The Vine: December 5, 2012
I’m looking for book suggestions for my just-turned-thirteen niece. It’s a very in-betweeny age, where her Christmas list is mostly clothes, but she still doesn’t want me to cancel her American Girl magazine subscription. Though I am a embarrassingly voracious reader of children’s and young-adult lit, I’m a little stymied for this age range. She has a high-school reading level, but younger interests. She does not really like things that are scary, but likes fantasy and stories set in the past.
I also have an almost-thirteen nephew and their interests are pretty much aligned (though I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be caught dead reading some of the “girlier” things on this list (sigh)), so anything that works for him would be great too. His reading level is also high and he also likes to read, though not quite as much as she does.
Here are books I’ve given one or both of them before that proved popular: Suzanne Collins’ Gregor the Overlander series; Patricia Wrede’s Sorcery & Cecelia and Talking to Dragons series; N.D. Wilson’s Ashtown Burials series; The Penderwicks (and sequels); A Little Princess and The Secret Garden; Anne of Green Gables (and sequels); in other words, the Usual Suspects, both old and new. They’ve read and loved the Harry Potter books (obvi) and, because they are young and have not yet developed sufficient taste defenses, my niece also loves Twilight and they both like Percy Jackson and Riordan’s other series. She (more than he) liked okay some of the older stuff I’ve given her, like From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The Westing Game.
The only books on which I’ve gotten negative feedback from my niece were Uglies and the City of Ember (though I think the latter was mostly because at the time she was scared of the dark so the books got in her head too much); she claims she liked the first book of The Hunger Games but I think she really found it too violent and generally adult in content (which I agreed with, and asked my sister what in the world, letting a 12-year-old read that, and then she told me all the fourth-graders had read it too. I am old and prudish, apparently, because my pearls got a good clutching at that). I think I tried to give both of them The Mysterious Benedict Society and I’m not sure that went over too well — though I love those books, I have yet to give them to a child who seemed at all interested.
The last book I gave her was Ruby in the Smoke by Pullman, and if she likes that I can continue with the Sally Lockhart books. But I’m looking for some fresh new ideas, new authors, and maybe stuff not everyone in their age group has also read. It would also be nice to get something set in a more contemporary/real world, anything navigating high school, like if the Sweet Valley High books were real, decent, thoughtful books instead of ones written by a computer-programmed Mad Lib enthusiast. Also anything in a graphic novel that’s cool and interesting and age-appropriate would be great.
I’m also seeking advice on whether certain books I already love are good for this age group, and I know there are a bunch of parents, librarians and teachers in the Nation who I figured would have thoughts. Is she too young for His Dark Materials? Cynthia Voight’s The Kingdom series? Jane Austen? Her reading level is high enough for these books on a vocabulary level, but I don’t have enough experience with kids her age to know if the ideas are too sophisticated or adult, or the content otherwise lacking in interest. Is Judy Blume too dated? I loved Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, and I know they’ve updated it a little, but do kids still like it?
Thanks in advance, Nation,
Stanley
*****
Hello, Sars and Nation —
I have a question about books and teen-aged boys. Specifically books for teen-aged boys. And because I am an awesome procrastinator I am writing this on December 5th to ask for help with a Christmas present. Whomp whomp. (If this doesn’t run before Christmas, which is totally understandable, I’d still love some help because his birthday is in early spring and I’ll be running into this same issue.)
Anyway, here is the deal: I have a 15-year-old nephew whose interest in reading is fairly limited, and I would like the Nation’s help in finding him some awesome books that he would like. Right now the only books he really enjoys are gory, scary sci-fi/horror books. Sadly, I know nothing about the current crop of YA horror, and I’d love some help finding fun, well-written, age-appropriate books for him. As reference, he really loved the Hunger Games series, and I know he was into the Cirque du Freak books a while back. He read Twilight because of the vampires, but I’d like to steer him towards stuff with a little more…literary merit. And a little less “you should control your girlfriend and sneak into her room and be creepy and undead” subtext. He’ll read stuff with a female protagonist, but I think he enjoys male protagonists a little more.
