Up until this last school year, my ten-year-old daughter has enjoyed reading, though she was always most interested in the books with great pictures. She's very artistic, so that makes perfect sense. Problem is, now I can't get her to read anything. It's all boring.
So, since my son finally started to love reading because of Harry Potter, I was hoping if I could find the right book—or better yet, series—for her, maybe I could get her hooked on reading too. Thus far, I have tried Princess Academy, Little House on the Prairie, Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Spiderwick Chronicles, Pendragon, Dragon Rider, Percy Jackson, and those are just the ones I can think of right now.
When I was her age, I remember loving books like Sixth Grade Secrets, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Bridge to Terabithia, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Runaway Ralph. She just turns up her nose at anything I suggest. Mom is so not cool.
Any suggestions? Something middle grade? Or even something on the younger end of YA? If you're not sure about the appropriateness of the content, I'll be reading any YA books before she does. I'm mean like that. She says she likes fantasy, and she doesn't care if the main character is a boy or a girl. Thanks, all!
One thing to consider is that she might have a difficult time reading. I was teacher in my past life and that's my best guess. Sure, she may have been interested in the pictures because she enjoys art, but what if it was more than that? I find it hard to believe she can't seem to find one book that interests her. However, she might have a harder time understanding the books that could be interesting to her. Does your school have a way of testing her reading skills? What about her eyesight? Otherwise, there are books out there that have high interest, but easy reading levels. Maybe you want to try one of those to see how she does.
ReplyDeleteOf course, she may just be going through a stage and this is her way of rebelling, but it's worth looking into. Good luck.
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
Lynnette, I thought about that, but she does very well in all areas of school and always has. And her school uses the Advanced Reader Program from Renaissance, and they're tested every year. She always tests on grade level or above, so I don't think it's a comprehension issue. The eyesight issue I hadn't considered, though. Or the rebellion. She does seem to enjoy arguing with everything I say. Thanks for the insight. :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the S.E. Hinton books, and all three of my kids did too. I don't think they read them until sixth grade, but they could have read them at ten. Good luck. I recently went through this with my eleven-year-old. He still fights reading, but I made him join battle of the books at school, and he has to read. I'm such a mean mom! :)
ReplyDeleteIn sixth grade I wanted to read Sweet Valley High and the Babysitters Club, but they were too "old" for me, meaning my mom forbid them because the girls had boyfriends. So I read Anne of Green Gables instead.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Is she still willing to read aloud with you? If so, maybe you can bring in some new titles this way (it usually works with my boys!). Also, a lovely way to bond.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried RUBY LAVENDER? My sixth and seventh-grade book club just devoured Avi's CRISPIN: CROSS OF LEAD. How about WHEN YOU REACH ME, one of the big mid-grade hits of the year? Any Jerry Spinelli?
Does she like funny? If so, the Chet Gecko series by Bruce Hale or anything by Daniel Pinkwater would be fun.
Hope this helps. Keep us posted!
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. Princess Ben. Beauty by Robin McKinley. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith.
ReplyDeleteI homeschool my tots, and my eldest (who can and does spend much of his time reading) abhors it when I pick books for him. Usually he loves reading, until I assign him one--and they're books I know he would love if he gave them a chance. Maybe have her pick one out of a selection, and give her points or something towards something small she wants per page she reads?
I emailed you about this, but I thought I'd post, too, in case any one else was wondering.
ReplyDeleteHunger Games author Suzanne Collins has a book I've never read (more than the first few pages on amazon) called Gregor The Overlander with an 11 year old male protag. It's an urban retelling of Alice, and I think it sounds like fun! I think it's a series, too.
I think I'll suggest fantasy authors rather than books. Diana Wynne Jones is awesome, so many novels ranging from MG to YA. Patricia Wrede and Gail Carson Levine, also.
ReplyDeleteMy 11 yo son loved Leviathan. The Quantum Prophecy books. The Looking Glass Wars. Malice. Those might be more geared toward boys, but still.
ReplyDeleteOh, and The Ranger's Apprentice. He loves those.
Good luck!
I wish I had something brilliant to offer, but I don't. :( I have twin 9 year old boys. One is an avid reader, one has disdained it all these years and is only now beginning to think he might be a fan. But "wins" for him are really hit and miss. Wish I could help you Abby, but instead I'll have to just wish you good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy 10-year-old self was totally obsessed with Bruce Coville's Magic Shop books (MONSTER RING, JEREMY THATCHER DRAGON HATCHER, etc), because a) MAGIC shop! and b) cute boys on the covers. Seriously. I had such a crush on Jeremy Thatcher, you wouldn't even believe.
