What Storybooks Should I Get for My Sec 1 Daughter?

[coolit]

Hi CMF,


Thanks for your link. I saw that the books there are more the literary type. Not
sure if I am correct about it. But my boy likes the action packed kind of books.
How to get him interested in the ‘lit’ kind of books?

[Mdm Koh]

Try modern young-adult fiction with themes that are relevant to their lives, e.g. friendship, social issues, school issues, BGR, growing up, etc.


I don't think many teenagers will enjoy reading classic lit like Charles Dickens on their own. The language is quite high-level, and I think many teenagers here in Singapore would find it hard to relate to Dickens' tales, which are set in England during the Industrial Revolution. :?

The classics are more suitable for lit classes, where they have their trusty lit teachers to guide them through the content, imho. But for reading for enjoyment, young-adult fiction seems to be a better choice.

[CMF]

coolit:

Hi CMF,


Thanks for your link. I saw that the books there are more the literary type. Not
sure if I am correct about it. But my boy likes the action packed kind of books.
How to get him interested in the 'lit' kind of books?

Hi coolit

Not all the books in the suggested list are the literary type, some are good recommended books, really worth reading. I have used such lists as a guide to introduce interesting books to my son, who enjoys tremendously all the different books that have been recommended. For instance if a book by a certain author appeals to him, I will then hunt down other books written by the same author, or if a particular genre of books appeals to him, I will look for similar types.

If your child likes action books, depending on his age group, you can check out the Alex Rider, the 39 clues or A-Z Mysteries series. Not sure though if they have enough \"action\" in them to sustain his interest.

You may wish to check out this link for some other suggested books : http://www.kidsreads.com/features/great-books-boys.asp

[coolit]

Thank you Mdm Koh and CMF,


My boy is in P6 now, he has finished reading Alex Rider but now I want him to get ready for the more ‘lit’ kind of books that will help him in Secondary one.

I will check out the suggestions and links you gave and try to help get him
interested in those books.

[hquek]

Another source of books? http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/default.html (direct to book list http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-treasury-intro.html).


Not sure what Sec students read these days, but personally I like books by Neil Gaiman, Michael Morpurgo, Tolkien. Stuff like Silas Marner, To kill a mockingbird are stuff they probably will come across in their lit subjects in sec schools and those are excellent reads.

[coolit]

Thank you hquek for more suggestions. I always look forward to your posts on bookfairs.


I think I have saved quite a sum of money from reading your posts :boogie:

[antebellum]

Girls will like books by Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted), Diana Wynne Jones (Howl's Moving Castle, Charmed Life, etc).


Ursula Le Guin (A wizard of earthsea), Louis Sachar and Neil Gaiman all write very well and their books are suitable for both teenage boys and girls.

Check http://www.amazon.com and read the customer reviews to look for more good books.

[hquek]

coolit:

Thank you hquek for more suggestions. I always look forward to your posts on bookfairs.


I think I have saved quite a sum of money from reading your posts :boogie:

hee, appreciate the thanks. Just happy to help pp save money!

[coolit]

Thanks antebellum.


Hquek, thanks. I have a groaning hubby who tells me no more bookfairs
but he is convinced more when i show him the money saved. :imcool:

[hquek]

my hubby already gave up on me. But I’m curbing myself more becos I don’t know what to do with books we’ve read. Family has bad habit, we don’t usually revisit books - then again, no time to do that.


Best money saving tip. Use the library. I’m very impressed with the stuff they stock. Each time I can loan 10 books and I visit the place at least twice a week (wait for kids class to end, so ‘no choice’). But I will still buy books that are hard to find/library don’t stock.