I have to share this. My thirteen year-old god-daughter, Aifric, loves a good read, but I don’t always hit the mark. I like to give her books I loved myself at that age, but also to try out new ones. A few weeks ago, I sent her the Bad Karma Diaries, though not till after I’d read it myself. (I’d picked it up because it’s by an old friend, Bridget Hourican).
The Bad Karma Diaries is about two girls going into their second year of secondary school, Anna and Denise, or rather Bomb and Demise, in text-speak. They decide to start a business, and a blog, and then also a karma exchange for the bullies and bullied kids in their school. It all goes horribly wrong; adventures are had, lessons are learnt, ways are mended – somewhat – but there’s no moralising at all.
The verdict? “I loved it I loved it I loved it! :D Is there a sequel?? :)”. I’ve had a few misses as we navigate the tricky reading years between much-loved children’s stories and those first steps of her reading grown-up books for real. So it’s very nice to have really hit the spot. If you are looking for a funny, clever, non-preachy but still very enlightening book for the young teenager in your life, look no further.
For Aifric’s birthday next year, I’m thinking of sending Jo Walton’s gorgeous Among Others. If, as they say, Harry Potter is about confronting your fears and doing the right thing, and Twilight is about the importance of keeping your boyfriend, Among Others is about the joy of reading (especially SF & fantasy), surviving loss, thriving as a fish out of water, and the inherent value of thinking long and hard about people in your life, both good and bad. Not just for adolescents, then.
Any thoughts on books – especially recently published ones – for 12-14 year old girls or boys?
{ 31 comments }
Mise 12.14.11 at 10:01 pm
Yes! I love recommending my favourite books from that age. My absolute favourite is Amelia by Siobhán Parkinson, about a quaker girl during the Irish war of independence who’s trying to figure out why her life just got complicated by her parents odd pro-revolutionary-yet-pacifist stance. The ‘I’m a Vegetarian’ books were the only portrayal of being a teenager in Ireland that I ever found realistic. Vanessa (the veggie) was my absolute role model. And I remember loving ‘The Secret of the Ruby Ring’ as well.
I think I read more good Irish fiction at that age than any other.
Mise 12.14.11 at 10:01 pm
Sorry god carried away before reading the last line for ‘recently published’ – clearly disqualifies the above, but they are great.
Netbrian 12.14.11 at 10:49 pm
I think the Dealing with Dragons series, by Patricia C. Wrede, are all wonderful books, and should be perfect for this demographic.
allan 12.14.11 at 11:09 pm
I don’t have any kids in that demographic, and my only connection to this book is that my wife and the author go way back, but I’m told that “Stalker Girl” by Rosemary Graham is pretty good.
Yair N 12.14.11 at 11:37 pm
They are probably better for 15+ years old but Looking For Alaska and Paper Towns by John Green are brilliant (literally life changing for a number of teenagers I know, after they discovered the online community associated (see Nerdfighters, vlogbrothers etc.)
Freddie deBoer 12.15.11 at 12:22 am
Not recent. But Diana Wynne Jones.
Her books meant more to me than anything. I can’t even really articulate it.
Curtis Wright 12.15.11 at 12:31 am
Not recently published but strongly recommended for that age:
Fate is the Hunter by Ernest Gann
Don Dresser 12.15.11 at 1:26 am
China Mieville’s Un Lun Dun is a great book (for readers of many ages) featuring leading characters of about 12 – so would be worth a look.
Meredith 12.15.11 at 1:50 am
Such a difficult age — so many wonderful books they’re still a little too young for, and so many they’re too old for at the moment because “they’re so much older now” but not yet “younger than that now” (in the latter category I’m thinking Elizabeth Koningsburg’s wonderful books, Roald Dahl’s, or Lois Lowry’s — but if your niece hasn’t read their books, maybe she’d still enjoy them as much as I still do). When a little older, becoming sexually aware without really even knowing it, Hans Koning’s A Walk with Love and Death, which my mother gave me to read when I was in my early teens.
vivian 12.15.11 at 2:05 am
For a discussion/list/review of books girls think are great, I recommend Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading – the books Lizzie lists are not brand new, but there might be some that haven’t yet crossed to Ireland.
