How to Get 14-Yr Old to Read

If she liked Twilight try The Vampire Diaries series. It is just as harmless (if not more so) and there is going to be a TV series on the WB this fall to go with the books. She will already be up on the next big thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Diaries-Awakening-Struggle/...

what about the Harry Potter books? I loved Harriet the Spy when I was around her age, maybe a bit younger.

K., as a teacher that loves to read, I do not care for the AR program. Simply because it gives you a list of books to read. What if the books that you are interested in aren't on the list. I like to read books that interest me, ones that I can related to or books that I can relate to something that is of interest to me. My advice is to help her find books that are of interest to her. Books that she can relate to and/or books that answer questions she may have. In the past when I have suggested books to students that they can relate to, their reading improved significantly. I hope this helps.

If she likes mystery, she might want to try the Mary Russell series by Laurie King. Mary Russell meets Sherlock Holmes when she is 15 and becomes his apprentice. Laurie King also writes about a San Francisco female detective as well, but I don't know about that series. This is left field, but she might want to look at Raymond Feist or Anne McCaffrey. Both are fantasy and they are great. Anne McCaffrey writes about dragon and their riders. Feist's characters are pseudo-medieval times but with magic and epic tales. You can read one or the whole series with all of these.

As for getting her to read, I don't know. I love to read but when I HAD to read for school, my poor mom was ready to tear her hair out. I hated any moment of Steinbeck and Shakespeare, the grapes of wrath was my nemesis in HS and college. Good Luck!!

I recently had a friend suggest a vampire and grave series by Charlaine Harris. I haven't tried them yet, but was told that since I liked the Twilight series I would probably like these. I believe the vampire series has 9 books. Good luck.

My 14 year old also loves the Twillight series. She has found several other series similar to them as well. Try Maggie Shayne -Angels Pain and Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber. My daughter reccomends these. She's thinking on others that might appeal.She's going to enter them since I've got to get ready for work.
Alright...I don't have a clue where to start. I read alot and my reading comprehension level is so high that I tend to find most YA books ridiculously easy therefore I prefer to read adult books, some of my recomendations are indended for an adult audience but some are written for teens. Most of them have little or no similaritys to Twilight but alot of them are more or less in the same genre.I guess I'll just list them. I know you said she doesn't like love storys but I'm going to list them anyway since she DOES like Twilight and it IS actually a teen romance.LOL :)Ok now I'm going to start listing......
For A Song and Frieda's Song by Kathleen Scarth (my copy is a flip book)
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Daughter Of The Forest by Juliet Marillier
Kill For Me by Karen Rose ( It kept me up all night reading)
The Finest Creation by Jean Rabe
The Finest Choice by Jean Rabe
Fatal Attraction by Alicia Fields
Dhampir by Barb Hendee
The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout
Possession by Jennifer Armintrout
Ashes to Ashes by Jennifer Armintrout
Camber of Culdi by Katherine Kurtz
Saint Camber by Katherine Kurtz
Camber the Heretic by Katherine Kurtz
The Harrowing of Gwynedd by Katherine Kurtz
King Javan's Year by Katherine Kurtz
The Bastard Prince by Katherine Kurtz
The two princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
The Last To Know by Wendy Corsi Staub
In The Blink Of An Eye by Wendy Corsi Staub
All The Way Home by Wendy Corsi Staub
Sinners and Saints by Eileen Dreyer
Thicker Than Water by Maggie Shayne
I'll Be Watching You by Tina Wainscott

Ok I think I'm done now...out of all of those she should be able to find something that sounds good.I really hope that i've managed to list something that she'll like.I think that the books by Jennifer Armintrout will probably appeal the most to her.They are a vampire romance series with suspense and mystery mixed in with the romance so its basically the same genre as Twilight just its written for adults not teens.The Turning is the first book in the trilogy.
OOPS I almost forgot to mention...I'd recommend that u read some of the adult books yourself before u give them to u're daughter so u can decide if u think they r appropiate 4 her...Since I read at a college level mom has given up trying to sensor what I read and some of them are rather umm mature and u might not want her to read some of them....:)

Our local library has the Twilight series and many others in the same genre-check this out with your library they can recommend lots of stories she may enjoy and maybe she and her friends may want to come to the library to spend time reading with the company of their friends. The latest books for this age are often in the YA group-this stands for Young Adult-it is past the kids books but not quite to the adult age readings-this is perfect for her age and there are so many things to choose! have fun in the book stacks!

My kids love the series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians. There are currently 5 books in the series, the first book is called The Lightening Thief. Another popular series is 39 Clues. There are 3 books so far but will be around 13 total. These books are also internet interactive, very popular with the middle school bunch. Another choice is the Clique series. I would suggest The Hobbit from my own middle school experience and then continue with The Lord of the Rings trilogy from there.