He reads well at grade-level and a little above, but he’d have trouble with adult-level reading, so keeping suggestions YA is pretty key here. Bonus points for series or authors with multiple books in the same vein!
Right now my only real plan is to plunk myself down in the YA section of the library and read anything with a scary-looking cover until I find something that seems good. Any direction from the Nation would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Trying To Maintain My Book Cred With Today’s Youth
Tags: Ask The Readers happy hellidays popcult shut up Twilight
Yay! Readers Advisory, the Best Part of Being a Librarian
For the niece: I would second the recommendation for Dianna Wynne Jones and Tamora Pierce. I would also suggest The Agency series by YS Lee and The Fly By Night Series and The Lost Conspiracy by Francis Hartridge
(Note, aside from the Librarian thing, I have an 12 year old who reads at a high school level. She approves of those recommendations)
For the nephew: Books for boys are tricky. Right now I am totally in love with Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride. Some profanity and fade to black sexytimes mark this one for older teens. (Although, I read it to my 12 year old, with some judicious editing).
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John, is an awesome “band book” with a differently abled girl protagonist.
If you are looking for “literary merit” I would reccomend John Green. His most recent book The Fault in Our Stars has gotten a lot of press, but his entire run is excellent.
Most of what I was going to recommend has been mentioned (Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones, Roald Dahl, Mercedes Lackey,Lois McMaster Bujold, The Hobbit)
but I’d add
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame for the 13 year old
the 15 year old may like
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ as a online comic you can get him the paper version if he likes it.
For Stanley–Sharon Shinn’s books are right up your niece’s alley. She has several for younger readers, some for older YA, and some that are technically for adults but would be great for a younger reader as well.
For Cred, James Dashner’s Maze Runner series will be a slam dunk. The Kristan Cashore books (Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue) are absolutely stunningly good books. They might be slightly girl-oriented but they have plenty of action and magic and also are well-written with strong characters.
I’m going to suggest Vampire Academy (& sequels) by Richelle Mead – probably better for Book Cred than Stanley. It’s a school setting, where some kids are living vampires and some kids are training to be their protectors. There are also dead vampires, but they’re not at school as they are basically the bad guys. Not as dark as the third book in the Hunger Games, but not light & fluffy, either.
Goreedgo beat me to it… I also recommend Un Lun Dun by China Mieville for LW1. The rest of the stuff he’s written (The New Crobuzon Trilogy, Kraken, Embassytown, The City and the City) is for adults, but it’s all wonderful.
I concur with the suggestion of Garth Nix. The Abhorsen trilogy is probably his most mature series. The Keys to the Kingdom series is a much younger series. The Rag Witch freaked me out when I read it at age 33. It involved a rag doll possessed by a witch that grew giant – yet I feel that maybe an actual teen/tween wouldn’t be as freaked, the same way they don’t find Coraline as scary as adults do.
I have to say that I would NOT recommend Heinlein’s Stranger In A Strange Land, especially for a teenage boy. It’s not a bad book overall, but the part where the main female character comes to the conclusion that women want to be raped (and it’s treated as her having an enlightened ephiphany) makes my skin crawl. Especially when I think about young boys reading it, and how that might influence their attitudes towards women.
There’s a lot of sexism in scifi, but that was a deal-breaker for me, and it colored my impression of the rest of the book.
Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea series would make a great gift for either. The recommendation of Robin McKinley is also spot on – her earlier books are definitely suitable, her short story collections written with her husband would make the nephew happy. You need to be wary of ‘Deerskin’, ‘Sunshine’, and perhaps ‘Chalice’ for a younger reader (Deerskin deals with very adult themes, including incest and rape).
Letter two:
1) The Maze Runner (and sequels) — I recommend it to all my boys who loved the Hunger Games. It’s a similar premise (dystopian future teens fighting for their lives) but it has a male protagonist.
2) Ender’s Game — if he’s a pretty mature reader, he can handle it. It’s got some adult ideas/events, but it’s a YA novel. Once again, a male protagonist, lots of battles/fighting/gore/death, and lots of thoughtful stuff as well.
First letter: Seconding all the McKinley recommendations (‘Sunshine’ is a fabulous anti-Twilight but may be a bit scary just yet).
