Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I am looking for book recommendations (asking for a friend). She has a 13 year old daughter who is very sensitive to certain topics and themes. Many have recommended titles to her but they are usually fantasy stories or books written at the turn of the 19/20th Century. If you have any ideas along these lines, she would greatly appreciate it! Blessings, Camy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 What topics and themes is she sensitive to? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 She is sensitive to when the characters experience trauma in the stories. It becomes too real for her. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Is she reading more YA type books or is she still reading middle grades? Some kids that age are on to John Green novels and other modern high school stuff. Others are still reading upper end middle grades books. Since you say she's sensitive, I'll assume mostly middle grades novels? How about... Stargirl Absolutely Normal Chaos A Mango Shaped Space When You Reach Me Close to Famous Flipped The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate One Crazy Summer 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 The Ocean Within 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 The Penderwicks are lovely. Avoid book #4, written much later (quite recently), in order to retain the marvelous feel of the series. The Penderwicks; The Penderwicks on Gardam Street; The Penderwicks at Point Mouette. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 The Penderwicks are lovely. Avoid book #4, written much later (quite recently), in order to retain the marvelous feel of the series. The Penderwicks; The Penderwicks on Gardam Street; The Penderwicks at Point Mouette. I actually love the final book and I know several young fans of it as well. But I agree that it has a very angsty feel so it might not be good for the OP's sensitive young friend. My kids described it as "the book where Batty cries all the time." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I actually love the final book and I know several young fans of it as well. But I agree that it has a very angsty feel so it might not be good for the OP's sensitive young friend. My kids described it as "the book where Batty cries all the time." oh, so glad you chimed in! I wanted to be honest in my recommendation, but was a bit worried the Other Side wouldn't be represented and a possibly enjoyable book would be missed ... thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan Dash and Lily are high school students having adventures in present day NYC. I don't recall anything too traumatic in them, nor does dd. At one point they get stuck in a room in a bookstore, but it turns out okay. Lily has anxiety issues, and Dash's parents are divorced with his father being really distant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Isn't there going to be a fifth Penderwick book? Book 4 isn't the end! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Isn't there going to be a fifth Penderwick book? Book 4 isn't the end! Oh, is there? That's actually lovely news. I don't keep up like I used to! Here's hoping for a Ben based boy Penderwick book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 (edited) Hmmm... for contemporary settings that are not fantasy/sci-fi, and to avoid trauma, usually means going with books written for late elementary/early middle school ages, which may be too young for a 13yo. Or going for teen romance... Good luck! :) The School Story (Clements) Devlin Quick mystery series (Fairstein) -- gr. 3-6 Gallagher Girls series (Carter) Willow Falls series: 11 Birthdays; Finally; 13 Gifts; The Last Present (Mass) -- and others by Mass The Mother Daughter Book Club series (Frederick) The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet (Dionne) Because of Winn Dixie (DiCamillo) Saturday (Konigsberg) The Pushcart War (Merrill) Wednesday Wars (Schmidt) The Day They Came to Arrest the Book (Hentoff) My Side of the Mountain (George) Edited June 15, 2017 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Isn't there going to be a fifth Penderwick book? Book 4 isn't the end! Oh, is there? That's actually lovely news. I don't keep up like I used to! Here's hoping for a Ben based boy Penderwick book. Yes, there is going to be a fifth and final book in the series! My kids are quite impatient waiting for its release. FWIW, my two seemed to enjoy the 4th book the most so far. It's a little different, yes, but maybe that's ok since my kids have been reading the books/listening to the audiobooks for several years, so they're older now than when they first started the series and ready for something a little more serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady Posted June 15, 2017 Author Share Posted June 15, 2017 Thanks so much everyone! I appreciate this so much and have forwarded the title recommendations (as well as a few of your suggestions and warnings) to my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 ... I forgot to mention the Sonlight summer reads -- that links the middle grade selection. These books are not (in my experience) religious in tone, but are morally reliable in the sense that they have wholesome underlying morals and themes. I bought some to gift to a friend whose two mothers are Jewish, for example, and while he won't be reading about a family like his in the books, there won't be anything ugly about them either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 I can't recall the details of all of these, but I think they're ok. Mama's Bank Account Momo (Ende) The City of Ember Ballet Shoes The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself The Inquisitor's Tale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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