I see you've gotten many great suggestions. I just wanted to toss two more your way. (You can request books online through the library system www.riversideregionallibrary.org)

Once Dead Twice Shy, by K. Harrison - about Madison Avery, a girl trying to adjust to moving to her father's town, changing schools....and being dead. SHe is friends with a "light reaper" Barnabas. A very interesting read, with lots of girl power, angels, and fate versus choice. This is meant to be the beginning of a new series.

Thirsty, by M.T Anderson - about Chris, a boy struggling his way through high school and trying to figure out a way to get a date with his crush. Oh, and he thinks he's beoming a vampire. (Vampires in this book aren't the romantic figures of Twilight or the Anne Rice books, but rather seen as monsters who actually do feed off humans. I loved this book. Not written at too high of a maturity level, with great themes of deceit and trickery, a decent twist and with a bleak, open ending)

You might also get advice from your local library. Or go to Amazon.com (or another online source) and read some book reviews for her age group. I've found some fantastic reviews and have yet to be disappointed from books I've checked out/purchased!

My 14 year-old daughter is not much of a reader either but she immensely enjoyed "Across the Nightingale Floor," set in a mythical Japan with ninjas, mystery, and a fair amount of action. There are four books in the series plus a prequel.

If she likes vampire books, there's another teen vamp series called the Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith. It was very twilight-y and it's going to be a tv series in the fall. If she hasnt already read Harry Potter, they are really good. Good luck getting your daughter to read!

Hi K.,

I was like your daughter in high school (almost 20 years ago). Mainly I didn't like reading cause I had a hard time explaining what I just read. My Freshman - Junior years of high school, I was in a class like a remedial reading/comprehension class. It helped me a lot!! The summer before my Senior year, I read the book Amityville Horror in 2 days. My mom was very impressed!! So after that I read Stephen King's Skeleton Crew. I really liked reading his short stories in the book. So my mom and step dad got me into the Stephen King Fan Club and I got a new book like every month or so. I've read most of his books. Then I kind of got burned out of reading for a little while - I think I was looking for something different. Still love Stephen King, but just wanted to see what else was out there in the fantasy type reading. That when the big thing came out about Harry Potter. So I wanted to read it just to see what the hype was about. I got hooked on Harry Potter. They are easy read books. I finished the first book in like a week. It was like that for most of the books in that series. Also another easy read for me (fantasy type) is Chronicles of Narnia. I just finished the Twilight series a few weeks ago and loved it (I'm a Twi-mom too)!! Now I'm must trying to figure out what to read.
Good luck!!

Try the sister hood of the travling pants theres 4 books also and there very good you could go on www.swaptree.com to get them or go to ur public library. hopeful that helps

I have a 14 year old daughter as well, who is the same way! She likes the Twilight book also and one series that she is recently addicted to is the daughter of the moon series. Might try those, good luck. That is the key you just have to find what they like!

A good book site I go to for recommendations is goodreads.com. In the mean time I would recommend the Harry Potter series or The House of Night Series (http://www.houseofnightseries.com/). Maybe even take her to Target or Barnes and Noble and go through the teen section. I noticed that some one mentioned the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris - this series does have some sex in it, so depending on your views you may or may not want to recommend that to her.

It's hard to find another good book to read after reading something as good as Twilight, so I understand why your daughter may be hesitant but there are so many books that have a similar love story/mystery line as Twilight has and she may see that just by going through the books in the teen section of a book store and hopefully that may inspire her to find something else to read. Good Luck.

My son was younger than your daughter when he declared he hated to read. He was the oldest of our 3 boys and I was shocked to hear anyone say they hated reading. I began a night reading with all three on a big bed. I chose a book with action or mystery and would read until I came to the good part. I then laid the book open face down on the bed and declared it was time for the 2 younger ones to go to bed. It didn't take long for him to pick up the book and begin to read the action or mystery part to find out what was happening. Perhaps you could begin a story about a book you read and forget the ending or the action to intice her to get the book and read for herself. Take time to visit a library and browse through the stacks. There are so many things to look at and become interested in--in no time at all, the task becomes easy. Also even magazines are reading, just because the articles are short, it is reading. One other thought is books on tape. Someone reading the story to you. She could get the book and the tape and follow along with the audio--do they deviate in any place? was the tape or CD better than the book? why or why not? Not only is that reading but learning to critique, compare and contrast (a very useful skill for the rest of her life). Have fun.k

I understand loving the twilight series, my daughter did a well, and my best friend and I consider ourselves 'twilight moms'. Why don't you spend a few hours at a book store (borders or barnes and noble). The young adult section has so many books in all different interest. If she liked Twilight, stephenie meyer also wrote "the host", which my friend said is an easy read as well, but not considered a young adult book. Maybe your daughter can get a beverage and snack and then browse around for a few books. Maybe di it on a day when she has a friend over, you can take the girls shopping and let them look around together while you look for you as well.