Also seconding the recommendation for Sarah Rees Brennan – the Demon’s trilogy would also be perfect for all three niece/nephews as the books revolve around two brothers (it’s kind of a YA version of the show ‘Supernatural’) but also have a bunch of awesome girls as well (the two sequels are even from the girls’ perspectives). Plus they’re urban fantasy so involve normal high school drama type stuff as well as the fantasy bits.
Also recommend Gregory Maguire’s books. Start with ‘Wicked’ to see if they like his style.
I recently devoured Kristen Cashore’s ‘Graceling’ and its spin offs. The first book has fighting, political intrigue and each has a kick-ass female protagonist.
For the 15-year old boy: try looking at some classic horror stories – Orwell, Bram Stoker, Robert Louis Stephensen or Mary Shelley are really easy to read and have some pretty horrific imagery.
I loved (and still love) Tamora Pierce’s books. They have mainly girls and women as the main protagonists but the boys and men are not just supporting characters. And there are lots of books to choose from.
She has the Tortall universe that starts with The Song of the Lioness Quartet and continues to future generations with other quartets and duets(?).
She also writes The Circle of Magic Quartet that reads a bit younger. It continues with another quartet and a couple novels. It has a boy as one of the main characters (there are 4).
http://www.tamora-pierce.com/books.html
For both, “The Thief” by Megan Whalen Turner is awesome. The sequels are enjoyable too. I’m in my 30’s and bought myself a reading copy a few years ago so I didn’t have to keep checking it out from the library.
Elizabeth Marie Pope’s “The Perilous Gard” was one of my favorites as a 10ish year old girl. I’ve kept it. It’s a historical fantasy with a great heroine. And sibling dynamics and moving and love. I should re-read it again. It’s been awhile!
I think that for LW#1 and for LW#2, Sarah Rees Brennan’s Demon’s Lexicon trilogy would do well. They are a bit scary and a bit violent, and there’s certainly a lot of tension, but if they made it through Hunger Games, it should be a pretty good fit. They’re also REALLY funny and smart and complicated and do a good job representing alternative sexuality/characters of color in a way that is “there” without being all pointedly LOOK AT OUR DIVERSITY. Kids know when you’re talking down to them. Don’t do that!
I’d PARTICULARLY say that they should be bumped to the front of the list ahead of Mortal Instruments, if that recommendation appeals. It’s old news/business, but I have some serious problems lining the pocket of a known plagiarist who showed no remorse.
I’m also going to throw in the Leviathan series from the author of the Uglies. It’s the only work I’ve read by him, so if she only hated the plot elements, it might work out. If she hated the author’s style, though, then I can’t say if it’d be a good fit. It’s steampunkyish alternative history and fun and has male and female protagonists. There are illustrations, too! And they are super pretty. (LW 1)
Oh, and Gaiman’s Stardust. I read the book version? I can’t comment on the graphic novel version. Uuuuh. What else is on my shelf lately? Oh! LW#2 should give her nephew World War Z! Love that business. It’s pretty violent, but he’ll like that. He’s probably read it already. :D (LW 2)
I’ll second the Tiffany Aching books, too. (LW 1, both)
Oh, and The Thief and the sequels by Megan Whalen Turner. (LW 1, boy)
I’m 24, and I’m a YA addict.
Recommendation for both, but especially the 13-year-olds: Gerald Morris. He writes wonderful Arthurian legend fantasy. The first book is “The Squire, His Knight and His Lady”. There are about a dozen of these books and they are wonderful.
Also for the 13-year-olds, Michael Bulkley’s Sister’s Grimm series is great. The two protagonists are girls so it might appear to girl readers because of this, however they are excellent books for anyone who enjoys fantasy based on actual Grimm fairy tales.
For the 15 year old, how about Arthur C. Clarke and Orson Scott Card? I’d recommend any book by these two authors.
Stanley,
I know that Lois Lowry’s The Giver is often assigned reading, but it is my favorite book of all time, and I just recently discovered that it is the first in a four books series. The other three books aren’t direct sequels, but they exist in the same universe as The Giver. Two of the books have female protagonists, two male, and they hit in that sci-fi/fantasy area. The Giver is worth a look if you think either kid hasn’t read it, or one of the follow-up books if The Giver was already a hit.
