Book suggestions for tween

[Anonymous]

My sixth grader was in a reading class last year where books were eighth grade level and up. The ones she really liked were The Giver, Fever 1793 and The Devil's Arithmetic. Another hit she read on her own was the graphic novel When Stars are Scattered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She likes animals? Give her Nop's Trials. Or Smoky the Cowhorse. Or Pony (written by the author of Wonder). Or A Wolf Called Wander. Or Watership Down.

Huge Watership Down fan, but I would not give this to a 5th grader. Perhaps if you read it to them and discuss as you go along, it would be excellent. But it is too good of a book and won’t be appropriated or properly understood by a younger tween reading it themselves

What age range do you think would be best. I have a young teen animal lover and was considering this for her, but even though I read it ages ago, I don't remember much except that the book was a little distressing. Maybe I was too young.
NP

Have you tried Black Beauty ?

Ah, yes. She's read my old copy when she was in elementary.

[Anonymous]

My kids like to read through the annual list of Virginia’s readers choice books. The lists are here by age group:

https://vslatoday.org/vrc-2023-2024

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD just turned 11. Her 5th grade teacher says she’s ready for books to be much more challenging — probably eighth grade level - but it can be hard to find books at that level that are the right topics for an 11 year old. I plan to ask for suggestions with her at the library, but welcome them here too. She reads a lot of fiction but also likes nonfiction especially about the earth / nature or animals. The teacher said there’s a fun series about a soccer-playing girl who solved mysteries. Anyone know what that series is? Thanks!

I would go old school and read Nancy Drew and Hardy boys. Also, I would take the teacher's advice with a grain of salt. No need to rush through childhood. Obviously, I wouldn't pick too easy but I slso wouldn't pick super heavy topics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She likes animals? Give her Nop's Trials. Or Smoky the Cowhorse. Or Pony (written by the author of Wonder). Or A Wolf Called Wander. Or Watership Down.

Huge Watership Down fan, but I would not give this to a 5th grader. Perhaps if you read it to them and discuss as you go along, it would be excellent. But it is too good of a book and won’t be appropriated or properly understood by a younger tween reading it themselves

You don't think a 10/11 year old 5th grader reading at an 8th grade level is ready to comprehend Watership Down? Personally, I think you are incorrect. I read it in 4th grade and absolutely loved it. My daughter read it in 5th grade and thought it was wonderful. It is written at a 5th to 8th grade reading level.

Oh I have bad news for you…most 8th graders would not read Watership Down either.

How is that bad news exactly? It was just a suggestion for a 5th grade girl who likes to read about animals. If she tries it and doesn't like it, why should I care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She likes animals? Give her Nop's Trials. Or Smoky the Cowhorse. Or Pony (written by the author of Wonder). Or A Wolf Called Wander. Or Watership Down.

Huge Watership Down fan, but I would not give this to a 5th grader. Perhaps if you read it to them and discuss as you go along, it would be excellent. But it is too good of a book and won’t be appropriated or properly understood by a younger tween reading it themselves

You don't think a 10/11 year old 5th grader reading at an 8th grade level is ready to comprehend Watership Down? Personally, I think you are incorrect. I read it in 4th grade and absolutely loved it. My daughter read it in 5th grade and thought it was wonderful. It is written at a 5th to 8th grade reading level.

It isn’t the reading level. Rather the story. A child can follow the plot, but only comprehend the themes on a very superficial level. They just don’t have the maturity and life experience. It it such a phenomenal book that they won’t be able to appreciate it as it should be to read it too young.

[Anonymous]

-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm
-Call of the Wild
-Any Farley Mowat book (Owl in the Family, The Dog That Wouldn’t Be)
-Rascal

[Anonymous]

^^ this list, along with many on the previous long list, were mostly written before 1990. Go ask a librarian. Yes of course you want your child to read classics or the things you grew up on, but they deserve to read literature that has currency now, too. Writing for children has gotten a lot better since the 1990s, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She likes animals? Give her Nop's Trials. Or Smoky the Cowhorse. Or Pony (written by the author of Wonder). Or A Wolf Called Wander. Or Watership Down.

Huge Watership Down fan, but I would not give this to a 5th grader. Perhaps if you read it to them and discuss as you go along, it would be excellent. But it is too good of a book and won’t be appropriated or properly understood by a younger tween reading it themselves

You don't think a 10/11 year old 5th grader reading at an 8th grade level is ready to comprehend Watership Down? Personally, I think you are incorrect. I read it in 4th grade and absolutely loved it. My daughter read it in 5th grade and thought it was wonderful. It is written at a 5th to 8th grade reading level.

It isn’t the reading level. Rather the story. A child can follow the plot, but only comprehend the themes on a very superficial level. They just don’t have the maturity and life experience. It it such a phenomenal book that they won’t be able to appreciate it as it should be to read it too young.

So then they can read it for the adventure and excitement and plot, and reread it 5 or 10 years later. (I have read the book more than 10 times since I was 9 years old.)

Same with the Harry Potter series.

[Anonymous]

Warriors series by Erin Hunter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ this list, along with many on the previous long list, were mostly written before 1990. Go ask a librarian. Yes of course you want your child to read classics or the things you grew up on, but they deserve to read literature that has currency now, too. Writing for children has gotten a lot better since the 1990s, in my opinion.

I would disagree. The current writing is not great and has been dumbed down significantly compared to the classics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ this list, along with many on the previous long list, were mostly written before 1990. Go ask a librarian. Yes of course you want your child to read classics or the things you grew up on, but they deserve to read literature that has currency now, too. Writing for children has gotten a lot better since the 1990s, in my opinion.

+1. I'm the very first PP and it's why I gave a bunch of more modern suggestions. I'll add that any of the Kate DiCamillo's geared towards older kids, especially if OP's daughter liked Mercy the Pig and others of her books for early readers.

Classics are great, but my voracious reader dives into more modern books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ this list, along with many on the previous long list, were mostly written before 1990. Go ask a librarian. Yes of course you want your child to read classics or the things you grew up on, but they deserve to read literature that has currency now, too. Writing for children has gotten a lot better since the 1990s, in my opinion.

+1. I'm the very first PP and it's why I gave a bunch of more modern suggestions. I'll add that any of the Kate DiCamillo's geared towards older kids, especially if OP's daughter liked Mercy the Pig and others of her books for early readers.

Classics are great, but my voracious reader dives into more modern books.

I save the classics for me to read aloud to them. Even though their own picks they read to themselves are vastly different, they still very much enjoyed so many classics we’ve together.

[Anonymous]

Consider looking at the summer reading assignments your middle school posted for this past summer. Your DD will be reading similar books anyway over next summer and I've always found those books to be really engaging for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Have her read Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand, or any of Rand’s works.

These books will help her understand the superior economic system: capitalism.