tammyw Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 No Sex please! While dd12 knows all the details, I prefer her not to read books that have sex in them, at this point. She LOVED The Hunger Games series, and sometimes asks for more young adult titles, but I'm wondering what are good ones for a 12 year old (grade 7). I haven't read a ton of young adult, so I really don't know where to begin, but a lot of the reviews I've read for some popular choices do seem to have sex in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Feed, by M.T. Anderson Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 YA books will tend to have some mentions of sexual behavior, it's a major preoccupation of adolescents. Is it okay if we just hear "and we did it" rather than seeing any details? Or is that dispreferred as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 YA books will tend to have some mentions of sexual behavior, it's a major preoccupation of adolescents. Is it okay if we just hear "and we did it" rather than seeing any details? Or is that dispreferred as well? Lol, I'm not sure :) I know it might be a tough thing to find! I did really appreciate that Hunger Games didn't have sex in them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 It's not that impossible, but it might take a little thinking on my part. I'll see if I remember to get back to you in a few hours. Still and all, I just remembered Shannon Hale. Her Books of Bayern probably fit the bill just fine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm listening in. There is a book called Relativity that is really thought provoking and great, but there is a very tiny bit of tame "over the clothes" action. It served a purpose in the book (not meant to be titillating). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Shannon Hale is definitely a good one for this. I agree with Tanaqui that it's tough. I can suggest a ton of books that have nothing explicit... but books where there's no mention? That's tougher. But there are books like Hunger Games where there's nothing mentioned more than kissing. Seconding The Uglies and Feed, mentioned above. I don't think there's anything in MT Anderson's other series, Octavian Nothing, either. She'd probably like Uglies - it's well written, lots of issues explored, very like Hunger Games. I remember being surprised by how chaste it was. Westerfeld's other series, Leviathan, is also very chaste - there's a romance, but it's not the focus and there's no s*x at all. I don't think there's really any clear mention in some of the historical fiction YA books... so things like The Book Thief, Code Name Verity, A Northern Light... But the grown up content in some of those may be too much for other reasons... I was running through Printz Winners and YA bestseller lists... I *think* all these are ones I've read that are okay by your standard... Skellig House of the Scorpion The Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner Stargirl Sabriel series Bartimaeus series Princess Diaries (I haven't read past the first one... it was fine...) Gallagher Girls series (there's a HUGE romance focus so this is definitely not a world without s*x, but no one even comes close to the deed, at least not in the first three books) Circle of Magic series (Pierce's various Tortall series all have different girls with different approaches to s*x and relationships, which I think is really good... but letting her start one - say, Protector of the Small, which doesn't have any s*x and the girl decides to wait for the whole course of the books... would likely lead to her wanting to read the other series, where some of the girls decide not to wait - nothing graphic, but it's obvious that they have s*x - but the Circle of Magic series and even the first sequel series are fine - the second set of sequels have a lot more grown up content) anything by Diana Wynne Jones (these are often sold in both YA and MG sections) The Hero and the Crown/The Blue Sword (ditto the above, but there *is* a very blink and you'll miss it implication the main character in Hero has s*x) The London Eye Mystery Shadow and Bone (a more grown up feeling YA... but I can't remember any s*x in it beyond some flirting and kissing... sort of like The Uglies in that way - more chaste than I expected) Of course... also look at the upper end MG books that are really best for age 10+ that kids often want to skip over... So things like... The Chronicles of Prydain and The Westmark Trilogy The Dark is Rising series Close to Famous Bloomability Out of My Mind Every Soul a Star When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Mockingbird Counting by 7's The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Jacob I Have Loved 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm not 100% sure there no mention in all of these, but I'm pretty confident: Sparkers Here, There Be Dragons The Rithmatist The City of Ember (I think the whole series is fine, but it's been awhile since I read them) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (the 2nd book has a couple of kisses, but nothing else. I haven't read the others) The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate Tuck Everlasting The Westing Game The Birchbark House trilogy Neverwhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 The last Princess Diaries one talks about marriage to her long-term boyfriend and what they do in the meantime. I'd suggest Margaret Peterson Haddix books, and The Face On The Milk Carton (and sequels). It's old, but intriguing. So are others of Caroline B Cooney's books. She may like The Luckiest Girl, about a 16yo who decides to spend a school year in California with friends. It's by Beverly Clearly and I remember it being pretty tame. It's not dystopian, but good. In that vein there's also Schooled, about a homeschooler who is thrown into public school for the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof4babes Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Matched doesn't contain anything sexual that I can think of. Divergent only has one mention of sex, but not graphic. My DD loves the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan. She might enjoy Chrysalids. This is a list I made for my almost 11 year old. The lights go on again Escape to witch mountain A wrinkle in time Many waters Charlottes web Carry on Mr Bow Ditch Gone away lake Holes Jacob have I loved Number the stars Shiloh The giver Walk two moons The midwifes apprentice A girl named disaster Ella enchanted Narnia Harry potter Nine days queen The secret garden The little princess Hush an Irish princesses tale. Napoli The book of the maidservant The midwifes apprentice The plague Midnight is a place The upstairs room Johanah reiss The face on the milk carton Moonshiners son Underground to Canada. Ink heart Giver Ice queen by Hans Christian Anderson Little house on the prairie The sisterhood of the traveling pants Babysitter club You can't take mikey Hachet Who is Francis rain? A handful of time. The incredible journey Flowers in the attic Fahrenheit 451 http://childrensbooksguide.com/100-best-childrens-chapter-books-of-all-time Little women Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Here are some young adult fun series my daughters/daughter has loved. They are action packed, and full of adventure. They are under fantasy section, not romance. The White Road Chronicles - Jackie Castle Rise of the fallen / Cloak of Light - Chuck Black Ilyon Chronicles - Jaye L Knight The Door Within Trilogy - Wayne Thomas Batson The Cantral Chronicles - Amanda Davis The Dreamtreaders series - Wayne Thomas batson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternallytired Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 James Patterson's Maximum Ride series has the same vibe as Hunger Games, IMO. I don't remember them having anything inappropriate, and at the time I read them I was teaching 8th graders, so I think I would have been paying attention... I LOVE Nancy Farmer's House of the Scorpion. I've read it numerous times--exciting AND thought-provoking. She has other good books, too, but that one is my favorite. Gary Schmidt has written a wide variety of really good young adult books--the seventh and eighth graders where I worked loved them. (Wednesday Wars was a big favorite.) I seem to be the only one mentioning him, which surprises me since he's received two Newbery Honors. He's a Christian college professor and father of five, so he's careful about how he handles difficult issues. Avi's True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is seat-gripping and spot-on for that age. I loved anything by Gary Paulsen around that age. Roland Smith's Peak is a super-cool book that both the students and I loved. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Dh has recommended Boneshaker by Cherie Priest as a challenging, bridge type book to branch into YA for our daughter (who is 10 but an advanced reader). He preread it and said that there wasn't any sex. I think there may be some violence, its kind of steampunk historical dystopian, from what I can gather! Eta, she has started reading it and so far is enjoying it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutheart Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Cinder is clean, and I believe the sequels Scarlet and Cress are as well. The author penned a book about the back story of the villain, Fairest, and that one does discuss sexual relationships (i.e. they went to bed together), but the book is not necessary to the series. Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorn Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Matched doesn't contain anything sexual that I can think of. Divergent only has one mention of sex, but not graphic. My DD loves the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan. She might enjoy Chrysalids. This is a list I made for my almost 11 year old. The lights go on again Escape to witch mountain A wrinkle in time Many waters Charlottes web Carry on Mr Bow Ditch Gone away lake Holes Jacob have I loved Number the stars Shiloh The giver Walk two moons The midwifes apprentice A girl named disaster Ella enchanted Narnia Harry potter Nine days queen The secret garden The little princess Hush an Irish princesses tale. Napoli The book of the maidservant The midwifes apprentice The plague Midnight is a place The upstairs room Johanah reiss The face on the milk carton Moonshiners son Underground to Canada. Ink heart Giver Ice queen by Hans Christian Anderson Little house on the prairie The sisterhood of the traveling pants Babysitter club You can't take mikey Hachet Who is Francis rain? A handful of time. The incredible journey Flowers in the attic Fahrenheit 451 http://childrensbooksguide.com/100-best-childrens-chapter-books-of-all-time Little women Flowers in the attic? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basketcase Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Some great choices on this thread! Here are a few I didn't see: Terry Pratchett's series about Tiffany Aching - it starts with Wee Free Men. Clever, charming, age-appropriate. Timothy Zahn's Dragonback series If she enjoys the romantic parts of stories, this is a good time for the Anne of Green Gables series, Georgette Heyer's books, some of Robin McKinley's retellings of fairy tales (Spindle's End is fun, but I have a vague memory of not enjoying one of the others. Maybe someone else has better info?) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Thanks for all of the great ideas! It's so helpful to have lists to pull from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 The Maze Runner Trilogy doesn't have sex in it, although there is some minor kissing, and definitely a bit of a romance theme throughout. My 12 year old has read all but the last book, and he has permission to read the third one, if he can get it away from his possessive brother. :-) If she likes Suzanne Collins, how about her Underland Chronicles? I adore this series. I guess these books are Middle School books, but even as an adult, I was fully engaged. I was really sad when I had read them all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcmommy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Maximum Ride series has nekkid teens in the ocean together... I remember being bothered about it. I dont really remember a lot of sex in YA as a kid... The Dicey's Song books are so good. I dont think anyone recommended those yet. There is a book about rape but I dont think its part of the original trilogy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcmommy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Also I LOVE this site http://www.amightygirl.com/books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 If she enjoys the romantic parts of stories, this is a good time for the Anne of Green Gables series, Georgette Heyer's books, some of Robin McKinley's retellings of fairy tales (Spindle's End is fun, but I have a vague memory of not enjoying one of the others. Maybe someone else has better info?) Most of McKinley's works are fine. I was obsessed with them at age 12. There is, like I said above, a blink and you'll miss it implication that the character in Hero and the Crown has s*x, but the book won the Newbery - I can't imagine keeping it from a kid that age based on one line that even some adults seem to miss. Her fairy tale retellings are all fine as well except for Deerskin, which is based on a fairy tale that includes rape. Her dragon book and the pegasus book were fine, but her vampire book was definitely an adult one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Flowers in the attic? Yikes, that is NOT one I would recommend to a teen. (I'm agreeing with you, Acorn!) Not just sex, but incest and rape (framed not as rape, but the poor guy couldn't help himself). Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has sex in it (teen with older coach) - http://www.pluggedin.com/book-reviews/sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants. I would wait on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 My go-to reading list: Classical Christian Educator's 1000 Good Books list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I guess I don't really understand the distinction between YA and MG. I usually look at the age of the protagonist and if it's close to dd's age, it's more appropriate than if it is a much older character. That doesn't always work, but it's a good first pass guide. Most books with 12 year old protagonists don't have sex in them. A lot of books with 17 year old protagonists do. Not all, but a lot. Hunger Games and Harry Potter are exceptions, for sure. John Green's books are great, but definitely a little older, and with sex, often. A lot of "YA" books I've found to be so poorly written I wouldn't suggest them to dd for that reason alone, regardless of content. What is poorly written will differ for each reader, of course. So I have deleted my specific examples here. ;) Authors of age-appropriate books that my dd 12 has enjoyed: Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass, Nancy Farmer, Rick Riordan, Brandon Sanderson, Shannon Hale, Gary Schmidt, Margaret Peterson Haddix, James Owen, Jeanne DuPre, Pseudonymus Bosch, Lemony Snicket, many of which were mentioned above. I think the first book that dd read and loved that I really considered YA in terms of content and maturity level was The Outsiders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Someone mentioned Anne of Green Gables, but LM Mongomery's other books are great too. The Blue Castle is one many have not read. For fantasy: The Golden Compass and its companion books, The Earthsea novels and a lot of Le Guins other books too - Voices is nice, The Abhorsen