TheSophist 12.15.11 at 2:25 am
Any thoughts on whether Un Lun Dun would be as suitable for a boy as for a girl? I know it has a female protagonist, but it doesn’t sound from the reviews I’ve seen that she’s a terribly “girly” girl. Do kids that age automatically switch off if the protagonist is the “wrong” sex?
Don Dresser 12.15.11 at 6:31 am
I can’t really speak to statistical regularities about what most tweenagers think of books with protagonists of other genders – but I know I have heard of some individual boys who have enjoyed Un Lun Dun, I believe I would have enjoyed it at that age, and it seems to me reasonable to recommend it for readers of many demographics (different ages, different genders, etc.)
Dr. Hilarius 12.15.11 at 9:06 am
Australian writer Garth Nix deserves to be better known. His trilogy, Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen are wonderful with an original concept of passing over to death. Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is fun. Philip Reeves’ series starting with Mortal Engines is a post-apocalyptic steam punk book. Like the Nix books the protagonist is a girl. Same for Scott Westerfeld’s steam punk triology (Leviathan, Behemoth, Goliath). I don’t think the female lead characters will turn off boys. The girls are tough, no-nonsense, and willing to get their hands dirty.
Brussel Sprout 12.15.11 at 10:54 am
My area of expertise (I teach the age range). I really loved the Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World, although I can never remember the name of the sodding book when recommending it, by EL Konigsburg and it’s the forgotten treasure I recommend a good deal.
My then 12 year old son loved loved Un Lun Dun. I’d also strongly endorse Philip Reeves recommendation and Garth Nix, plus Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus books. And then there is Patrick Ness – his Chaos Walking trilogy is very amazing. Anything by Celia Rees, but especially Pirates, Kevin Crossley Holland’s Arthur books + his follow up, Gatty’s Tale, Jamila Gavin’s Coram Boy.
Malorie Blackman, the Noughts and Crosses series – Romeo and Juliet situation in a warped apartheid world. Siobhan Dowd’s Bog Child is a beautiful book about Northern Ireland set at the time of the troubles, very moving.
But my favorite author for stronger readers in this age range is Mal Peet – both Tamar and Life: an Exploded Diagram are terrific reads with strong female characters.
Thank you for the recommendation of Bad Karma Diaries, sounds like a terrific read.
homunq 12.15.11 at 11:42 am
I’m fond of Ursula K. Leguin’s Gifts/Voices/Powers series. Not particularly flashy, but she has a real feel for what it means to grow up and understand that the world is bigger than you realized.
Maria 12.15.11 at 2:28 pm
Great recommendations, thanks all round. Un Lun Dun is wonderful, and I do think boys would enjoy it just as much as girls. The Bad Karma Diaries is probably more for girls.
Also seconding Brussel on Patrick Ness. One of my sisters gave me the Knife of Never Letting Go a year or so ago, and I loved it & plan to give it as a gift.
I think Meredith has it, that the 12-14 age group is a tricky one as it’s very in-between. As Don Dresser suggests, a good book for this age group is probably a great ready for many people.
bos 12.15.11 at 2:50 pm
Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books?
TheSophist 12.15.11 at 4:53 pm
Thanks for the feedback, everybody. My nephew will be receiving Un Lun Dun for Christmas, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy it very much.
laura 12.15.11 at 5:29 pm
My sister in law is a 7th grade English teacher. She wrote a post for my blog about the best Young Adult books for 2011. My husband, the former historian, also made a list of the best history books for 2011.
laura 12.15.11 at 8:01 pm
Also, the Hunger Games is so, so, so amazing.
Doug K 12.15.11 at 8:30 pm
not very recent, but anything by Nancy Farmer, the African stories in particular – The Ear, the Eye and the Arm and A Girl named Disaster.
I thought Scott Westerfeld’s Peeps one of the best novels I’ve read recently, YA or otherwise.
