Books for teenagers

[stonemaybe]

Anyone know of any good new series that 12-15yo girls might like?

Recommendations from here ensured my nieces were into Twilight before any of their friends, so I've got a reputation to maintain!

[danlo]

THE MARBURY LENS looks highly interesting, and Patterson's Maximum Ride looks good too...

[Menolly]

What reading level are they at, Stone?

Have they tried the Landover novels? I think new ones are still being published.
Or, well, Pern? At least the Harper Hall trilogy? Although I would recommend the whole series, since Todd is publishing new books. And even the Harper Hall series may be new to their generation.

I am assuming they've read Artemis Fowl and HP already. At least AF is also ongoing.

Beorn suggests the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage, although the reading level may be a bit young and the series isn't new, just ongoing like the others.

danlo, Beorn heartily endorses your recommendation of Maximum Ride.

[aliantha]

For girls, anything by Tamora Pierce.

[Infelice]

I read a couple of really good novels for a Literature unit this year.

Skellig by David Almond and When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, although the girls may have already come across these two at school.

[Menolly]

I was thinking of Pierce's Circle series, ali. But are there plans for her to add to it? Stone did ask for new series, although I admit most of the ones I suggested have been around awhile as well.

Is Pierce releasing a current series? I would be interested in that myself, if so.

[Avatar]

Why only new ones?

--A

[Menolly]

If I am reading Stone's initial post correctly, he scored major points with his nieces for hipping them to the Twilight series before it caught on in the UK. He's hoping to strike gold of the same sort twice.

[aliantha]

Ah. I missed the "new". Dunno what Tamora Pierce is writing these days, actually.

[duchess of malfi]

Anyone know of any good new series that 12-15yo girls might like?

Recommendations from here ensured my nieces were into Twilight before any of their friends, so I've got a reputation to maintain!

Newish but not brand new - perhaps if they like the Twilight books they might like a series by Rachel Caine called The Morganville Vampires?

[Fist and Faith]

They'd be the first 12-15yo girls to read Malazan, I bet!

[stonemaybe]

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I really appreciate them.

Nieces are 11yo and 13yo but probable reading age a bit higher than that. I don't want to risk anything too risque as I value my friendship with my big sis and her husband too much!

Twilight was nice a couple of years ago because they then knew all about it, as their friends were getting obsessed.

I'm pretty sure they've read Pern, Menolly, as they were my big sister's favourite books (she got me into them when I was a kid) but it's worth checking out.

I've gone with Danlo's suggestion, and got them the first Maximum Ride book, with a promise to buy the rest of the series if they like them! Though I was a bit put off by the blurb on the back cover when it arrived - something along the lines of "don't put this book down, you're going to die if you do" or somesuch cr*p.

I'll look into the other suggestions made, as well - by all accounts they devour books but Fist, no I will not buy Gardens of the Moon for them for at least another two years!

[Menolly]

If they like Twilight, Beorn wants to throw out the Cirque du freak series as a possibility for them, if they haven't already read it.

[Cambo]

I second the Cirque du Freak nomination, with the caution that though they are written very much in a teen style, parts of the books are graphically violent. It is a very good series, though.

My recommendation is the Skulduggery Pleasant series. My 13 year old sister has them all, and I borrow them off her . Ripping yarns, violent and scary in parts but nowhere near Cirque du Freak, and best of all featuring a kick-ass female teenaged protagonist!

[stonemaybe]

Cambo I've taken your recommendation for Skullduggery as well - thanks.

[lorin]

When I was 11ish (back in the 16th century) my world was rocked by The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The characters may be a little dated but the story line is timeless. Gangs of unloved, unwanted teens, lots of angst, and a happy/sad ending. And Hinton was 18 when she wrote it so that in itself was very inspiring for an 11 year old. Looking back at it now it was such an innocent story compared to what is out there right now.

[Cagliostro]

The Earthsea books from Ursula K. Leguin are a suggestion from me. I think I initially read them between those ages.

[deer of the dawn]

Not new, but they certainly must read the Wrinkle in Time books by Madeleine L'engle if they haven't already, and Peter Beagle's The Last Unicorn, and of course [/i]The Hobbit[/i] etc.

If they're 11 and 13 now, they read Twilight at 9 and 11?? 9 y.o.s should be reading Little House on the Prairie. At least they were when I was nine, although I read them all when I was 7.

[Vain]

The Cherub series. My daughter NEVER reads and she is now besotted with them

[stonemaybe]

Danlo, The Maximum Ride series went down a storm! They loved them!