deerforest Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I am having a hard time making some book recommendations for DD, 11. I don't need historical or literary suggestions; I have that covered. I just need some excellent pleasure reading books. She wanted to read Fault in Our Stars for a while. I pre-read it and couldn't finish it because I couldn't stop crying. I warned her and she even knew most of the big spoilers, but she finally read it, and loved it. So incredibly much. She is normally incredibly sensitive, but she loves contemporary books, apparently moving up the age range. She does not like fantasy or sci fi. She does not like violence but I guess she can handle heart-wrenching depressing. I have no problems with the relationship of these characters, and am comfortable with her reading it at her age. We are very open in our discussions here, and she is mature in her understanding. What should she try next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 The Hunger Games and the two sequels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Other John Green seems an obvious choice. I'm especially partial to Paper Towns and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. For better or worse, there is a budding genre of YA sick kids books. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is probably the other most popular one. I don't necessarily recommend diving too deep into that scene though. She'd probably enjoy other contemporary YA books that have been hits... * Eleanor and Park (romance) * Dash and Lily's Book of Dares (more romance) * I'll Give You the Sun (depression, romance, family drama, coming out themes) * The Perks of Being a Wallflower (depression, LGBT themes, romance) * If I Stay (romance, family tragedy... this is sort of in the sick kids genre) * Jellicoe Road (family tragedy) But also... she's only 11 so she probably hasn't totally outgrown a lot of the upper end middle grades books yet. So some good contemporary titles... * A Mango-Shaped Space (about a girl discovering she has synesthesia) * Out of My Mind (about a girl who can't speak) * Counting By 7's (about a girl genius whose parents die) * Wonder (about a boy with a facial disfigurement) * Brown Girl Dreaming (the author's memoir - not contemporary, but feels so real because of the personal inspiration) * Mockingbird (about an autistic girl whose brother is killed) * Walk Two Moons (or really any of the various Sharon Creech books) I can do more... am I on the right track? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 Hunger Games, absolutely not. She is not interested in violence or alternative worlds. Farrar--yes! She has read everything on the second list you mentioned except two and loved them all. That's why I am struggling! I feel like we have exhausted the upper middle grades! Some non dying but moving books would be good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 As an autistic individual, I don't really love Mockingbird. I mean, it's better than The Curious Incident, and it's miles better than any autism-related book Ann M. Martin has ever written (all of which are truly awful and should be avoided), but I find it's not terribly good. This review pretty much sums up my feelings on it. At this point in my life, I pretty much feel that books about autism by non-autistics should be approached with extreme caution. There are some exceptions, but not as many as I would like... and most of *those* are written by parents or siblings of autistics. With that said, there are a number of books by autistics that are easily accessible to your average 11 year old. I think at that age I read some of Temple Grandin's books, although I didn't put the pieces together with myself for another couple of years. (I used to maintain a list, but that was three computers ago.) If you want fiction, you might try Rogue. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but it's lauded by some reviewers I trust. Re: Walk Two Moons, Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature has a few strong words to say on that book. She usually does have strong feelings about these books, but all the same her opinions are usually well-thought out and supported. From a literary point of view, I simply preferred Absolutely Normal Chaos and Bloomability by the same author. Now I sound all critical and all :( I do agree firmly with Farrar's other suggestions, and the general point that there are middle grade books that she hasn't "grown out of" yet. How about: Summer of the Gypsy Moths Kinda Like Brothers The Great Wall of Lucy Wu (a bit lighter than many of these) Becoming Naomi Leon Return to Sender The Breadwinner Gaby, Lost and Found The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It The Misfits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I'm looking on Google now for a few other ideas. Haven't read all of 'em. How about: The Whole Story of Half a Girl Touch Blue Hope is a Ferris Wheel Geography Club (not MG, but not super people dying either) Half a Chance Hoot The Secret Hum of a Daisy A Time to Dance Steering Toward Normal When Life Gives You OJ The Truth About Twinkie Pie Moonpenny Island Backwater by Joan Bauer (actually, almost anything by her. Many of her books are no longer quite "contemporary", but they're also not yet "historical") Mosquitoland (also not MG exactly) Rain is Not My Indian Name (ditto) Don't Touch (and again!) Five Flavors of Dumb (welp, I tried to find more MG novels) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 Thanks! She has read at least half of those lists, maybe more. So, I will check out the ones she hasn't. Sounds like you're in the right genre! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apple Bean Tripod School Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 This Star Won't Go Out is the journal of the girl who inspired John Green to write Fault in Our Stars. Other than that, I'm in the same boat as you. My DD11 is reading Paper Towns, which I'm not thrilled about, but I think the sexual references go over her head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowbeltmom Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 What about My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 I went through the lists, and we definitely have some great suggestions! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Last time, promise. One more googling brought me to: Ruby on the Outside Yaqui Delgado The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Gabi, a Girl in Pieces Some Assembly Required Under the Mesquite Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (set in 1987) Liar Reality Boy Tangerine Speak (very YA, deals with the fallout from the protagonist's rape prior to the first chapter) It's Kind of a Funny Story (I am 100% not surprised that the author of this book attended the same high school I did) Sold Far From You Don't Fail Me Now Everything, Everything The One Thing Code of Honor Adrift by Paul Griffin Habibi Bombay Blues Finding Audrey Every Last Word The Orange Houses Joyride by Anna Banks The Girl Who Fell to Earth Where the Streets Had a Name Samir and Yonatan And, of course, some graphic novels such as Smile Drama Sunny Side Up Roller Girl Awkward American-Born Chinese In Real Life This list skews much more heavily YA and older YA than my previous listies did, so, as always, the onus is on you to pre-read if you think you may have concerns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Great lists from Farar and Tanaqui, as usual! I just wanted to say that she sounds similar to my oldest. If she hasn't read them already, I'd say all the Rebecca Stead books and all the Wendy Mass books are a definite must, as well as other John Green books - Paper Towns was a huge hit. This might not work for your dd, but a surprise hit here was The Outsiders, which is definitely gritty. Other books dd really enjoyed after The Outsiders were The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Excellent! Some more great suggestions. A few that I don't think she's quite ready for, but so many fabulous suggestions. Yes, Rose, she loves Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineMom Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 My dd12 has enjoyed many books from Deb Caletti. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplejackmama Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I disagree about the Hunger Games. I think they are so poorly written I would never recommend those to my children. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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