Tedra Osell 12.16.11 at 3:36 am
PK is just under the age in question (11), but also a highly precocious reader. Agreed that _Un Lun Dun_ is great. Other favs: _The Phantom Tollboth_, _The Hobbit_, Madeline L’Engle’s _Wrinkle in Time_ series (all older classics). Newer titles he’s loved include the Pseudonymous Bosch series (first one was _The Name of this Book is Secret_), _The Invention of Hugo Cabret_ (something of a cross between a novel and a graphic novel), and Alex Milway’s _Mousehunter_ series. Gaiman is good, of course. He’s also into graphic novels, and luckily there are tons of great ones out there. The one’s I know best are the ones for sciency kids: he has Redniss’s _Radioactive_, a bio of Marie Curie (one of his heroes) and _Suspended in Language_, which is a biography of Niels Bohr. The same author, with a different artist, has a new bio of Feynman that’s gotten excellent reviews.
Oh, and we just recently read _Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry_. I had to read it out loud because he generally resists books that seem unfunny or “messagey,” but he absolutely adored it. It’s extremely good history, actually, and a great starting point for discussions about America’s past, for parents who are so inclined.
Veronica 12.16.11 at 4:35 am
Isabel Allende has a great trilogy for teenagers, the first one is City of the Beasts. There are two main characters, a boy and a girl. Both are equally strong and compelling. The stories are a mix of coming of age angst and Indiana Jones adventures. I read all three books and have given them as gifts as well.
patrick 12.16.11 at 6:38 pm
I can recommend Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, Nation by Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith also by Pratchett, actually almost anything by Pratchett. The His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, The Maze Runner by James Dashner.
Ken 12.17.11 at 2:03 am
bos: Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books?
Seconded. And the best part is, they’ll be in the house and you can read them too.
skippy 12.17.11 at 7:37 am
tedra beat me to recommending a wrinkle in time.
SamChevre 12.17.11 at 1:56 pm
Tamora Pierce
For recently published, the “dog” books–“Terrier/Bloodhound/Mastiff” are good–Mastiff is IMO weaker than the previous too. The Alanna books are good too, but Pierce has gotten better over the years. The Circle books are probably one age older.
Tegan 12.17.11 at 8:48 pm
Love seeing everyone’s suggestions! For you goddaughter I would also recommend The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks about a vibrant, strong girl who takes over her school’s boys-only secret society. Top notch pranks and a main character you wish you knew in real life. Also edgy, compulsive, funny wonderful: All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin. Loads more for teenson my store’s site in my recommendations : http://www.queenannebooks.com/tegans-reviews.
Aifric:) 12.17.11 at 9:19 pm
Hello:)
This is the “goddaughter” girl;)
I saw a movie version of one of Dianna Wynne Jones’ books (and she has the same birthday as me!)
I read Un Lun Dun a few years ago and thought it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It’s suitable for boys and girls, definitely!
I’m reading the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (sort of) and liking it. Haven’t gone back to it in a while because the Hunger Games came…
…and now I’m a Hunger Games NERD.
I’m going to read the Malorie Blackman book that was mentioned here as well soon, because an English teacher I had has very good book taste and she recommended that.
I read Ursula Leguin’s Earthsea (the first book) and thought it was very good. Tales of Earthsea, the film version by Studio Ghibli must. be. seen.
I read the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. I know a few guys who’ve read it, and they loved it but I hated it. That was because my stepdad forced me :/ And it’s hard to read J.R.R. Tolkien books!
I read an excerpt of Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry. And it’s somewhere in the jungle that is called my room. I must find it!
My favourite books are the Hunger Games, and The Catcher In The Rye.
Don 12.19.11 at 4:38 pm
“Among Others” is wonderful and amazing. How about “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making” by Catherynne Valiente, or Nnedi Okorafor’s “Akata Witch” (her “Who Fears Death” is beautiful, but has some really dark topics). Also Robin McKinley’s “Sunshine”. Take a look at Nalo Hopkinson’s books, or Theodora Goss, or Jay Lake’s “Green” (the sequel, “Endurance” is just out). Cory Doctorow’s “For the Win” is a little more hard-science-fiction-y, and still wonderfully imaginative. +1 for “Ship Breaker”, “A Wrinkle in Time”, and anything by Pratchett or Gaiman (I recommend “Good Omens” in addition to “The Graveyard Book”).
Andrae 12.20.11 at 7:21 am
+1 to Wrinkle in Time, The Hobbit, and For The Win.
Of course +many for anything Pratchett, but Gaiman is dark and chaotic enough (thinking of American Gods here) I would hesitate giving it to a pre-/early-teen.
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