books for teens

[lynneylou]

Hi my daughter is just 13 and only really reads J Wilson books. I d like to get her some new bks by different authors for xmas but having looked in Waterstones they all seem to be about boys and quite near the mark. Any ideas!!!!!

[devilwoman]

does she not read the harry potter books, i would have tought they were a favourite,
how about mary kate and ashly bookss my daughter loved them a couple of years ago, now shes i5 shes grown out of them, then theres tracy beaker or artemis fowl or theres a series of unfortunate events.

[lynneylou]

thanks for that. she has loads of M K and ashley books but has out-grown them.

[librarywitch]

Has she tried the Louise Rennison books such as " Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson" or the Cathy Hopkins Mates, Dates.... series of books? There's also the Agent Angel books by Annie Dalton which are quite good fun!

[Quizmonkey]

His Dark Materials (trilogy by Philip Pullman starting with Northern Lights) is not only excellent it also has a very charismatic lead character who's a young teenage girl (Lyra Belacqua). Totally recommended!

[mycats]

What about Judy Blume? Her books are very good for teenagers, very empowering

[saxy_jag]

The Louise Rennison books are brill (my husband loves them). You could also try books by Echo Freer (Magenta Orange is a very funny character - three books about her; Magenta Orange, Magenta in the Pink and Magenta Goes Green, also Blaggers and Diamond Geezers, which both have hilarious gangster twists, but have very sassy heroines), and Meg Cabot (1800-Missing, Mediator, Princess Diaries, Teen Idol are all good, wholesome but credible reads).

Hilary Mackay has a lovely series of books about the Casson Family - Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose and Caddy Ever After - they're the family of a seperated artist couple who are all just trying to muddle through a hectic life. Fun, sweet and with a wholesome message about love being the most important thing that families have.

[LauJ]

I used to like the Point Horror books, Sweet Valley High series, and The School at the Chalet series when I was about that age.... Quite a while ago now, but the point Horror books are still popular.

[Kimmiebear]

I liked the Chicken soup for the soul books at that age... I also got into sci-fi fantasy and gothic literature around then. My mum (who is a teacher) took me and my brother to book sales and told us to find 3 books or whatever, but one had to be a new author or a new subject. I found that Jean Little (may be spelled wrong) was good as well as Wilson Rawls and Naylor were good for girls not into girly books. The Devils arithmatic was a good read too if she likes war books and history. Oh that was a fun trip down memory lane!

[cameo]

Check out Paula Danziger.
Titles like 'The Cat Ate My Gymsuit'
My daughter loved them!!

[missjef]

i would definately agree with people who suggested the Louise Rennison books, they are brilliant.
i dont think anyone's suggested these but she could try - Jaclyn Moriarty's books "feeling sorry for celia" & "finding cassie crazy".

[lynlockwood]

I t6hink Ann Fine is excellent as is David Almond- Skellig is a modern classic. I've just enjoyed the Bartimeaus books by Jonathan Stroud which are intelligent and funny books about magicians and genies in London.

[luckyeight]

Ian Serraillier, Robert Westall and George Orwell.
eg The Silver Sword, The Scarecrows, Animal Farm.

[lynneylou]

Read Skellig to my daughters several years ago, great book.

[reinganum]

Take her to your local public library. Unless it's a very small library there is usually someone there who is experienced in suggesting books for teenagers and who knows their stuff. Your daughter is at the age of beginning to enjoy mainstream fiction, but the librarian will be able to advise. What sort of stuff is she doing at school in English? Does she enjoy it? That might give you some sort of clue as to what's going on in her head.