My fifteen-year-old daughter's criteria is that a book must have a "hot fifteen-year-old guy" (she's a romantic, just like her mother).
My thirteen-year-old son doesn't want anything too girlie - no romance or chick lit, please. A little bit of romance is okay, though. He survived reading Hunger Games with us.
My eleven-year-old daughter is too young for most YA, though she did read Hunger Games and loved those books probably as much as I did - which is saying a lot!
Books we've enjoyed in the past are the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Dogsled Dreams by Terry Lynn Johnson, and The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall.
So, any suggestions?
I wish you all a happy and blessed Easter!
38 comments:
Ah - Maximum Ride. Love, love, love.
PS - that is so cool that you read to all three of yours. Mine are 12 and 6 so they are NOT into the same things - AT ALL. My tween is big into the Septimus Heap and Haddix series. I haven't read so I don't know if your 15 year old will go for it. Most of my reads would be inappropriate for your youngest. Now - if my superhero novel would've gotten picked up - that would be one for you. It's very Max Ride-esque.
Happy hunting. And Happy Easter!
I don't have any suggestions because I read mostly little kid books. But I tell ya, about being read too. Tim still reads to me at night and I love it. Best ever. Happy Weekend.
Great interview in last post :)
hmmm I don't know. One of my teenage twins loved reading all my Wilbur Smith books! and the other one couldn't be bothered reading at all.
Hmmm. If you don't mind a little fantasy that may satisfy the hot 15 year old guy and the not too chick lit thing and something that was written in the eighties...I'd try David Eddings' Belgariad series. Definitely young adult and begins with the book, "Pawn of Prophecy". I give you my word that they are real page turners.
Hmm that's tough criteria! I'll keep my eyes out for something that all your kids will enjoy. This kind of reminds me of a brainteaser, but I bet we'll find the perfect book :)
How cool that they all like the Hunger Games! Not too scary, I guess? Well, if they're up for that, then maybe...Hold me Closer, Necromancer? It's not too racy and the voice of the male MC is pretty fun.
Take a look at Neil Shusterman's 'Unwind' - it's an awesome book.
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For your daughter I might recommend Paranormalcy, Across the Universe or Delirium. All mainstream YA that have gotten great reviews and are good reads.
I wish I had a suggestion but I will just have to send purrs for extra added effect!
Go on - try some Terry Pratchett!!! :-) It's got fantasy, adventure, cats, rats! gentle humour and characters y'all love!! Honest!!! How about The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents?? :-) Enjoy! Take care
x
We were reading things like LOTR to our kids. But we lived in the bush with no TV or mains power at that point.
How cool you still read to everyone.
I'd recommend Hoot by Carl Hiaseen, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, and The Harry Potter books.
That's Carl Hiaasen. Sorry!
I'd also recommend The Graveyard Book my Neil Gaiman.
It's a little young, but Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan was so well done. My son and daughter both enjoyed it.
That would be challenging! It is an old series, but L'Engles The Wrinkle of Time triolgy has suspense, fantasy, 'bad guys vs good guys' and even a bit of romance!
You might want to try The Summoning and subsequent books by Kelley Armstrongs. It's a good YA series. Your son might also be able to tolerate The Mortal Instruments series, or the Wake series by Lisa McMann. Both are excellent.
How about Paranormalcy, Magyk, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or Goose Girl series. That's awesome that they let you read to them. I hope my kids let me read to them when they're those ages.
Virals by Kathy Reichs is a bit like Maximum Ride--adventure and a thriller/mystery style plot.
The Chronicles of Narnia!
When I was that age I read masses and masses of Roald Dahl and C.S.Lewis. A bunch of other authors too but these guys always stuck in my mind.
Jai
Katherine hasn't read Nightshade City, but I loved it. There is a little rat romance in it, but no hot boys. I thing K and M would really like it. I don't know about J...I know I really enjoyed it. Katherine is just to busy with school. She's reading Bread and Roses too for a history assignment at school. Kim Griswell recommended it to us. She's enjoying it, but it's a much easier read than what she is used to. (Don't tell her teacher!)
Great interview, Susan!
I think it's wonderful you still read to all your kids. Such a special time they'll look back on I'm sure.
I would suggest The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. My hubby's favourite books. Great action and little romance.
Also, wondering about Graceling by Cashore and The Shifter by Janice Harding. Lots of adventure there.
I haven't read the book, but the movie made the Percy Jackson books look like pretty good reads. :)
Umm, that is a tough audience with their varying needs; my son loved Series of Unfortunate Events but he's at the age of your 11 yr. old and not certain of older titles...
keep us posted though on your choices...
Maybe try the Diane Duane young wizards series, and Madeleine L'engle.
I'm starting up a 'Critiquing Crusaders' program, where participants in the Second Crusade can find other writers to exchange critiques with or form critiquing circles. If you're interested, come by The Kelworth Files to check it out!
I don't know if it's too advanced for the younger ones, but perhaps the Gone series by Michael Grant.
I'm afraid I won't be able to help you with your children and story time. I think it's amazing that you do it! I know I would.
I just finished reading Wither by Lauren DeStefano and though I LOVED it I do not think it would be suited for children based on the polygamist and forced into marriage situation.
The Wake Trilogy by Lisa McMann was really good. It has cool elements and then hot boys ;)
My friend Eddie Jones has a new one just out called The Curse of Captain LaFoote, which I bet your son would love. The girls can come along for the ride, since he humored them last time! I'm sure it's on Amazon, or just Google Christian Devotions.com
I also highly recommend the Narnia series by CS Lewis. Great for both genders, all ages.
he he he your fifteen-year-old daughter's criteria made me laugh :)
But I must admit I'd never let my kids read HUNGER GAMES. As a psychologist I don't think kids are ready to get the essence and the message of such books instead of just finding its inappropriately violent parts amuzing.
My daughter who is eighteen now, loved Maximum Ride, but now she reads romantic novels like her mum! There was a phase with Harry Porter series, then The Twilight series!
Roald Dahl, L'Engle and CS Lewis are good suggestions. I'd always go for The Lord of the Rings :-) There's also The Joy of Spooking series by PJ Bracegirdle, and Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg, but they're more MG. Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series are quite fun. Oh, and the books by Norma Fox Mazer are brilliant, including Bright Days Stupid Nights.
I was all out, but looks like you've had some great suggestions! :D
I'm surprised your youngest enjoyed Hunger Games. I can't think of anything to recommend at the mo.
Maybe the Mysterious Benedict Society? It's MG, but it's packed with such cleverness I think older kids would like it too. But sorry, no romance... Same with the Bartimaeous trilogy. Why can't I think of anything adventurous with a little romance in it... oh, maybe Ever by Gail Carson Levine?
That's tough. Let us know if you find any that they all like!
Hope you had a great Easter!
The Hunger Games is a good book for both boys and girls. I suggest "Life As We Knew It" by Susan Beth Pfeffer.
So tough to find a book that would work for all three, but maybe Harry Potter? Not sure. Brain is mush from revision. Good luck! (LOVE that you still read to your kiddos)
I read this post when you first posted it and I've been trying to think of something to recommend ever since. With that list of requirements, though, it's pretty tough!
I really enjoyed Kira-Kira and would highly recommend it. But it's more of an emotional story. You could try it out on your boys and see...? I think there's a hot boy in there, but it's not totally romantic or anything.
I'll let you know if I come up with anything else. Good luck, my friend! I'm proud of you for continuing to read aloud to your kids. I want to continue to do that, too. :)
Amy
So cool that you all read together!
The first books that came to my mind were the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. And how about THE BOOK THIEF?
Great idea, asking on your blog!
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