out to eat at restaurant of her choice, some new toy, etc..... but I also allowed her just about any book, even school assigned ones (to make it simple for her at first). I think I want to step it up a bit and assign her a list of books to read. The "prize" will also be stepped up, of course. I am looking for things that will tell about worlds/cultures beyond what she's experienced thus far, give her thoughts/opinions about life, direction, goals, etc..... I just want to totally expand her horizons as well as help her become a smarter, well rounded person.

Help me put a list together, give me the names of some books that you reccomend (for a 13 yo girl)

thanks in advance

Would Catcher in the Rye be suitale (I can't remember at what age I read it)?

Edit:I hope you gals don't mind, I copied this here hoping to get more help and insight than in C&C

Kama Sutra...

 

[indyswife]

What the others said. Judy Blume is always great for girls that age. Any VC Andrews books. Flowers in the Attic series was great when I was that age and I continued to read her books till after I graduated HS. From what I have read online, the Samurai Girl series by Carrie Asai is getting great reviews. Now you have me wanting to go to the library and get the VC Andrews books and reread them its been so long!!!

 

[starfish]

What the others said. Judy Blume is always great for girls that age. Any VC Andrews books. Flowers in the Attic series was great when I was that age and I continued to read her books till after I graduated HS. From what I have read online, the Samurai Girl series by Carrie Asai is getting great reviews. Now you have me wanting to go to the library and get the VC Andrews books and reread them its been so long!!!

Judy Blume books are still popular. Wow....I loved those books.. especially "Are You There, God, It's Me Margaret.


Dang...I feel old now.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Judy Blume books are still popular. Wow....I loved those books.. especially "Are You There, God, It's Me Margaret.


Dang...I feel old now.

WERD

My kids read a lot as we dont have a TV (I refuse to get one). Thank you for the recommendations. I will definitely pick some up for mine.

 

[rocky_road]

Author Mitch Album~ (the 5 people you meet in heaven, tuesdays with morrie)

Author Francine Pascal~'s Sweet Valley High -Jr high
never read the jr high books but i fell in love with the "senior year" series
I figure the jr high books are just as good but for a younger audience
I mean i reallly,, reallllly loved that series.

Harry Potter is very popular with any age group