One of the most difficult times to find the "right" book to read is the teenage years.
The following suggestion list is compiled from classic and new books accross a range of interests, all suitable for this age group. They have been split into boys and girls, but almost any would do for either.
See also the Cornish Interest section which reviews a selection of our childrens books with a local setting accross all age ranges.
Free booklets are also available on request at the shop.
TEENAGE BOYS
The following SERIES are particularly popular with young teenage boys.
SEBASTIAN DARKE by Philip Caveney
ARTEMIS FOWL by Eoin Colfer
LIONBOY by Zizou Corder
JIMMY COATES by Joe Craig
SPOOKS by Joseph Delaney
RANGERS APPRENTICE by John Flanagan
YOUNG BOND by Charlie Higson
ALEX RIDER by Anthony Horowitz
CHERUB by Robert Muchamore
MAXIMUM RIDE by James Patterson
PERCY JACKSON by Rick Riordan
EDGE CHRONICLES by Paul Stewart
TIME RIDERS by Alex Scarrow
CIRQUE DU FREAK by Darren Shan
HARRY POTTER
For older teenage boys try:
H.I.V.E by Mark Walden
TUNNELS by Gordon Williams
Any books by:
TERRY PRATCHETT, STEPHEN KING, TOLKIEN, JOHN GRISHAM, CLIVE CUSSLER, DAVID EDDINGS, DAVID GEMMELL
Not forgetting the classics:
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, CHARLES DICKENS, ARTHUR RANSOME & W.E JOHNS (Biggles)!
There are many individual authors to recommend. A selection is given below:
DAVID ALMOND (Fire Eaters, Skellig..)
TIM BOWLER (River Boy, Blood Child..)
FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE (Cosmic..)
SIOBHAN DOWD (London Eye Mystery, Bog Child..)
NEIL GAIMAN (Graveyard Book..)
ALAN GARNER (Red Shift..)
DAVID GILMAN (Blood Sun..)
MORRIS GLEITZMAN (Once..)
LOIS LOWRY (The Giver..)
GARTH NIX
CHRIS PRIESTLEY (Tales of Terror..)
PHILIP REEVE
NICKY SINGER (Feather Boy..)
ROBERT SWINDELLS
DI TOFT (Wolven..)
Last but not least, ANDY MCNAB and CHRIS RYAN both do a range of modern conflict novels.
TEENAGE GIRLS
The following series are recommended:
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES TRILOGY - Malorie Blackman
SEPTIMUS HEAP - Angie Sage
INGO - Helen Dunmore
INKHEART TRILOGY - Cornelia Funk
Single stories of a similar genre are THE "IT GIRL NOVELS" by Cecily Von Ziegesar and MYSTERIES by Jenny Valentine. Jacqueline Wilson doesn't need an introduction, but you may not yet know CHRIS HIGGINS, a new and successful author of a similar genre - who is also local to Penzance. CATHY CASSIDY, CARMEN REID, MEG CABOT and LOUISE RENNISON also deserve a mention and we must not forget the VAMPIRE BOOKS as written by STEPHANIE MEYER, PC & KRISTIN CAST, L.J SMITH and CHARLANE HARRIS. An older series that is still going strong, is VAMPIRE BEACH by ALEX DUVAL.
There are many individual authors to recommend. A selection is given below:
SARAH DESSAN (Lock and Key, Along for the Ride..)
NINA BAWDEN (Carrie's War)
JENNY DOWNHAM (Before I die..)
ANNE FINE (Goggle-eyes..)
SALLY GARDNER (I, Coriander...)
ADELE GERAS (Ithaka..)
ANNE HOLM (I am David..)
JUDITH KERR (When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit...)
CLIVE KING (Stig of the Dump...)
SOPHIE MACKENZIE
MICHAEL MORPURGO
CHRIS PRIESTLEY
CELIA REES (Sovay..)
LOUIS SACHAR (Holes..)
KATE THOMPSON
DIANA WYNNE-JONES (The Pinhoe Egg..)
SIOBHAN DOWD (A Swift Pure Cry..)
STEVE AUGARDE (The Various...)
There are many classics that can still appeal to the modern reader, such as JANE AUSTEN, HARPER LEE, ELIZABETH GOUDGE, CHARLES DICKENS, C.S LEWIS, DAPHNE DU MAURIER and TED HUGHES to name but a few.
TEENAGE BOYS AND GIRLS
Of particular appeal to both genders are ERAGON series by PAOLINI, CHRONICLES of ANCIENT DARKNESS by Michelle PAVER and HIS DARK MATERIALS by Phillip Pullman.
YOUNGER READERS
*See Cornish Interest section for local interest selection
*Visit shop for wide range of picture books and young fiction
*Collect free children's reading lists on request
NOW AVAILABLE:
Signed Copies of the new SOGGY story (picture)
Signed Copies of THE FERRY BIRDS by Helen Dunmore
NOW IN STOCK:
Local author Liz Kessler
The above lists are very "broad brush" and so apologies for any favourites, "must reads".... that have not been included.
Emailed suggestions will be welcomed.
CONTACT US
books plus
23 Market Jew Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 2HR.
Tel: 01736 365607
Fax: 01736 365921
Email: books@booksplusuk.com