I was also a big fan of The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler when I was younger, and have recently discovered the pleasure of E.L. Konigsburg’s other work. Her more recent stuff is my favorite. Neither Lowry nor Konigsburg is going to challenge kids at the reading level you described, but the writing is solid.
I just read the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray and enjoyed it. It’s definitely on the girly side, but with a very strong heroine and is totally sci-fi. Also age-appropriate.
I’m a 5th grade teacher, and have several girls in my room who are reading WELL above grade level, and I’ve been struggling finding books to challenge them, but are still appropriate to give to 11 year old girls.
If she is interested in fantasy, my fantasy readers have loved a 2-book (so far?) series by Ingrid Law: “Savvy” and “Scumble.” Not incredibly high difficulty, but could be good.
On a more serious note, they’ve also loved “Between Shades of Gray” by Ruta Sepetys, as have I. It is definitely a more somber book, as it takes place during the forced relocation of many Lithuanians during World War II. Some serious thoughts that may require some discussions, but beautifully written.
I’ll have to check the book graffiti wall in my classroom tomorrow and see if I can book up with some more ideas.
“Nation” by Terry Pratchett. Recommended for both letters, both genders, all children, and pretty much every adult I can convince to read it. Brilliant, touching… just easily my favorite thing I’ve read in the last two years or so, juvenile lit or no. The beginning is a little scary (it starts with a disaster) but the theme and the writing is just amazing.
I second the rec’s of Sarah Dessen for the niece, as well as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
For both, I would suggest the ‘So You Want to be a Wizard’ series, along with Narnia.
For the nephew, how about Ender’s Game, or Artemis Fowl?
These are all series I personally read and loved, especially the Wizard one, which I still read each time a new one comes out.
for LW#1, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith is wonderful (teenage girl in England in 1920s/30s who wants to become a writer, observes older sister’s courtship, family’s struggles with money, etc — but mostly it’s so wonderful because the narrator is so charismatic and delightful). I second the Lois Lowry rec, especially A Summer to Die and the Anastasia series.
After dinner I went to go look thru my YA books and came across “Princess Academy” by Shannon Hale, which I immediately started reading. I’ll have to alternate with the short stories from “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” by Stephen King that I started earlier. His short story collections have some wonderfully chilling stories.
Before I get back to cheering for Miri at the Academy and staying up way too late reading, I want to add John Moore’s books as a recommendation for the 13 year-old boy. “Bad Prince Charlie”, “Heroics for Beginners”, “A Fate Worse than Dragons” and “The Unhandsome Prince” are all crazy funny. Emphasis on crazy.
I completely messed up the links in my first attempt at a comment, so here it is again with links removed.
LW #1: There are lots of great fantasy books for that age that have shown up in the comments, and I heartily agree with most of them. I would also mention Museum of Thieves and its sequel by Lian Tanner. As far as more realistic/contemporary fiction goes, here are two that spring to mind: The Trials of Kate Hope by Warwick Downing, and the Julia Gillian books by Allison McGhee
LW #2: John Marsden’s Tomorrow series was suggested and then rescinded for the younger two, but it might be a good fit for your nephew, and the same goes for Holly Black’s Curse Workers series. Also, Half-Minute Horrors is a collection of legitimately creepy short bits–some just a line or two, others a couple of pages. My favorite is the one with a strong implication that the kid has just eaten a lasagna made out of a baby. It was great for sharing with a group I led this summer that was begging me to scare them and to avoid “lame,” “not actually scary” things like Goosebumps.
I’m a children’s librarian with a focus on upper elementary and an intense love of all things YA, so I could do this all day.
For all three kids, the Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin. Six books, fantasy, adventure, male and female protagonists. There is some dark stuff, but it is never explicit – just hinted at.
I also liked Graceling by Kristin Cashore – this is probably also good for all three kids.
The Silver Sword by Ian Seraillier – a classic children’s book and one I’ve never forgotten – set in the Second World War – appropriate for boys and girls.
Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce – again, largely set in the past – suitable for both sexes
Tolkien – The Hobbit. A Classic for a good reason
Highly recommend anything Patricia McKillip and Robin McKinley. I would also recommend Nancy Springer, specifically “The White Hart”, “The Silver Sun” and “The Sable Moon”. Those may be a little hard to find, but well worth the read.
LW#2, if you nephew has a good sense of humor, Peirs Anthony would be good.
I’m here to second the David Eddings recommendation for Stanley’s niece and/or nephew. I devoured the Belgariad at that age, and Pawn of Prophecy (the first book) still stands as one of my favourites in the genre, or any other for that matter. Young male protagonist but lots of strong female characters, lots of fantasy/magic/adventure but nothing too scary, humour, romance … it has it all. I actually in some ways as an adult prefer the Sparhawk trilogies (the Elenium and the Tamuli), but I think they might be a bit darker, so I would suggest starting with the Belgariad.
Stanley: If you think your niece might be too young for Austen, there are also a graphic novel versions of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility (http://tinyurl.com/graphicnovel-P-P) by Marvel. I have the P&P one, which I think is great. Melissa de la Cruz’s Blue Bloods series is another one she might like. It’s a vampire series, but with a twist – vampires as fallen angels.
My other suggestions for both letter writers were mentioned earlier, but I’ll second (or third, or nth) Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness series, Anne McCaffrey books, and David Eddings books (the Belgariad, the Mallorean, the Elenium, and the Tamuli) for Stanley, and Ender’s Game for Trying.
I’m weird–I never liked YA, even when I was the age for it. It was too reminiscent of stuff I had to read in school, plus it was the 90s so everything had an anvilicious social message. (How many girl-with-an-eating-disorder whose-parents-are-getting-divorced whose-boyfriend-is-experimenting-with-drugs books can one person read?) (It’s OK, YA-lovers. Hate on me all you want, that’s how I feel.)
13 was when I started reading classics–basically because I found nothing in contemporary lit that did anything for me. For that age, I would recommend the Brontes (least of all Wuthering Heights, which is a little messed-up for a 13-year-old, maybe, and most of all Anne, probably, who writes the most sensible ladies) and Elizabeth Gaskell, especially Wives and Daughters.
If you want to stay modern, I love Laura Moriarty’s books, especially The Center of Everything.
Stanley: Anything by Tamora Pierce and Diana Wynne Jones!
I like the Gone series by Michael Grant.
And how about the Ender books.
My recs for LW 1 are The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull and The Rangers Apprentice Series by John Flanagan. My guess is that both girl and boy would like both series.
For LW 2, how does he feel about James Bond? The Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz is about a junior version of Bond.
For the young woman, I recommend Hollow Earth by John and Carole Barrowman (aka Captain Jack Harkness of Doctor Who/Torchwood fame)
http://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Earth-John-Barrowman/dp/1442458526/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354824050&sr=1-1&keywords=hollow+earth
It’s the first book in a new trilogy about a set of twins who have the power to animate whatever they draw or imagine. It’s not as amazing as Harry Potter, but much much better than Twilight, and a lot less violent than The Hunger Games.
For the young man into gory or scary, why not start with some of the classic Stephen King books? Hello, Salem’s Lot
Excellent suggestions abound here (as usual), but you may also consider a visit to ForeverYoungAdult.com, where they review all the latest YA.
One more suggestion for Stephen King, but pleasedo warn whoever is reading NOT to read Pet Sematary while alone in the house at night during a thunderstorm…I *may* have done this at age 12, and still have some mental scarring some 20-odd years later;)
Stanley,
For your niece, I second the recommendations of LM Montgomery’s other words (Emily books, Jane of Lantern Hill, collections of short stories, etc.) as well as Louisa May Alcott.
I also recommend The Root Cellar by Janet Lunn (another Canadian, so maybe not as well known) – an unhappy girl goes down into the root cellar of the house where she’s living and comes back up in the civil war era.
LW1- I’m the n-th on all these, but the point being they are good enough for me to bother writing that I agree: The Dark is Rising series, the L’Engle Austin and Murray books – the Murray series (5) are all out in Kindle version now, too; and finally, the two McKinley’s everyone else mentioned (Hero and the Crown first, then the Blue Sword in my opinion). The nephew might not like the last two. Pretty girl power, there, which is why I gave them to my niece.
