Hello, everyone! I tried searching here for my answer but couldn’t find anything just right.
TLDR: looking for a book for a 14 year old, that is less than 200 pages, and a lower reading level BUT doesn’t look like a “little kid book”.
As with so many high schoolers, my niece doesn’t really read. She didn’t seem very interested in reading, either, until recently. She told me she wanted to read more and I tried not to overreact in excitement haha
So I’m looking for a book for her that is short (<200 pages) and also a pretty easy reading level. She’s not a strong reader because of her inexperience. I want something to build her confidence! Most books that fit that description look like they are for little kids, unfortunately.
If she feels like she can read a book, and enjoy it, and it was a good experience, then maybe she’ll come back for more! I think she would feel really proud finishing a book – something she’s not done independently from school in a long time.
by JessFed
11 Comments
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The giver by Lois Lowry
True confessions of Charlotte Doyle
The girl who owned the city
I had a really hard time learning to read and these saved me.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins gets reluctant readers excited to finish the book- I have rarely seen anything like it
What are her tastes in other entertainment? Howl’s Moving Castle or Carry On if she likes fantasy or anime or romance, Little Women or Anne of Green Gables if she likes historical fiction, Westing Game or Holes for mystery, Illuminae for sci fi?
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draaner is a great book.
Dear Mr.Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, first in a series about four sisters and their widowed dad (about 250 pages though)
The Borrowers by Mary Norton, first in a series about the tiny people who live under the floor
The Neil Peel books by Ben Dixon are about the length you mention and are very easy reads because they are very funny. They’re about high schoolers, and the best character is an evil genius older sister (14yo) called Lemony Peel. Very popular among reluctant readers of her age at my school. The Heroic Truths of Neil Peel is the first one.
I LOVED the Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld when I was 14.
The Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld was also great.
Maximum Ride by James Patterson is fast paced and SUPER entertaining at that age..
I ate up Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead..
Hunger Games is a good choice.
Harry Potter is ALWAYS an option that would also build lots of reading practice cause it starts real small and builds.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (lil’ spooky tho).
Literally any book by Sarah Dessen
Holes by Louis Sachar
Peter and the the Star Catchers is a BEAUTIFUL series for any age… By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.
Could you take them to a book store and let them wander and see what looks interesting? I know not to judge a book by it’s cover, but sometimes we all do it and kids be visual 🤩
Edit: I may have skipped over the 200 page request lol sorry! I stand by my choices tho! 😂😂
Additionally to all recommendations also consider the easiest option:
Take her to a bookstore/library and let her choose a book. She probably knows what level books she’s able to read. She also knows her tastes best.