My 13 y.o. daughter loves to read, and is very good at it. I've struggled for years to find appropriate yet challenging reading materials for her, and have managed to succeed up until now. She currently is sitting at a lexile of 1596 and I'm stumped. I've gone to the lexile website and entered her range but nothing appropriate comes up. Titles like "Insula of the Menander at Pompeii" and "Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace" pop up. She has litle interest in ancient history! Or, I am weeding through stuff that is inappropriate for her maturity level like "Voyeur Nation"
Where else can I go to find books that are both challenging yet age appropriate? If I don't have a constant supply of challenging stuff available she pulls out stuff like "Little House on the Prairie" for the 90th time. Arrrgh! I bite my tongue, but that's my hint that I need to get to the kindle store again.
On the flip side, my 10 y.o. ADHD son can't be bothered to even read the directions on a box of jello. Anything at his reading level (if BR is even a level?) is so babyish he runs screaming. How/where can I find stuff he can handle without him reading Dr. Suess?
Help!
Not sure I can help with your daughter, but a librarian might be able to. As for your son, look for High Interest/Low Vocabulary books. I think I actually saw some in our local library. A lot of kids also like graphic novels which are stories but done in comic book format. They're in the nonfiction section, I believe. Not sure the reading level of those, but they might interest your son.
The woman in charge of the children's book section at Barnes and Noble gave me some terrific ideas for my son. I suggest you try that. Also-has she read all of the classics? Of course lots of great stuff there. MAybe Jane Austen?
If you have a half price books near you I would check that out. My kids are the same way!!!!
We use the ar bookfind website as well, not sure how they can let you gauge and match the reading level, usually the school tells you. I'm sure it's easy enough...
I agree with your struggle. My daughter is 12 and I have similar complaints. She doesn't like fantasy at all, and any of the 'fluffier' people stories are always about kids in high school- with problems to match. Not appropriate! I'm going to see what other answers you get...
Good luck!
At 13 she should be able to read most anything regardless of the lexile level. Take her to the libary and let her choose things taht are interesting.
I am surprised she has time to read while shcool is in session. my 1st grader comes home with 2 books to read every single night. so that is all the reading we havet time for..
What does your daughter LIKE to read?
I would suggest some classics: Austen is fine, but will she get all of the references of the era? I read Jane Eyre and Little Women around that age, but loved them more later on, when I could read them with more context.
I agree with talking to the libarian. You want rich literature without language that's overly-dated.... for example, I loved Thackeray's "A Vanity Fair", but needed the footnotes to fill in the blanks. So, if you do go for a classic, make sure there are good notes to go with it.
I'm of the belief that reading should be fun. Does she like the older "Little House" books? Would she be interested in reading an actual biography on Mrs. Wilder? Or perhaps Willa Cather's stories? Biographies on her favorite authors would be rich as well.
Librarian time!
What about biographies? I would go to your local library and ask there:)
What kinds of books does she like?
Hi! What is she interested in? At 13 there is a world of choices. Left to Tell is beautiful, both of mine read it about that age. My daughter loved the movie A League of Their Own and went on to read a number of books about women in baseball. Classicly scary--- Dragonwyck, Frankenstein? Any Louisa May Alcott. Does she like science fiction? Historical fiction? My son loved the biography of Abagail Adams! Oh, I have some great books written by women recounting their lives on the prairie, check local state and national parks for some great reads. Honestly? Just let her cruise the aisles of the library.
Let her read the Little House books as many times as she wants to, they are her comfort food. I saw my Sarah with Harry Potter so many times I swear she could recite it but knew she read lots of other things too.
For your son why not find a comic book store and find their stash of old comics (the uncollectable and/or damaged ones) and let him read some? Or look to what he is interested in. Did you know there are Lego stories? How about a penpal or far away friends and family to communicate with?
I'm sorry, I have no idea what lexile anythings are. I just know that fostering their love for reading is all about letting them explore. I even survived the Captain Underpants stage!