My teenage daughter really liked the clique books, there's quite a series of those.

I would like to suggest the books by Wilber Smith
My sister loves them (16 year old)
I liked them too the first one was River God, seventh scroll, The quest, warlock....They are very good! The books take place in Egypt.

Also my sister and I liked a book called Austenland by Shannon Hale.....great romance book based off the books by Jane Austen

My 25 yo daughter never read a book until a friend of hers recommended The Shack and she read it in a very short time then bought copies for everyone for Christmas. It was a very good read and appropriate for her age.
I'd also suggest talking to a librarian or her school librarian, they would have a good idea about what kids her age are reading.

My daughter is 15 and loves to read. She suggests "The Vampire Diaries" series. Frank Peretti writes good thriller/mystery that isn't all gore: "House", "The Visitation", "Monster", "Hangman's Curse" and"Nightmare Academy". James Pattersons' "Maximum Ride" series. Also a series called "The Midnighters". Hope this helps!

I'm glad she liked the Twilight series...with the girls in our family, this series is #1. Even my 21 y.o. son read the book/watched the movie! If you go to Amazon/Barnes & Nobles websites, for each book you look up...there should be a link for "authors like this" or ??some other phrase. I know you can also just type in "books for teens".

As for Charlaine Harris, her vampire series is the basis for HBO's Trueblood series. It much more adult & hardcore in nature. Twilight is written for teens, Sookie Stackhouse is not. I've read the Twilight series, but am still working my way thru the Sookie books....I have to pace myself because it's definitely not for the squeamish. I like the series, but it's seriously not teen stuff.

My son is 13, reads at college level...& that would be the problem with the AR reading system. In order to stay within his reading zone, we have to scourge the bookshelves looking for benign, age-appropriate material. It's a very difficult process! We rely on the word of mouth from his teachers, friends, & our local bookstore & library. He loved the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, the Peter Pan series by Dave Barry/Ridley Pearson, & is currently reading the FableHaven series. Oh, & he also enjoyed ??the Kingdom Keepers??...not sure of the name...but it's about a group of kids battling evil afterhours at DisneyWorld.

Sooo, hit your resources...let her spend an hour at a bookstore....reading is fun!

Good Morning K., I was like your daughter when younger. I remember Mom ironing on Friday evenings and me having to sit and read my library books to her as a grade schooler.
Snip Snap Snur and the little red shoes. Would be a classic by now, if i could find it...lol

I disliked ready for knowledge, still do. Give me a mystery or drama and I am in heaven now. I have a friend that can't get enough History and reads anything and everything History related. They only books I read that has history though out the story is a Historical Romance.

I bought our neice the American Girl series for several years, she enjoyed them. She just turned 18 and buys her own books now.

Does your daughter have any special interests or hobbies?
Debbie Macomber does some good books, most are centered around a small town setting, with a knit shop.
I bought some classic books, Cinderella, Snow White, Moby Dick, Tom Sawyer for my oldest gr children and we read together when they come here. Their mom used to read with them at night a chapter, before bed. I think that went by the way side a while back. Tia finished the Twilight series in school she is 10. I am trying to remember the next series she wanted to read, but the name fails me. There was like 5-6 books in the series. They were at Wal-Mart.
OH James Patterson ( Author) writes a teen series, it's definitely tailored to teens, science fiction. MAXIUM Ride Series. I have read them ALL. Can't find the complete list of titles.
The fugitives
1# The Angel Experiment. 2# Schools out-forever, 3# Saving the World and other exterme sports.
The Protectors
1# Final Warning.
Maximum ride series link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_ride

http://www.jamespatterson.com/index2.html
Then there is the Dangers of Daniel X

If you read together that might get her interested more with reading.
I have read over 50+ books since Jan.

Have a fun summer reading for fun.
God Bless
K. Nana of 5

There's another sci-fi teen romance series called The Immortals by Alyson Noel. There's also the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. And what about the good old Chronicles of Narnia or A Wrinkle In Time?

If she would enjoy a gothic take on an old fairy tale, try Gregory Maguire. He has several books retelling old favorites...."Mirror Mirror" is the best, I think (retells Snow White) and there's also the more popular "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" and "Wicked."

If she likes Greek mythology, I highly recommend C.S. Lewis's "Til We Have Faces." It is a retelling of the myth of Psyche and Cupid and it is absolutely wonderful. I've read it 8 times!

