Tween & Teen Book Recommendations

by Lisa Nehring | Dec 22, 2018 | Homeschooling

Tween & Teen Book Recommendations

Tween & Teen Books Recommendations because writers are readers, book reviews are a regular part of our bi-monthly Writing Club! Check out what our True North Homeschool Academy Tweens and Teens are reading and see if you can’t find something new to add to your book list!

Analogy

• The Knight & Kingdom series by Chuck Black -5*
• Cross Roads by Paul Willis -5*
• The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel -3.5*
• Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis -5*  An insightful, thought-provoking piece, done by the ever brilliant CS Lewis, on the old, well known Cupid and Psyche myth. Something to be aware of: this book is a CS Lewis masterpiece, and therefore if you do not look past the face of this book, then you have missed the entire point of CS Lewis. This is a layered book. And I mean LAYERED. Though the writing is simple enough, the ideas, metaphors, and insight are all pretty hefty. Don’t read this if you aren’t ready to think deeply.

Christian Horror

• The Visitation, Frank Peretti -4* A burned-out pastor struggles and grows in his faith as a man claiming to be Jesus shows up in his town.  Supernatural events turn the small town upside-down…he must take action. Good read overall- drags towards the middle, but once you get towards the end you’re almost afraid to put it down!

Classical Book Recommendations

• Silas Marner, By George Eliot – 5* Set in old England, it walks through the life of a falsely accused weaver and his slow redemption.

Dystopian

• Fahrenheit 451; Ray Bradbury -5*  What would happen if books were illegal? What would happen if America gave up on substance and chased after pleasure? Ray Bradbury looks into this idea in his classic, award-winning Fahrenheit 451. From the view of a Firefighter, whose whole job is to burn books, life isn’t going well. His wife almost commits suicide, he isn’t happy, and war is on the horizon. Through curiosity, and something like instinct he starts to snitch books, and after a particularly rough day, decides to see what’s inside them, which launches him into a odd sort of journey, or adventure, but I think it’s a little more interesting than that, I just don’t know what else to call it.
• The Unwanteds -5 * 

Fantasy

• The Hobbit by Tolkien- (fantasy) -5* Bilbo was a hobbit. He didn’t do much, and he didn’t go anywhere. But he had a friend who happened to be a wizard, who decided that it is about time Bilbo ought to have an adventure. After being horrified at the amount of personality that can fit into the small body of a dwarf, not to mention their appalling manners, Bibo eventually joins a bond with the plus-sized personalities of the dwarfs and has the opportunity to have a riddle contest not only with a dilapidated hobbit but also a dragon. Plus he also gets to sing songs with elves, and travel through giant spider infested forests. What more could you ask for?
• The Menagerie Trilogy by Sue Ann Carter Sutherland -5*
• The Ascendance Trilogy, by Jennifer Nelson -5*This is the story of a mischievous prince ascending to his throne despite the many obstacles.  Five stars.
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien -4* When Frodo Baggins inherits a magical ring, he is thrown headlong into the quest of a lifetime.  This epic novel tells a story of love, bravery and the extraordinary battle between good and evil.  Although rather long, it is a suspenseful and action-packed read to the very end.
• Michael Vey series, by  Richard Paul Evans 4*  This seven-book series is the story of teenagers with abilities involving electricity.  It is not strictly Christian, but an adventurous read.
• Kensuke’s Kingdom by M Markpuro -4.5*
• Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland -5* -Clay, Tsunami, Sunny, Starflight, and Glory must save the world with their awesomeness.  A giant war is raging…but what can five dragonets do? Sutherland gives wonderful voice to her characters, and though it’s at an easy reading level, you can’t put it down until you’ve read cover to cover (or book 1 to book 5).
• Michael Vey series, by  Richard Paul Evans. 4*This seven-book series is the story of teenagers with abilities involving electricity.  It is not strictly Christian, but an adventurous read. 
• The Ascendance Trilogy, by Jennifer Nelson. 5*This is the story of a mischievous prince ascending to his throne despite the many obstacles.

Historical Fiction Book Recommendations

• The King of Shadows (Shakespeare’s Time) -5*
• Carry on, Mr. Bowditch   -5* (colonial America)
• The Star Under the City -5* (WWII)
• Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz -5* (WWII)
• Michael O’Shaunessey and his parents are spies in Germany during WWII.  When he joins (infiltrates) the Hitler youth, things get complicated. This is a fantastic book.  Humor, suspense, history, adventure…this book has got it all.
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell -4*

How To

• How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie -5* One word: Fascinating!  I don’t agree with all of his policies, but the amount of examples he gives as evidence of success is astounding! Dale Carnegie not only has an amazing writing style, and wonderful stories, but his content is worth looking into. Whether you are in the workplace, with your kids, or with human beings in general, How to win friends and influence people could be the answer to well, some, your problems.

Mystery

• The Mystery & the Minister’s Wife Series -5*
• The Secret of the Golden Cowrie by Gloria Repp- 5* This book is about a little girl trying to find a precious shell while escaping danger along the way.

So there are our top book recommendations.  How about you?  What are you reading?

Book recommendations given by our amazing Writing Club members: Parker, Hannah, Emily, Gabi, Malachi, Ada, Venetia, and Sydney.

(Interested in joining the True North Homeschool Academy  Writing Workshop Level 1 and 2?  You can check it out here.)