13 books to get your 13-year-old reading again (that aren’t Harry Potter)
If your 13-year-old has stopped reading, here are 13 books they could read (that aren’t Harry Potter) that might just get them opening a book again.
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Harry Potter is back in cinemas with the new JK Rowling movie Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and the play The Cursed Child hitting Australia in January.
Obviously this will inspire some young readers — but what if your about-to-be teenager has already read Harry Potter, or doesn’t want to read those books?
You might think that there is no time for books, what with starting high school, social media, video games, Netflix, Fortnite, homework, sport and their mobiles.
But if you can get a 13-year-old reading for pleasure, then not only are they more likely to keep reading into adulthood, it will also help them through the high school years.
“Reading is a survival skill — one every teenager can put to good use,” children’s author and Funday Telegraph book reviewer Sandy Fussell said.
“It improves concentration and comprehension, it increases empathy and understanding but, perhaps most importantly, it provides a place to escape to when times are tough.”
Experts such as Ms Fussell and Michelle Weisz from HarperCollins advise offering your 13-year-old a wide range of books.
Some have boys as the central character, some have girls. Most are Australian and many begin an ongoing series, leading to further reading.
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If you are unsure, or money is short, borrow them from the library — and never force a teenager to finish a book. If they don’t like it, put it away and try another.
“If I had to pick just one, it would be How To Bee,” Ms Fussell said.
“It’s not my personal favourite but one I think kids should definitely read it because it’s a great story, with a super-relatable main character and an important message.
“My personal favourite is The Graveyard Book — I own it in hardcover, paperback and graphic novel! — but not every kid would like this one because it’s so quirky.”
Here they are, in no particular order, 13 books to get your 13-year-old reading — and keep them reading.
BROTHERBAND 1: THE OUTCASTS
John Flanagan
Many websites declare Australian writer Flanagan’s series The Ranger’s Apprentice to be the ideal book for boys but that series takes a few books to get into its stride. Try this series first.
Hal and his friends are the unwanted teenage boys when it comes to manhood training, forced to form their own band — which, of course, goes on to triumph against the bigger bullies. But there’s a surprise twist at the end that takes the boys on a different path.
PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF
Rick Riordan
Forget the dodgy movie versions. This is about a boy who discovers he’s the human son of Poseidon the Greek god of the sea — and he and the other demigods will have to unite to save the world.
Full of mythology, jokes and battles, it goes on for five books. Following series working in the Roman gods are also entertaining but not quite as good.
TARIN OF THE MAMMOTHS 1: THE EXILE
Jo Sandhu
Set in the Stone Age and sometimes dubbed the “Clan Of The Cave Bear for kids”, this is the story of Tarin, who wants to be a hunter.
But he has a twisted leg and when he messes up an important hunt, he is sent on a journey to placate the Earth Mother, facing all sorts of trials and dangers.
It won the Readings Children’s Book Prize this year.
A MOST MAGICAL GIRL
Karen Foxlee
A wonderful fantasy with a strong female lead character, which is a little bit Harry Potter and a little bit steampunk as well.
Annabel Gray is raised to be a proper Victorian lady but then is sent to live with two eccentric aunts who are witches and introduce her to a magical world — and a dangerous quest underneath London.
HOW TO BEE
Bren McDibble
In a world where bees have died, the quickest and bravest children are used to climb trees and pollinate plants.
Peony lives on a fruit farm with her sister and grandfather but when her mother comes to take her to the city, she has to be quick and smart to survive.
It deservedly won a swag of awards in Australia and NZ — including Children’s Book Council of Australia Younger Reader Book of the Year.
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
Neil Gaiman
After his family is murdered, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where he is adopted and raised by the ghosts and ghouls there.
But while he gains powers and enjoys the adventures of the graveyard, if he leaves he could run into the man who killed his family.
It won a Hugo for Best Novel, the Carnegie Medal in the UK and the Newbery Medal in the US.
NEVERMOOR: THE TRIALS OF MORRIGAN CROW
Jessica Townsend
“No list would be complete without this. In my opinion, it lives up to the hype,” Sandy Fussell said.
Morrigan Crow is cursed to die on her 11th birthday but is whisked away to a magical city. If she can survive the trials, she can stay there and beat the curse.
But there are hundreds of other talented kids in the trials and she doesn’t think she has powers.
WATERSHIP DOWN
Richard Adams
A group of rabbits leave their warren, warned by a premonition of disaster. But the woods and fields of England are dangerous places as they battle hungry predators and run into the brutal rabbit dictator General Woundwort.
At first glance a simple tale, there are many themes wove into it and death is never far away.
HIS NAME WAS WALTER
Emily Rodda
From the Australian author of Deltora Quest comes this story within a story.
A group of students and their teacher become stranded and take shelter in a deserted house, where they discover an old book about an orphan called Walter, his adventures and his quest to rescue a girl called Sparrow — and become swept up into the story.
DIVERGENT
Veronica Roth
You could replace this with The Hunger Games. Divergent takes the reader more inside its heroine but be warned — the controversial ending outraged many fans.
Society is divided into five factions and all teenagers must choose which they want to belong to. Tris Prior is born into Abnegation, where she works to help others but when she chooses to become a warrior in Dauntless, she firstly discovers her fighting spirit and then uncovers a terrible plot to destroy the city.
SKULLDUGGERY PLEASANT
Derek Landy
Stephanie Edgley thinks she’s just a normal girl — until she runs into Skullduggery Pleasant, who’s a walking, talking, magic-using skeleton.
It turns out Stephanie has her own magic and not only does she discover a hidden world around them but has to help Skullduggery stop an ancient evil.
It has humour and action but does get dark and bloody the longer the series goes on.
STORMBREAKER
Anthony Horowitz
Often described as James Bond for teenage boys, it sees young Alex Rider become a secret agent, while dodging the terrorists who want him dead — and killed his uncle. Again, bags of action and adventure and violence, as well as plenty of placement of designer labels. The only drawback is you can expect expensive clothes to pop up on your teen’s Christmas list.
A WALTZ FOR MATILDA
Jackie French
Loosely based on the poem by Banjo Paterson, it tells of the adventures of 12-year-old Matilda in 1894 Australia.
After her father makes a stand against the troopers and the local squatter, Mr Drinkwater, Matilda is left all alone.
But with the help of an Aboriginal woman called Auntie Love, she is determined to make her father’s dream of a home in the country come true.
Originally published as 13 books to get your 13-year-old reading again (that aren’t Harry Potter)