Book suggestions for gifted 13yo?

[Ruthla]

I have a dillemma with my 13yo DD. She's always been a vorocious reader, and she's "way above grade level" in reading.

She's in public school this year, for 8th grade, and her English teacher assigns two different kinds of "reading homework", do be done with the books the kids select for independent reading. The first is basically a book report, and one is due every two weeks.

On the alternate weeks, she needs to fill in a sheet with 10 vocabulary words she found in her reading. This lists the word, the sentence or sentence fragment it was found in the book (for context, and figuring out which definition is appropriate if the word has more than one meaning), then what she thinks it means, and then another box for the actual dictionary definition.

The problem is that DD2 has such a wide vocabulary already, and is so skilled at figuring out words in context, that she's having trouble finding words she doesn't know in the books she's been reading! When she told this to her teacher, she responded "you need to read more challenging books."

One weekend, DD2 read two books from the adult section of the library (the second book of Abarat and The Host" and found a single "new vocabulary word" between the two of them. : Last week, she took out two books in a series (out of 4 in the series) that looked interesting. She had no trouble finding the vocabulary words she needed but the subject matter wasn't exactly appropriate. There's just so much sex in the books, and it's such a major part of the plot, that she's embarrassed to write a book report on this series. She abandoned the second book in the middle because she just wasn't enjoying it. She'd be fine if there were a few graphic (sex or violence) scenes, but in this series it seemed to be a major part of the plot.

So what is she to do? The YA books contain appropriate subject matter, but aren't challenging enough. The adult books may or may not be challenging enough, but they also may contain innapropriate material.

Does anybody have a list of "adult books that aren't overly graphic" that would be good choices for her to read? She enjoys fantasy books and historical fiction, and isn't too interested in "realistic fiction".

[mammastar2]

How frustrating! It sounds like her vocabulary is already enormous, because she's a voracious reader. Having to do the vocabulary exercise is so artificial...

I would suggest trying the classics, if she is interested. If she likes fantasy, she may be interested in Brave New World (um, I remember not knowing what pneumatic meant when I was 14!), for example. Nineteenth century novels often have vocabulary that is out of the ordinary by today's standards. I'm thinking Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Treasure Island, or maybe more kid-friendly classics like The Secret Garden or Anne of Green Gables, depending on her comfort level.

She could also look at books with settings that might involve new vocabulary, like a medical or legal setting?

[Mama Shifra]

Well, the Jane Austen books are challenging with little/none of the sex and violence that you described.

Most of the other "classics" have very little sex, if that's the issue.

[ollyoxenfree]

My first thought was also to try some of the classics. She's at a great age for Jane Austen, the Brontes, Thomas Hardy, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dickens, Henry James...A good librarian will be able to help with some more suggestions.

My second thought is to look for books - young adult OR adult classics - originally published in other countries. Books from the British Commonwealth countries will be written in English, but likely have lots of new vocabulary. Look for South African, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and Indian novels. Just beware of "Americanized" versions, like Harry Potter and the Sorceror's (originally Philosopher's) Stone - all the Briticisms were edited out and replaced with Americanisms.

If you can find books from non-English speaking places, that have been translated, even better. Chances are there will be even more new vocabulary. Again, a good librarian should be able to help.

If you don't have a good library system, I'd try looking on-line. One place to start would be to look for library associations and children's book councils in the various countries I've mentioned. They will likely have lists of recommended book or local/national prize-winning books. Then it's a matter of finding what's available through Amazon or your bricks and mortar bookstores.

Good luck!

[Ruthla]

So should I ask the adult librarian or the children's librarian for help? And, um, how do I find the adult librarian?

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

So should I ask the adult librarian or the children's librarian for help? And, um, how do I find the adult librarian?

LOL, good question. I might start with the children's librarian, because s/he is probably a little more sensitive to your concerns about appropriate content. If s/he isn't familiar with international literature, then it might be time to move on to a different librarian.

For the adult librarian, I'd just ask at the help desk/reference desk. Most libraries I've been in have one. Some libraries have their own lists of recommended reading from international publishers. You could use that as a starting point - ask the librarian if s/he has any information on whether the content would be inappropriate for a 13 y.o.

Another thought just occurred to me - try on-line searches for International Author or Book Festivals. There are some that are either for children only, or have children's sections - including young adult. Once you find some authors, it's a short stretch to getting good title suggestions.

BTW, depending on the 13 y.o., they might be reading some fairly adult stuff with some heavy content. This may not be an issue for too much longer.

[mammastar2]

I'd be inclined to point her in a general direction, make a couple of suggestions, let her rustle around herself in a general area of the library, like a spin rack with paperback copies of the classics, and let it be self-directed as much as possible. Perhaps research it together, look up reviews on blogs and so on, so she can see what excites her.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

I'd be inclined to point her in a general direction, make a couple of suggestions, let her rustle around herself in a general area of the library, like a spin rack with paperback copies of the classics, and let it be self-directed as much as possible. Perhaps research it together, look up reviews on blogs and so on, so she can see what excites her.

For sure, she should be looking and choosing for herself. I imagine she's already rustling around on her own but isn't always coming up with books that meet the school curriculum challenges. Which, BTW, I might discuss with the teacher. If a student is already performing well above grade level, I don't see much point in making an enjoyable activity (reading) into a drudge-like task (finding new vocabulary). That's a slightly different topic than the OP wanted help with, though.