LW2- Ender’s Game by Orsen Scott Card. I don’t like the guy, but that book is awesome. Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy do have a female protagonist, but my adult, Navy guy, uber-manly buddy thought they were the bomb. And they involve necromancy in a cool way. You can start him with the first and my favorite, Sabriel, and see if he likes that one before messing with the others. Shade’s Children also by Garth Nix looks up his alley, too.
Jen H, and make extra special sure that if you read Pet Semetary, do not read it alone, at night, with the rest of the household asleep, only to finish it, turning off your lamp and congratulating yourself on reading such a scary book with such aplomb, only to lay back on your pillows and HAVE YOUR CAT JUMP ON YOUR CHEST OUT OF NOWHERE AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGH!
But other then that, knock yourself out.
Speaking of Scary Stephen, has LW2 considered some of his short stories? “The Road Virus Heads North” should scar him for life.
If he’s into scary stories in general, collections are great. I recommend John Skipp’s Zombies anthology (which contains “The Return of Tommy Baterman”, the scariest story containing a zombie I’ve ever read) and The Big Book Of Ghost Stories, edited by Otto Penzler.
For LW #1, I wonder if Kristin Cashore’s Seven Kingdoms trilogy would do for your niece, starting with “Graceling”. Fantasy, strong female leads, great messages, tantalizing mysteries. I’ve never given the first book to someone and had them dislike it.
Also for the niece, I can’t help but pitch one of my all-time favorite series, “Betsy-Tacy”. Historical, based on the author’s growing up in turn of the century Minnesota, so fun. The books “grow up” with the character by getting longer and a little more sophisticated as she gets older. So your niece might want to jump in partway through with “Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown” or “Heaven to Betsy” which are when Betsy is around 12-14, but it wouldn’t take long for her to go through the early ones either.
Finally for both of them, what about the “Redwall” series? My whole family loved it when I was about that age. The plots do get repetitive eventually but it takes you at least 5 or 6 books to get to saturation point.
For LW#2:
Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Last Survivors trilogy isn’t horror, but it is post-apocalyptic survival and really hard to put down. If he needs a male protagonist to draw him in, the second book’s lead is a boy and it doesn’t matter what order he reads the first & second books in.
Second the Vorkosigan series, and that he’d probably like to start with the Young Miles books.
LW#2: Your nephew might be interested in David Drake’s work; it’s mostly sci-fi action stuff. I’d suggest “Paying The Piper” or “Lieutenant Leary Commanding”.
I heartily agree with the recommendation of McKillip’s Riddle-Master trilogy, for any or all nieces and nephews. I love her work. Any of her books might do, but Stanley might find it worthwhile to track down an early book of McKillip’s called The Night Gift, about a teenager and her friends who try make a difference in the life an older sibling who’s struggling with clinical depression. (If that sounds either sensational or dreary, it’s only because I’m not doing her lovely, gentle prose justice.)
Maybe Konigsburg’s (George) would do for Stanley’s nephew.
I also agree Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising sequence is wonderful. (Holly H. is right to point out that the attempt to make a movie from the first novel is a complete disaster.)
If Book Cred’s nephew likes Tolkien, he might enjoy Diana Wynne-Jones’s quest fantasy spoof The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, written as a parody travel guide aimed at the tourist adventurer. (She has written YA novels as follow-ups, I’ve just discovered.)
John Marsden. The tomorrow series is great. I don’t think it’s too scary. But other books like Letters from the Inside have been very popular with my partner’s just-turned 13 year old.
You guys are awesome – I think everything I would recommend for a kid that age is already here :) I actually came into this thread just to recommend the Curse Workers series that KAT mentioned. I’m reading it right now, and it’s excellent. That series *might* be best for the second writer; the books are definitely violent in spots, and while I didn’t find them gory, I might have if I were at all squeamish. I agree with the Abarat recommendation and also recommend Barker’s The Thief of Always. It’s pretty creepy, so maybe also a better choice for the second writer than for the first.
