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.
Expert: Madeline Date: 9/27/2007 Subject: i need book recomendations
Question i really need some recomendations for a good book. i really like books that relate to regular teenage life. that or adventure. if you have any recomendations that you can give i would really appreciate it. thanks
Answer Hi Amy,
Thank you for sending me your question! :-)
I must say that your search parameters are rather broad, since books about "regular teenage life" span a huge number of genres. Tell you what---I'll give you a sampling of the variety of books/authors that fit this description, and you can pick-and-choose what works for you...
If you're a fan of girly, "chick-lit" books, then definitely read Meg Cabot. She's most famous for her "Princess Diaries" series, but has written numerous other books, including the "Mediator" series and a number of other romance books for both teens and adults. Funny and frank, they're great books to curl up with when you're feeling under the weather. Add some tea and cookies (or ice cream) to taste...:-)
Also be sure to look at Louise Rennison's series "The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson" for books with similar topics and style. Like Meg Cabot's books, these are (essentially) light, fun, and frivolous.
If you prefer something with less fluff and more substance, then you might chose to look at a book called "My Sister's Keeper", by Jodi Picoult. The story follows the lives of the Fitzgerald family, where the youngest daughter, Anna, was conceived and born so that she could provide donor blood for her sister, Kate, who has leukemia. It's a sad, poignant book, but I would definitely recommend it.
"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", by Ann Brashares, is a very, very popular series for teens that you might take a look at if you haven't already read it. If you've seen the movie, I'd still recommend reading the books. Funny, real, and poignant---definitely worth your time!
Sarah Dessen is another author I would recommend that you consider. She has written quite a few books, including "This Lullaby" and "That Summer", and is well-recognized for her subtle, truthful, three-dimensional portrayals of teens and their lives. She is also a favorite of many friends of mine. :-)
It's a bit hard to define an "adventure novel", since the term "adventure" often tends to be combined with other genres to form composite genres like "adventure/science fiction" and "adventure/romance". Since I can't be entirely sure of what your tastes are regarding other types of fiction, here are some recommendations of books from a variety of genres:
Two adventure/historical fiction novels with a similar theme 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 1700-1800's. Both are extremely interesting, quick-paced reads, if you like something a little more exciting... And if you like one, be sure to read the other, since (despite the fact that the basic premise is the same) both are very different.
If you have not read Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series, please do! They are, quite honestly, some of my favorite books ever, and that's saying something! A wonderful blend of adventure and fantasy, these books are truly amazing, and I highly, highly recommend them! The first book is called "The Golden Compass" (or "Northern Lights", if you live in the UK), and a movie version of it is scheduled for release in early December, I believe. Nevertheless, I am definitely a member of the school of thought that says a movie is rarely as good as its book, so read it while you have the chance!
A classic book that you might consider reading (it's an interesting mix of adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy) is Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time". This is one of those rare books that appeals to adults, children, and teens, and has remained a staple in young adult fiction since its publication in 1962. It has won the Newbery Medal and numerous other awards, and is definitely worth reading. :-)
If you consider yourself to be a fairly mature reader, then you might also consider Frank Herbert's "Dune" series. These are fabulous, complex, intricate, and expertly-woven stories full of action and intrigue. They're an adventure/science-fiction mix, and like "A Wrinkle in Time", they remain astonishingly popular long after their initial publication. I highly recommend them. I should warn you, though---don't be discouraged or put-off if you read the first couple of chapters and are totally confused; because Frank Herbert set these books in a universe of his own creation, many of the names, places, and ideas are confusing to the first-time reader. However, discovering the meaning of these terms eventually becomes part of the experience of reading the book, rather like a mystery novel. I found it to be a very enjoyable challenge, and perhaps you will too...
If you're in the mood for something lighter, try Nancy Farmer's newest book, "The Sea of Trolls". Although at first it may feel as though it were written for much younger readers, I found that the story grew on me, and I ended up liking it a lot. It's quite funny, with an interesting adventure/historical fiction/fantasy mix. Even if you're not very familiar with Norse mythology, I think that this book would still be fun and entertaining.
You may also wish to consider a book by Michael Crichton called "Timeline". If you've already read it, that's great, but if not, do it! A more thrilling and un-put-down-able book is difficult to find, I think! Mix together some science that's nearly too real to be fiction, courtly intrigue in Medieval Europe, action-packed battles, and just a touch of romance, and add in a relentlessly ticking clock, and you've got one of Mr. Crichton's most popular books. :) Truth be told, a lot of Michael Crichton's books fall into that category...some others you might try are "Prey", "Jurassic Park" and its sequel "The Lost World", "The Andromeda Strain", and "State of Fear". If you like thrilling sci-fi, you've got to read these books. I should warn you, though, that these books were written for adults, not teens, and contain adult language and some violence. Nevertheless, they are great reads. :-)
I hope you find something that you like! If my suggestions just seem way off-target to you, or if you'd like to refine your search a bit, please don't hesitate to write back to me; I'd be more than happy to help. Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, let me know what you end up reading! I'm always curious to hear what people choose based on my recommendations...
