AboutMadeline Expertise I can answer questions regarding "tween", teen, and young adult literature and make recommendations about books you may like based on genres and authors you've read and liked in the past. I'm most familiar with fantasy (and science fiction, to a certain extent), but I've read plenty of other genres as well, and I will make an effort to find the answer to your question even if I don't know it off the top of my head. However, I do not answer homework questions (so please don't bother asking them), and I'm not very good at finding obscure books---the best I can suggest is a Google search! Thanks!
Experience I am an avid reader, and I am trusted by all my friends for my taste in books. I have read books in all of the following genres (though I do not claim to be an expert in all of them): fantasy (I term any book with a fantastical element to it to be "fantasy"), sci-fi, historical fiction, classics, realistic fiction, mysteries, and whodunits.
Question Hello Madeline...
You see, I'm 16 years old and I'm confined to two months of bed thanks to a medical condition, so I have been reading this whole time, but now I don't know what else to read... can you help me?
I like adventure, mystery, romance, fantasy, humor... and so on.
Some of the books I've liked and I think you may know are "The dark matter" series by Phillip Pullman."The giver" and "Number the stars" by Lowis Lowry, "The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" by Douglas Adams, "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, "Momo" by Michael Ende,"The tales of the Otori" series by Lean Hearn and I like some of the stories written by Gail Carson Levine...
I hope this doesn't bothers you... (-_-)
Thank you!!
Answer Hi Nani!
No, of course your question doesn't bother me; that's what I'm here for---to recommend books! Gosh, that must be tough to be stuck in bed for so long... I guess I'll just hope that you get well soon! I must say, though, that you've got great taste in books. I'm sure I can find suggest some others that you may enjoy...:D
Let's start with historical fiction, shall we?
"The Door in the Wall", a Newbery Medal-winning book by Marguerite De Angeli, is set in medieval England. The story follows Robin, a young boy crippled by disease, as he learns not only to cope with his disability, but to appreciate what he has been given instead. As preachy as that last sentence sounds, this is really a very good book (books don't win Newbery Medals for nothing, after all!), and I enjoyed it. :D
Two other historical novels that have similar themes are "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle", by Avi, and "Bloody Jack", by Louis A. Meyer. Both are stories of young girls living on the high seas in the 1700-1800s. Both are extremely interesting, quick-paced reads, if you like something a little more exciting...
Karen Cushman's "The Midwife's Apprentice" (yet another Newbery Medal-winner!) is a window into a medieval English village, and the life of a girl with no name who soon finds a place as the apprentice of the town midwife, Jane Sharp. Witty and fascinating, I immensely enjoyed this book. Ms. Cushman has also written another award-winning medieval novel, "Catherine, Called Birdy", which is also a fun read.
For something a bit more serious, try "Killer Angels", by Michael Sharra. An extremely well-researched story, the book follows the events of the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. The characters are not only well fleshed-out and believable, but are historically accurate. Definitely worth reading...
"The Lantern Bearers", by Rosemary Sutcliff, is not a book I have personally read, but comes to me highly recommended. It is set near the end of the Roman Empire, in Britain, and definitely has some darker, more serious themes. According to my sources, it is very evocative, with a high degree of realism, and is recommended for more mature readers. If you think you fit that category, then definitely check it out...
Another historical fiction novel for more mature readers is "The Queen's Soprano", by Carol Dines. Set in 17th century Italy, the story follows Angelica, a girl with a voice like an angel but no way to perform, since women are forbidden to sing in public by papal decree. Angelica must outmaneuver her mother (who wants her married to a rich husband), and the society that says women should not sing for audiences in order to pursue romance and her love of singing.
"The Other Boleyn Girl" is a historical fiction novel that has garnered a lot of positive press recently (and, if my sources are correct, was just made into a movie with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson). It was written for adults, but I'm sure it's probably appealing to mature teenagers as well, if you think you'd fit into that category. It is narrated by Anne Boleyn's younger sister, Mary. As with "The Lantern Bearers", I've not personally read this one, and based on the history involved, there might indeed be an explicit sex scene or two (it's written for adults, after all). But in my experience, I find that sex scenes in novels tend to---indeed, nearly always---have relevance to the storyline; after all, readers buy novels to read stories, not pornography. But if that really is of concern to you, then you might pass this one by...
"Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind" by Suzanne Fisher Staples, is a simply beautiful book. It's set in Pakistan, and is the coming-of-age story of a free-spirited young girl in the harsh Cholistan desert. In a similar vein, if you haven't read "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell, you simply must. Both are excellent books.
As for fantasy and sci-fi...
"The Moorchild" by Eloise McGraw is a favorite book of mine. It delves into the mysteries of the "Folk" of the British Isles, those elusive creatures with their uncanny ways and what happens when one child is caught between worlds. It is an excellent story, and I highly recommend it...
