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Top 5 modern summer reads for teens
All too often, older kids associate books with school and study, labelling them as ‘bland’ and ‘boring.’ However, a good book may change your teen’s opinion on reading forever. Introduce them to an exciting new book and watch them be transported into worlds they never knew existed.
Here are the top five books we recommend your teen to have a go at reading:
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green (14+)
The Fault in Our Stars is the book that everyone and their mother (literally!) is currently reading. The book follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen year old cancer patient who is made attend a local cancer support group. There, Hazel meets seventeen year old Augustus Waters. The two teen’s relationship quickly blossoms as they battle through various struggles together. A tear jerking page turner, this is a beautifully written, heartbreakingly realistic portrayal of life, love and loss.Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell (15+)
Eleanor & Park is the story of two awkward teens falling in love while living in Omaha in the 1980s. This book gives an insight into the hilarious aspects of first love as well as the contrast between Eleanor’s abuse-plagued poverty and Park’s loving family life. Eleanor & Park is heartfelt, real and passionate with characters that really allow you to believe in them. Both teens and parents will enjoy this book, so share it around the family and each take a turn through the pages.The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (13+)
Winner of the Book Sense 2007 book of the year and Printz book award for teens, I believe The Book Thief to be a modern classic. Set in 1939 Nazi Germany, this book tells the story of Liesel Meminger who is taken to live with a working class foster family at age nine. Set in the backdrop of World War II, having stolen her first book, Liesel soon begins her lifelong love affair with books and reading. Described by the New York Times as ‘life-changing’, The Book Thief is a fantastically written, astonishing book that is sure to be a hit with readers both young and old.Divergent, by Veronica Roth (14+)
The first book in the extremely successful trilogy, Divergent should most definitely be on the list of books to read this summer. Set in a post apocalyptic Chicago, the plot centres on Beatrice ‘Tris’ Prior, living in a society divided into five factions. At sixteen, Beatrice is faced with the difficult decision of which faction to choose to belong to for life. Roth explores the themes of adult authority along with the transition from childhood to maturity in this hugely popular debut novel.
A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin (16+)
While the Game of Thrones TV series are not suitable for young teens, the books that inspired them contain less explicit content and are more suitable for readers in their mid/late teens. Each chapter concentrates on a single character, with the book presenting the perspective of eight main characters. A Game of Thrones is the first book in a collection of five, giving even the most avid of readers plenty of material to get through!
For more reading ideas for teens, check out these suggestions for