I think there are TONS of great books out there for young adults. Just go to Barnes & Nobel (or the library!) and ask someone for advice.

If you are playing the AR game...have her space out when she takes the tests on the Twilight series...the books are ALL AR rated with the first being around 18 points and the last being around 28.

Other suggestions would be Mary Downing Hahn (Ghost Stories), ANYTHING by Steve Berry is a great and thrilling read and his books are about 18 pts each on AR.

I would also recommend talking with the librarians. They are the MOST knowledable on what is hip and popular with the kids. There is also an AR website (www.ARbookfind.com) that you can go to and make sure that even some of the more popular mainstream authors are listed on the list before she reads. You can also sort and find books based on your criteria or get recommendations by state, librarians or award winners. To me the most important lesson to learn in this exercise is that it is not about racking up points but reading books that you enjoy...if you enjoy it you'll read more.

I think that this is a issue with most families, getting your kids to read. I have chosen a "practice", that in the summer, my kids are to read 30 minutes before ANY electric things are to be turned on; including lights!! (it's 9am when they wake, they don't need lights) My son (9) has read 3 books this time and My daughter (12) has finished "Eclipse" and has started "Breaking Dawn" She also has been reading the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson she is saving her money to buy the last 2 books in the series (I think it is about kids who have been genitically altered w/wings) that's about all I know. I believe they are going to make it a movie. He also has another series i can't remember. As for the Charlain Harris books, i have read them(Southern Vampire series) They are a very fast read and so funny too with a lot of mystery, minimal gore factor(I used to read Koontz and King)I don't think I would let my daughter (12yr) to read the currently, but I wouldn't hesitate @ 14. I also just got into the Jane Evanovich (sp) Stephanie Plum series where she becomes a bounty hunter (one for the money) some lite adult situations. I have yet to read any other from this series so I can't tell you the "situations." I have been currently trying to get through the Shack. One last series are the Traveling pants series (more about teenage angst). Hope this helps,
Good luck

Do the research for her...get onto your library's website and type in teen mystery as a subject and see what pops up. I've done that with my youngest. She doesn't like to read but does it cuz the schools make her and so do we (30 minutes everynight before lights out), so I try to help her along and my oldest who is an advid reader suggests things to her to. My personal fave was the Nancy Drew series...I was teaching and reading them and taking the AR tests for them too. They are a classic. Hope this helps some...Good luck and God Bless.

Because my 11-year old would only read and reread the Twilight books earlier this year, I took her to the Plaza library. The librarians in the children's and teen departments were great about finding her other books to read. Also, this might be in all libraries (?), they have a binder with books sorted by topic. So if you like mystery, there would be a list of books that are mysteries. Thrillers, funny, etc...

I would check in your library, first!

I read the Pern series by Anne McCaeffery while I was in high school. Its a light fantasy/Sci-fi series about dragon and another culture. Its fun reading and not to far out there. I would start with Dragonsdawn.

I think she might like the books by Heather Brewer from a series called
"The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd". The first one is "8th grade bites" the second one is
"9th grade Slays" and the new one, out this summer, is "10th grade Bleeds". There will be 2 more.
My girls really loved the Twilight series. They say that they like these
even better.
They are about a boy teenage half-vampire who is a misfit at school. She writes with young adults in mind and doesn't write above their maturity level.

Good luck to you!

You could try Nick Hornby Books (he writes kind of humorous books, easy reading)... Maybe 'White Oleander' (kind of a drama type book).

try the Uglies series (uglies, pretties, specials, and extras). anything by orson scott card He has several different series and some odd ones, one series has about a dozen books. He is a fantastic story teller. He does have some religious books, but they are not all religious, I recently read Enchantment, it is more of a fairy tale. Also some one mentioned it but the Pern series by anne mccaffery, I'm currently enjoying White Dragon. I like it b/c it isn't just like camelot stories, it is a whole culture that is different from what we think of when we think of cultures with dragons. My daughter read a british series we found at the library, I cannot remember the names, she thinks Georgea was the girls name. She has a cat Angus, and one of the titles was something about Angus eating her knickers, very funny series. she laughed all summer. Read them after her, you will enjoy the conversations you can have. she will be more ready to read if she can talk about it later. Happy Reading!

Other "cool" books of that type ...

Silver Kiss
Blood and Chocolate both by Annette Curtis Klause.

A Great and Terrible Beauty (and the other two in the trilogy) by Libba Bray.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (and other books) by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Eighth Grade Bites (and the others in the Vladimir Todd Series) by Heather Brewer

Any books by Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen, Lauren Myracle.

Yell if you need more.