If you like Harry Potter, read any book by Diana Wynne Jones---her "Chronicles of Chrestomanci" series is her best (and in particular, I think that one book in the series, "Witch Week", is outstanding and downright hilarious). She is a wonderful, very funny writer. If you saw the newest Hayao Miyazaki film "Howl's Moving Castle", it is based on a book of hers. Definitely worth reading. :-) An added bonus (from your perspective) is that the aforementioned Chrestomanci series can be bought in two volumes, each containing two books in the series. Each one is at least an inch and a half thick. :D
If you haven't already read her books, Nancy Farmer is very popular for her humorous, thoroughly-researched fantasy and science-fiction written for kids and teens. "The Ear, the Eye and the Arm" is a unique and clever story set in Zimbabwe in the year 2194. If Norse mythology or Vikings are of any interest to you, try her newest book, "The Sea of Trolls". Both are very funny and interesting. :-) If you'd like something a bit more serious, though, I might suggest another book of hers called "The House of the Scorpion". It's aimed at a slightly more mature audience, but if you're a pretty mature reader, it should be fine. It is also set in the future in a fictional country called Opium, which is carved out of the southern United States and Northern Mexico. It deals with several controversial issues, but is fascinating, and like "The Ear, the Eye and the Arm", it is meticulously researched and a very good read. I *highly* recommend it. :-)
"Abarat" by Clive Barker is definitely one of the most..er..."unique" books I have ever read in my life. Full of fantastical paintings done by the author himself (be sure to get an illustrated hardcover version and not a paperback), the story weaves around a fantastical archipelago of islands, each attached to a particular hour of the day. It is such a different, quirky concept, but it works, and I highly recommend it! Definitely check it out, if you can!
Ursula K. Le Guin is an EXTREMELY prolific writer, who has written a huge number of science fiction and fantasy books for young adults. I haven't read all of her work (to do so would take months!), but I can recommend some of her books, in particular the "Earthsea" series. The first book is "A Wizard of Earthsea", and other titles include "The Tombs of Atuan" and "The Farthest Shore".
Anne McCaffrey, like Ms. Le Guin, is an very prolific author, but she is most famous for her series called "The Dragonriders of Pern". The first book in the series, "Dragonflight", is a good place to start, but chronologically, the first book is called "Dragonsdawn". Interestingly enough, if you begin with "Dragonflight", you will read these books thinking that they are fantasy. Begin with "Dragonsdawn" instead, and you will discover that they are actually science fiction. Fascinating books! I highly recommend them. :-)
"Dune" is another series of incredible books that drift somewhere in between science fiction and fantasy. Frank Herbert is a master of a writer---his stories fairly burst with action, philosophy, and political intrigue. In the same way that J.R.R. Tolkein is seen as one of the founders of modern high fantasy, Frank Herbert is one of the greatest science fiction authors of the 20th century. I should warn you that these books are probably for more mature readers. If you think that you fit this category, then I would HIGHLY recommend "Dune" and all the other books in the series. I will also warn you that this is the sort of book where the author doesn't coddle you by explaining and describing the details of the world his characters inhabit right at the beginning of the book---you just have to piece it together as you go along, which is actually quite fun.
Have you already read the "Artemis Fowl" books, by Eoin Colfer? They're very popular---original, witty, and action-packed. The main character is a criminal mastermind...and he's also twelve years old. Overall, a very quick read with both fantasy and sci-fi elements, if you like that...
If you have a nose for genre science fiction at all, you could also try "Ender's Game", by Orson Scott Card. The main character is a young boy, and although the book was not written for young adults, many, many kids and teens I know have read it and loved it.
Now for some books that are a bit more difficult to classify:
May I just say that if you have not read "Holes", by Louis Sachar, it is most definitely worth your time! It is certainly one of the most unusual books to win a Newbery Medal, but it deserves it. "Holes" tells the story of Stanley Yelnats (a boy whose last name is his first name spelled backwards) and his punishment for a crime he did not commit. The juvenile court sentences him to go to Camp Green Lake (a ward for juvenile delinquents). There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. And there is no green either. But there are hundreds of thousands of holes, which are dug by the inmates every single day---five feet wide and five feet deep. And nobody knows why. Again, if you have not read this book, do it!
You may like "Coraline", by Neil Gaiman. The story bears a vague resemblance to that of Alice in Wonderland, but truly, this is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. What's interesting to me is that it is creepy in a very innocent sort of way---no blood and guts or anything like that. In fact, there is an almost Hitchcock-esque feel to it. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed being creeped out by it. Give it a try and see if you like it. Actually, you might like many of Neil Gaiman's books! Most of them are written for adults, but mature teenagers could definitely read them. If you've seen the recent movie "Stardust", it's based on a book of his by the same title.
As for favorite classics of mine...well, I won't go into two much detail. But I do love Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables"---it's a truly beautiful book, and thick enough to keep you occupied for several weeks, at least! The other classic that I'd recommend is Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World". It is often compared to George Orwell's "1984", but frankly, I prefer it. :) Like "1984", it takes place in a futuristic "dystopia", but that's where the similarities end. It is somewhat reminiscent of Lois Lowry's "The Giver" because the world that the characters inhabit is perfect: everyone is happy, everything is peaceful and productive. But this perfection is so complete that it is absolutely terrifying to the reader---it's all just inherently wrong. I won't explain much more, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so you may wish to give it a try.
I hope I haven't overloaded you with suggestions, and I hope you find something to your liking! If my suggestions are way off-target in terms of genre, or if you have any questions, please feel free to write back. Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, let me know what you end up reading and/or liking; I'm always curious to know what people pick based on my recommendations...:-)
Good luck and happy reading!
Best wishes, as always,
-Madeline