And for both readers in the first letter – I know it’s not exactly a fresh new publication, but if she hasn’t read The Sword in the Stone yet, I highly recommend it. History, humor, tons of adventure but not really gory – most of the fight scenes are pretty much farces. And if they like it, they can go on to The Once and Future King when they’re ready (maybe wait a couple of years on that one though?), so it’s kind of a gift that keeps on giving :)
Stanley — I adored The Baby-Sitters Club books when I was that age. Granted, that was in 1988, and your question about books’ being dated is fair! But I know a lot of my friends’ daughters love BSC still, and Ann M. Martin is doing a whole update/re-release of the series, or at least some of the books. I loved BSC because while it totally addressed hair, clothes, boys, popularity — all that junior high jazz — it was about a lot more than that, specifically friendship and working to help kids. Good luck!
Trying to maintain — what about some graphic novels? They combine the cool factor with wonderful art and storytelling!
I have a couple of more obscure recs for the first letter writer, for almost-teens of both sexes. John Bellairs’ The House With A Clock In Its Walls is about Lewis, an orphaned boy who goes to live with his eccentric bachelor uncle, who turns out to be a warlock of sorts, and accidentally sets in motion the possible end of the world. I loved it as a teenage girl. Also, it’s illustrated by Edward Gorey. Bellairs wrote a couple of sequels, too.
I’d also recommend a recent series by the Canadian comedian/author Sean Cullen. Hamish X And The Cheese Pirates and its two sequels follow the adventures of two kids who escape from the clutches of the Orphan Disposal Agency with the help of the mysterious, almost super-human orphan Hamish X. The ODA turns out to be genuinely disturbing aliens with a sinister plan. But at the same time the books have a Terry Pratchett-type humor, with a narrator who adds ludicrous footnotes and asides. It’s a little hard to find but I recently discovered that Amazon is carrying it on its US website (I bought mine from Amazon.ca). My teacher mom shared it with some sixth-graders who loved it.
That’s three recs per kid, I hope :)
Niece:
1. ‘Tamsin’ by Peter S Beagle is a *must*. The protagonist is thirteen, and while the writing style is more mature than most YA, it’s still a breathtaking fantasy, the kind she can re-read over the years and get more out of it each time.
2. Your ‘set in the past’ and ‘American Girl’ references make me think of the Apple Valley series by Nancy Covert Smith – I’ll wager she’s already read the Little House books, and if she likes them she’ll probably like these. ‘The Dare’ is the first book.
3. Seconding the recs for Margaret Peterson Haddix – ‘Just Ella’ is a cute fantasy, while ‘Among the Hidden’ is much darker but very good.
Nephew the first:
1. Andrew Clements’s books are very pull-you-in readable even for kids who aren’t necessarily bookworms; ‘Frindle’ is his most popular, but ‘Things Not Seen’ is still my favorite.
2. ‘Thunder Cave’ by Roland Smith is an age-appropriate but thoughtful adventure book, with sequels if he likes it.
3. ‘The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle’, by Avi – female protagonist but not at all ‘girly’, I bet you could sneak it by him. (Or one of Avi’s other books if you can’t.)
Nephew the second:
1. If you can get hold of copies, the Val Sherwood books by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald would be perfect. You can tell him there are vampires in it to pique his interest, but these are *not* Twilight vampires, and the rest of the series is much more subtle horror – and all the creepier for it. Female protagonist but plenty of male characters.
They’re out of print and hard to find, but well worth it; there’s also an ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Val-Sherwood-Werewolf-ebook/dp/B0094AEOVS
2. Gordan Korman’s trilogies – Everest, Island, and Dive – are adventure rather than horror, but don’t pull their punches and have some gory/scary bits.
3. Seconding the rec for Shade’s Children by Garth Nix – futuristic with horror elements.
(Hoping to hear back from both LWs after Christmas!)
LW#1: For both niece and nephew, how about Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series? (Link goes to first book.) Protagonists are a 13-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy who discover magic is real (predates Harry Potter, set on New York’s Long Island). The books take place in a shifting now – first volumes in the series were written in the ’80s, most recent book two-ish years ago, so hopefully the shift from payphones to cell phones won’t be too jarring for them.