Blogs are a great idea. I'm not on www.librarything.com or www.shelfari.com, but I wonder if there are lists of recommended reading for young adults at those sites.

[Thalia the Muse]

Another vote for the Victorians! Little inappropriate content, and their world was so different that there are bound to be unfamiliar words. Pelisse, charabanc, poplin ...

One other thing -- I was also this kind of kid, and it might help to point out that, although you CAN figure out the meaning from context, if you haven't seen that word before it still counts as an unfamiliar word for your list. I mean, it's obvious when you encounter it that bombazine must be a fabric, but it is nonetheless an unfamiliar word.

Some older/challenging books with great kid appeal:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Jane Eyre
Oliver Twist
Girl of the Limberlost (lots of entomology in this one - the girl's a butterfly collector -- so likely to be new words)
Kim (Rudyard Kipling -- old AND set in India, plus this book is just awesome)
Jules Verne -- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, et al
The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine
I Capture the Castle
Dracula (if she's not easily scared)
The Once and Future King -- also, the less well known but enchanting Mistress Masham's Repose
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver
Any of Mary Stewart's adventure novels -- This Rough Magic, Airs Above the Ground, The Moon-Spinners, Nine Coaches Waiting. No explicit sex (although some romance and kissing), and they are set all over Europe in various interesting milieus with lots of fascinating details.
Rebecca (I read it when I was 12 or 13)
The Princess Bride is great for that age, but I don't know if it's super-challenging.

[Chamomile Girl]

Has she read The Lord of the Rings? I first read it at twelve and loved it. The vocab is very rich.

[TEAK's Mom]

Possession and The Biographer's Tale by A.S. Byatt. She's a writer with a vast and intricate vocabulary. All of her books are good.

[Storm Bride]

I was thinking in the other direction. What about some "hard" science fiction. A lot of it contains technical/scientific terminology and some of that would probably be new to her.

Good luck to your dd. I would have had the same problem if I'd had that exercise at her age. The whole "read more challenging books" thing is really unhelpful, too.

[lach]

Does it have to be fiction?

In my experience as a tutor, there's a stage when kids transition out of kids fiction, but aren't yet ready for the themes of adult fiction. Even the classics deal with fairly heavy topics, and what does a 13 year old really understand about life, love, death, etc? Even if they can understand the words, they have to be super precocious to understand the emotions at the core of most novels for adults.

At this stage, in my experience as both a former child and a former teacher, there are really two options: really cheesy novels that will rot her brain, but let's be honest we all read them at 13 too; or non-fiction. Obviously, I usually tried to steer kids towards non-fiction .

It's so important to keep kids reading at this age, or else they'll never be able to transition to adult books. It's all about practice and keeping interests up. Are there any subjects that she is particularly interested in? If she likes history, I would suggest one of Alison Weir's books about the Tudors. Bill Bryson's books are humorous and always interesting. Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains is truly inspiring. All of these books will probably have some vocabulary that is new to her, because there is technical information in them.

[sapphire_chan]

If the teacher isn't understanding of her already knowing most of the words in the books at her level, then...

Lie.

Let her read any book she wants and then pick X number of 4+ syllable words out of it to be "new".

Because why put extra effort into not learning?

[ollyoxenfree]

Rather than lying, I'd suggest tweaking the assignment a little, with the teacher's consensus.

Instead of having to find completely new, unfamiliar words, I would ask her to find unfamiliar or different meanings of words she already knows. For example, "nice" has several definitions, and is used differently by Austen and the Brontes than many modern writers.

Why not enrich the vocabulary she already has? The educational goal is the same, without making it a discouraging educational task.

[Ruthla]

DD1 suggested to DD2 that she should "pick words that the teacher won't expect you to know, even if you already know them" but DD2 is uncomfortable doing that.

I think there's NO risk of this particular child "losing interest in reading." She averages 600 pages a week.

She's already read quite a few of the books listed in this thread (LOTR, Dracula (didn't finish-too hard to get into, old language), Anne of Green Gables) but, with the number of books she's read, I can't imagine ANY bibliography that doesn't include some books she's already read! But there are also quite a few books that she hasn't yet read listed here.

I also just thought of another option: She could read some of the YA novels she's familiar and comfortable with for the book reports, and also read some adult books just for the vocabulary. She doesn't HAVE TO use the same books for the book reports and the vocab, and she does enough reading to do both. But I'd still like the "challenging books for the vocab" to be a little more appropriate than The Troy Game (which has completely sucked me in though. )

[sapphire_chan]

Has she read Terry Pratchett at all? I ask because he uses great words like "firkin"

Are the vocab words discussed in class at all? Could DD2 try to find things her classmates don't know?

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Has she read Terry Pratchett at all? I ask because he uses great words like "firkin"

Oh, good point. I find offbeat words in Pratchett fairly regularly.

[Ruthla]

No, this is entirely homework. Every student has his or her own list of vocabulary words, and they're not discussed in class at all. They do other things during classtime.

[amcal]

Personally, rather than making this such a frustrating exercise, I'd have her just go to a dictionary and thumb through it until she finds words she doesn't know. Have her come up with her own sentence etc...

But, I'd be honest with the teacher about the struggle we're having and what our solution is. The goal is for her to learn and understand new words. Not to struggle and feel frustrated trying to find a book at the library.