Calling all voracious readers!

[icewolf]

So, you've got a 12-year-old girl you're trying to talk out of reading Twilight, with its sketchy gender politics and iffy writing.

What do you recommend, oh Friends List?

Comments

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Just about anything by Tamora Pierce is first to mind, probably because I just saw her this weekend at Darkover. I'm sure there is plenty more.

EDIT: Subject to preview by adult types... some may object to the sexual elements, and there is some scary (perhaps squicky) stuff.

[rosered2318.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Tamora Pierce! I can't wait for Bloodhound (and am so disappointed in the delays! I need that book!)

[ernmissprism.livejournal.com]

The Giver is creepy but not offensively so. It might be a good compromise.

[margoeve.livejournal.com]

Ok, I guess I need to read this silly Twilight book to see what the whole sketchy gender politics issue is. Is it really all that different than the romance section of the bookstore?

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

A little. I think it's the popularity that's scared the crap out of a lot of people as opposed to the actual content. (I'm on the waiting list at the library for it to see what the hub-bub is, myself.)

Edit: That and the fact that at least in theory, romances are for "adults," while Twilight is marketed to teenagers. The religious are screaming about the vampires, and the non-religious are screaming about the gender roles. Strange bedfellows, eh? I'm gonna go reread Persuasion, I think. :)

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'd try to keep her from reading it, because lo that just makes it all the sweeter -- but it would be good to have some conversations about how creepy, stalkery, controlling behavior does not a good boyfriend make.

[strawberrykaren.livejournal.com]

Dragon's Blood, by Jane Yolen. When she's a little older (or a more mature reader), Yolen's Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna.

[rosered2318.livejournal.com]

Tell her to read it through and enjoy it the first time, then read it the second time with the following thoughts in mind:

"Why does this book appeal so much to me?"
"What is what's-her-buttons expectations of her life? What does she aspire to be? Do her qualities reflect that?"
"What would happen to the relationship should the conflict of another lover come in to it? Why do you think what's-her-buttons and what's-his-buttons are well-matched? What will happen to their relationship once there is no outside conflict?"


I don't know anything about the iffy writing. But, in other words, let her read it. The draw her to the conclusions above.

[the-mithril-man.livejournal.com]

Have to agree on the don't talk her out of it thought. That will just make her more eager to read it. Read the book watched the movie MST3Ked it the whole way, I don't get it myself but it's basically bodice rippers for girls who may or may not have anything in their bodices yet. And it may be a little adult for the tween-teen set it's aimed at. Good ammo for a good long talk once she's done reading it.

If nothing else show her this, it will put things in perspective.
http://digitalpimponline.com/strips.php?title=movie&id=404

PS instead of waiting for the library you want to borrow my copy?

[rosered2318.livejournal.com]

AHHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! THAT COMIC IS BRILLIANT!!

[madmoisellestar.livejournal.com]

Mind if I direct my resident librarian to this question? He's all about the young adult lit and making recommendations. Also, I need to intorduce you two because I think you'd get along.

For myself, I'm gonna join the chorus of 'don't talk her out of reading it, just add stuff' though. I read a lot of crap with sketchy gender politics when I was 12 (Oh Ann McCaffery! I miss you!) and I came out mostly okay.

If she's not already torn through the Golden Compass books, those are great, also Philip Pullman's Sally Lockheart series. It's a plucky young woman working as a bookkeeper and solving mysteries in 19th century London - highly underrated, I think.

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

I read a lot of crap with sketchy gender politics when I was 12 (Oh Ann McCaffery! I miss you!) and I came out mostly okay.

Same here, but the question's for a member of my Friends List who's into deep textual interpretation. She has a lot of people saying to her, "I don't like my daughter reading Twilight, but what alternatives can I offer her?" So, with all the librarians in my acquaintance (I think there are two, maybe three on my List, and then there's your Boy), I thought I'd help her out.

[rosered2318.livejournal.com]

Tamora Pierce, as dr_zrfq said above is completely rockin. Writing is quality (even her first series!), incredibly imaginative, and "OMG!!!OTL!!!" is the OPPOSITE of what happens in the books (thank God).

Does she read Terry Pratchett yet?

[madmoisellestar.livejournal.com]

Kathryn Lasky - Great Young Adult and children's author. I like her historical fiction when I was roundabouts that age. http://www.kathrynlasky.com/Books1.html

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Robin McKinley's _Beauty_ and _Chalice_. I believe McKinley also wrote a vampire one called _Sunshine_

Wilce's _Flora Secunda_ and _Flora's Dare_.

Regency romances by Georgette Heyer.

_Mairelon the Magician_ and _Magician's Ward_

More

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Pamela Dean's _Tam Lin_, and _Juniper, Genitan, and Rosemary_

Anne McCaffrey _The Ship that Sang_, and _The Rowan_ and _Dragonflight_

Melissa Marr. Wicked Lovely.

[sabine42.livejournal.com]

I agree on Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, as well as Jane Yolen, Robin McKinley and Holly Black.

They write young adult modern fairy tales, and while they can sometimes be a little mature (I found Black's Valiant a little mature for a young teen audience, but maybe I'm just channeling myself as a teen ;) ) they are all very good writers and seem to focus on strong female protagonists.

Also, a book I devoured around that age was Avi's True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I still have my Scholastic Book Club copy.

Let me see what my niece is into these days... she's a voracious reader and the same age, but I think my brother and sister-in-law keep a pretty good idea on what she reads.

One series she was really into last spring (might be a little young for you friend's daughter) were the Young Royals and Royal Diaries series by Carolyn Meyer. Historical fiction about, well, royals, including the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary Tudor, various of Henry's wives, etc. She just loved them.

[vikingsparrow.livejournal.com]

Nothing makes me want to read a book more than people telling me not to read it...except for possibly people giving me "more appropriate" alternatives. (And yes, I felt that way at age 12, too.) My sister-in-law tried to prevent her daughters from reading Harry Potter. It didn't work. Let the kid read it. It's just entertainment.

And yes, Tamora Pierce books are awesome.