J-rap Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I'm looking for a good book to get each of my kids for Christmas. My two youngest girls (18 and 16) love to read, but are quite particular. They don't care for many of the mainstream teen books (I don't either). My 18-year-old will not read fiction, but enjoys history, cooking, traveling, adventure, and music. These would be something along the lines that I've looked at for her, to give you an idea: http://www.amazon.com/97-Orchard-Immigrant-Families-Tenement/dp/0061288519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322669277&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Be-Home-Christmas-Congress/dp/038533463X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322669352&sr=1-3 My 16-year-old loves stories that take place in the past that have an adventurous/courageous bent. She has read many books about the Holocaust, for example. She enjoys some classics, but not all. She LOVED Little Women. She did enjoy Harry Potter. They need to be about girls though, for the most part. I'd love to find her a new series, but I know she would not get into most modern teen book series. She is not into boys, romance, trends. The ideal series would be like Little Women -- it would take place in the past, about a sweet, courageous family with the "star" being a girl her age. :) However, I don't think such a series exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Okie Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 For your 16-year-old, I would recommend books by Gene Stratton Porter. These are old books. Laddie is about a wonderfully courageous family. The story line is not exceptional but I enjoyed reading about and gaining inspiration from the family. A book with a girl heroine is Girl of the Limberlost, which is by the same author. For adventure, wholesome characters, and a touch of romance, I'd suggest The Woman in White by Wilke Collins. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an excellent coming of age story set around the turn of the century. A newer book either might enjoy is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Socieity by Shaffer. Something that is more "PG-13" is I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristyB in TN Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I just finished Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah and my daughter is reading it now. It was wonderful and perfect for a "non mainstream" teenage girl. It's a memior. My daughter and I both loved all of Haven Kimmel's books. She Got Up Off The Couch was my favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Your older daughter might enjoy Material World by Peter Menzel or Women in the Material World. For your younger daughter -- I've never read the series, but what about the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace? I've also heard good things about the Emily of New Moon books by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Ooh, someone beat me to I Capture the Castle (as you can see from my blog name, that's one of my favorites!). I don't know if I'd call it PG-13 myself though. It's really, really tame. I'll add that either might enjoy Jennifer Donnelly's works. She's a YA author who writes literary historical fiction with a female bent. Try A Northern Light, which won the Printz several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 My 16-year-old loves stories that take place in the past that have an adventurous/courageous bent. She has read many books about the Holocaust, for example. She enjoys some classics, but not all. She LOVED Little Women. She did enjoy Harry Potter. They need to be about girls though, for the most part. I'd love to find her a new series, but I know she would not get into most modern teen book series. She is not into boys, romance, trends. The ideal series would be like Little Women -- it would take place in the past, about a sweet, courageous family with the "star" being a girl her age. :) However, I don't think such a series exists. Has she read the Anne of Green Gables series? Hattie Big Sky (not a series. But an excellent book) The book behind Sound of Music might be interesting to her -- and there are 2 books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingnlearning Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 (edited) At that age I loved Victoria Holt romance novels! They're G rated and have that Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables feel to them. And there are dozens of them to read. I actually just got one from the library and I love them just as much as I ever did! ETA caveat-NOT INTELLECTUAL. lol Edited December 1, 2011 by livingnlearning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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