ReplyDeleteAlso, they are stories of kids getting into all kinds of trouble by smuggling magical things into school that they shouldn't be playing with, etc, so it's great for that rebellious streak :).
Maybe you could just leave one lying around and see if she picks it up ;).
Good luck!
LOL, I loved Leviathan, and Bruce Coville. "My Teacher is an Alien"? Loved those!
ReplyDeleteAnd she ought to love the cool pictures in Leviathan.
Like a few others before me, I recommend Leviathan-- it's a steam punk fantasy with amazing illustrations!
ReplyDeleteHave you considered graphic novels? Like Rapunzel's Revenge? I know they're not novel novel's but it keeps a child reading, right? My boys love graphic novels and I don't care if they read comics or not, as long as they're reading. (And I make sure it's age appropriate first.)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I am going to be much help. I have two boys and they are both pretty young. Everything you listed is what I would have suggested.
ReplyDeleteThis could just be a stage. I'd suggested taking her to the library or bookstore and offering no suggestions and see what she picks out for herself. It might be the age of needing to find her own tastes in books for herself.
Also, kids are never too old to be read to. If she is willing you could read aloud something she picks out and see if that one on one time with you is enough to pull her into the world of books again.
Best of luck :)
My oldest daughter is 11. She went through a phase last year in which she didn't want to read a lot, too. When she did get back into it, she really liked The Tale of Emily Windsnap, The Graveyard Book, Coraline, and the Goosebumps books. Hope this helps:)
ReplyDeleteWhat about a graphic novel? I think Coraline has a graphic novel version, right?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I loved the Westing Game when I was in middle school. Ooh, and all the Lois Duncan books. They're probably way out of date now though.
Anthony Horowitz is an author who appeals to reluctant readers as well as avid readers. I haven't read his books yet, but lots of kids gobble them up. My son enjoyed THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY. That's one I own and plan to read soon. HOLES is excellent. I loved THE PRINCESS DIARIES and BRAS AND BROOMSTICKS. I'm addicted to the Princess Diaries series!
ReplyDeleteMy son, who is eleven now, went through a similar phase. Even though it was below his reading level, he really responded to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It just takes the right book to get them passionate about reading again.
ReplyDeleteWhen he'd recently gone on another nonfiction run, Percy Jackson's series got him interested in fiction again.
Good luck!
What you need to do is ban a book. Forbid her from reading one, and she'll want nothing more than to read that one!
ReplyDelete...just saw your comment about how she's in AR. You might want to ask her about how it's going. From my experience as a teacher, nothing turns kids OFF from reading more than AR...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was that age I loved "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess." I had a ton of Sweet Valley and Babysitters Club books too, and I've always been a Nancy Drew fan.
ReplyDeleteOne book that really got me into writing was "Wise Child" by Monica Furlong, which is a wonderful fantasy about a young girl training to be a witch by a wisewoman (this was long before Harry Potter!).
Ooh, I second Holes and anything else by Louis Sachar. Maybe I'm biased, but I think Holes has aged fairly well.
ReplyDeleteAnd Frances Hodgsen Burnett's books (many of which are available as e-books through project Gutenberg) were my stepping stone to Dickens. To this day I still adore A Little Princess. Has she seen the (somewhat) recent movie adaptation that begins in India? Loved that one. Maybe that would help her want to read the book.
Wow! So many great suggestions. You guys are the best! I knew I'd get some good stuff posting about it. :)
ReplyDeleteBeth, I did ban Twilight, because she's 10 and I don't think 10 year olds should read Twilight. And she REALLY wants to read Twilight. So now I just have to find a book I approve of to ban and then hope that she disobeys me. Oh, wait. There's something about that plan that doesn't sound right. ;)
You guys are awesome! Thanks, all!
Abby,
ReplyDeleteThought of one more while driving carpool this morning. THE MISADVENTURES OF MAUDE MARCH. It's about a fiesty girl in the Wild West. Really fun.
How about Karen Cushman books, too?
there are books out there that have high interest, but easy reading levels. Maybe you want to try one of those to see how she does.
ReplyDeleteWork from home India