Books for Teens, Not Yet Young Adults

[Katy]

My niece is just starting to get into reading. I believe she's starting 6th grade this year. I know about the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and the many, more classic books, but I need more suggestions.

While at B&N the other night I noticed that many of the "young adult" books are all about boyfriends and sexual relationships (or *almost* sexual relationships). I think I need something a little lighter for now.

Any suggestions?

[Asha]

eh, not exactly light reading, but here goes...

the yearling
the bfg
the narnia chronicles
roll of thunder hear my cry

[kugrrly]

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants mentions sexual relationships. If you are looking for something lighter I would not recommend that.

eta here is a link of books for sixth graders. I taught sixth grade for a while so I familiar with a lot of these.

http://www.hedgehogbooks.com/cgi-loc...de.cgi?grade=6

You may also want to look into Newbery winners/honors.

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardssc...wberymedal.htm

[lil_geek]

In grade 5-7 I was addicted to Babysitters Club... not sure they even have them in print anymore?

Would she read harry potter? i know lots of young girls who read them.

What about Judy Blume? SOme of them talk about crushes and such.. but I know I was reading them in grade 4-5 and TOTALLY understood what the characters were going through!

[maggieb]

The Giver
Where the Red Fern Grows
Bud, Not Buddy
Red Wall series
A Wrinkle in Time
Bridge to Terabithia
Nancy Drew
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Holes
Number the Stars
Maniac Magee
Hatchet
Tuck Everlasting
The Watsons Go to Birmingham

I am a fifth/sixth grade teacher and these are some of my kids' faves. Is she a good reader?

[kindermom]

Nancy Drew may be good with the movie coming out this summer.

[Katy]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies. I'm just afraid to suggest any of the "classics" because she's totally new to reading. And by that I mean that she's totally an Mtv generation kid (she lived for The Hills). I believe she watches all the big teen movies out there and loves all that (crap) pop music. So I'm just not so sure she's ready for something quite so "uncool" sad as that may seem.

I'm also not so sure she's that great of a reader. I know that up until this year she wasn't a good student at all (both older brothers have LDs) to the point that they considered testing her as well. So this is a pretty big deal in her family so I'm thinking of fun books to keep her interested in reading. Does that make sense?

[NicoleWisconsin]

The Girl Who Owned a City...

I also loved the Boxcar children books... I'm not sure of the age for those, though.

[kugrrly]

Try these

Because of Winn Dixie( this was made into a movie. maybe she could watch the movie after)

Dovey Coe
Ella Enchanted
Princess Diaries (made into movies also)
Frindle (any Andrew Clements book would be good)

For a reluctant reader I would suggest a book that has been made into a movie. She can discuss with her parents or you about how the book and the movie were similar or different and why she each preferred one to the other.

[bookworm]

I was going to suggest the Princess Diaries (series) as well. Meg Cabot is the author.

For scary books, I remember liking Lois Duncan.