Possibly also for both, Steve Kluger’s My Most Excellent Year: non-fantasy, life in a Boston-area high school narrated by three students who are best friends.
And also non-fantasy but probably just for niece, building off of the rec for E Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (which, OMG YES), Lockhart also has the Ruby Oliver series: life for a girl in a Seattle high school dealing with friends, boys, anxiety attacks and therapy, and wacky parents. (Link goes to first book.)
LW#2: Maybe Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series. Not horror or scifi, but steampunk in an alternate universe WWI era Europe. As the New York Times review said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if the First World War had been fought with genetically engineered mutant animals, against steam-powered walking machines? And the answer is, Yes, it would.”
Stanley – At that age I started reading Mercedes Lackey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, an Tamora Pierce.
LW #1 here!
Sorry for the delayed reply (I’ve been out of town), but I have read each one of the comments and really appreciate all the suggestions. I will admit that I read and disliked the Dark Is Rising series (as an adult) and a number of Madeline L’Engle books (as a child) so I have withheld those books from the children in my life in an attempt to force them to only like what I like. But I have had two windows open, one on this thread and one on Amazon and let me tell you that my Amazon Cart is growing to terrifying proportions. Now I just have to decide whether I need to order two copies of everything, so I can have one too….
Thanks, Nation! You never disappoint!
LW1, I would highly recommend the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane (the first novel is So You Want to Be a Wizard). These books predate Harry Potter by several years, but in my opinion, captivated me on a deeper level in a way that Harry Potter never did, though I did love that series as well. Set in suburban Long Island, the main protagonist is a 12/13 year old girl, but the series contains books where her male friend or younger sister are the focus as well. I found the treatment of magic to be incredibly profound, and the series lets you believe for a little bit longer that magic will come and find you before adolescence is over. The originals are a bit dated (1985 technology) and the series has a time issue where each book is set in today’s world, but the kids aren’t getting much older. But! The author is putting out New Millenium editions every few months right now, and the first and second are already available. These editions have a few extra moments, and they update the series to start, I believe, in 2011 or so.
I would also suggest A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels, and for some old school, try her out on the Sherlock Holmes stories, and follow it up with the BBC series! (Gotta plug my boys Cumberbatch and Freeman!)
LW2: At fifteen, and I know folks around here have a lot of feelings about this, I and my cousin got heavily into Stephen King. His early and classic works like Carrie, The Shining, Salem’s Lot, Firestarter, Christine, The Green Mile… all might be right up your nephew’s alley, though they may be a little more adult than you’re looking for.
For either LW, The Book Thief is great, as is Ender’s Game. Highly recommend both. And To Kill a Mockingbird – good reads all around.
Also, for all 3, The Eyes of the Dragon. This is a fantasy novel written by Stephen King – not typical of his scary, gory stuff. He wrote it for his daughter (because she did not like scary things), but it’s Stephen, so everyone should be able to find something they like in it.
LW1 – Perhaps Jane Eyre for your niece. Or Wuthering Heights.
Museum of Thieves for niece and nephew.
LW2 – Stephen King short story collections: Four Past Midnight and Skeleton Crew are excellent.
For the teen horror fan, the top picks from the teen horror fans in my English classes:
1. The Rot & Ruin series by Jonathan Maberry (zombies vs. teens with Samurai swords)
2. The Passage, by Justin Cronin. (A challenge for struggling readers, but well worth it.)
3. The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro
If he’s a gamer, he might also like Ready Player One, by Ernie Cline or most anything by Cory Doctorow, particularly his novel For The Win.
Which reminds me: Stanley, if your niece liked Gregor the Overlander, you might try Un Lun Dun, by China Mieville.
“You’re a traveler? You came by story ladder? My goodness. It’s been years since we’ve had an explorer. It’s not an easy journey, after all. Still, you know what they say: ‘All bookshelves lead to the Wordhoard Pit.’ And here you are.
“I’m Margarita Staples.” She bowed in her harness. “Extreme librarian. Bookaneer.”
-China Mieville, Un Lun Dun
For LW# my 11 year old niece just loved Cinder by Marissa Meyer. It’s a retelling of the Cinderella story, and very well done.