Trilogy, The Hunter's Moon trilogy. Kit Pearson is a nice author for that age group, and so does Farley Mowat. There are some older books that wouldn't usually be considered YA, but which can appeal to kids that age. For mystery novels, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes stories, the Flavia de Luce novels, The #1 Ladies Detective Agency novels. maybe things like James Herriot stories, especially if she likes animals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 I guess I don't really understand the distinction between YA and MG. I usually look at the age of the protagonist and if it's close to dd's age, it's more appropriate than if it is a much older character. That doesn't always work, but it's a good first pass guide. Most books with 12 year old protagonists don't have sex in them. A lot of books with 17 year old protagonists do. Not all, but a lot. Hunger Games and Harry Potter are exceptions, for sure. John Green's books are great, but definitely a little older, and with sex, often. A lot of "YA" books I've found to be so poorly written I wouldn't suggest them to dd for that reason alone, regardless of content. What is poorly written will differ for each reader, of course. So I have deleted my specific examples here. ;) Authors of age-appropriate books that my dd 12 has enjoyed: Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass, Nancy Farmer, Rick Riordan, Brandon Sanderson, Shannon Hale, Gary Schmidt, Margaret Peterson Haddix, James Owen, Jeanne DuPre, Pseudonymus Bosch, Lemony Snicket, many of which were mentioned above. I think the first book that dd read and loved that I really considered YA in terms of content and maturity level was The Outsiders. Ah, yes, and this is another thing! I want quality in there as well ;) I tend to use goodreads as my guide - if the ratings fall below 4.0, I often just pass it by, lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 A lot of the books mentioned in this thread are typically in the MG section. YA is, in large part, a marketing category more than anything else. Age of protagonist is usually a good indicator (though not always). I don't think that all YA is lower quality. However, the bestsellers tend to be. That's true in MG as well. It's just that in MG, the parents and librarians are still pushing their picks a lot more than the bestseller junk so we do tend to hear about those more. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 If she loved HG, she may well love Ship Breaker and Drowned Cities, and I do not think they have sex in them. They have kids trying to cope with future dystopian society ideas. Some others I've not seen above, not sure if they are classed as YA, and no particular reason to think she'd like them based on liking HG, but my ds liked both HG and the following: Hoot, Chomp, etc.-- 4 in "series" but order does not matter much by Carl Hiaissen (sp?) -- whacky/funny, our society not a futuristic one, environmental themes City of Beasts, etc. (not sure what is first in 3 part series) by Isabel Allende -- magical realism adventure Ender's Shadow (has discussion of Bean's origins as one of several stolen fertilized eggs, but not sex per se as I recall), sci-fi w/ dystopian elements also dystopia series, not so good as HG IMO, but some similarities and no overt sex, so far as I recall, Divergent series, Maze Runner series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I just finished reading Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead. My dd recommended I read it, and I'm glad I did. I highly recommend it to 12 year olds and their moms! A lovely story about the meaning of life, love and friendship told from the POV of 7th graders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 The Ocean Within Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm919 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Someone mentioned Anne of Green Gables, but LM Mongomery's other books are great too. The Blue Castle is one many have not read. For fantasy: The Golden Compass and its companion books, The Earthsea novels and a lot of Le Guins other books too - Voices is nice, The Abhorsen Trilogy, The Hunter's Moon trilogy. Kit Pearson is a nice author for that age group, and so does Farley Mowat. There are some older books that wouldn't usually be considered YA, but which can appeal to kids that age. For mystery novels, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes stories, the Flavia de Luce novels, The #1 Ladies Detective Agency novels. maybe things like James Herriot stories, especially if she likes animals. I love all three of the Annals of the Western Shore books (Voices is good, my favorite was Gifts though)-- I'd definitely read the third one (Powers) before handing it over though. Eep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I love all three of the Annals of the Western Shore books (Voices is good, my favorite was Gifts though)-- I'd definitely read the third one (Powers) before handing it over though. Eep! Yes - some of her books need a pre-read, they are not always clearly for a particular age group - which actually I think is a sign they are really good books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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