Best Books for Teenagers
The transition from children's books to adults books used to be a cap that wasn't particularly looked after well, as it was often a cap too difficult to fill, however in recent years there has been a great development in the amount of books available to children aged 11-17, like the very popular Harry Potter books, and more recently the Twilight Saga. The gene of books for teenagers is a lot more varied also now, from horror to romantic, to diaries which means getting them to read should be a lot easier now. Here are just some of the books that we loved for this age gap;
The Twilight Saga - Stephenie Meyer
How could we discuss books for this age group and not talk about the Twilight Saga. Many people will have seen the films but the books still shouldn't be missed, in fact people who have previously read the books have said they are better than the films!
The first book Twilight follows 17 year old Isabella Swan who moves to live with her Dad in Folks as her Mums moving to Arizona with her new partner, in Folks Isabella makes friends, but there is someone she just forget, Edward Cullen. Though as the story moves on she finds that he isn't just a normal 17 year old boy, falling head over heels for him, putting herself, Edward and the rest of the Cullen's in danger due to their secret.
In the second book, New Moon, Edward leaves and Bella's friendship with Jacob Black blossoms, Jacob (who has his own secret) is crazy about Bella but all she wants is Edward, and she'll go to any length to get him back. With lots of twists and turns New Moon is the ultimate fight between Edward and Jacob to get Bella, but she only has eyes for one boy!
The third book Eclipse, is full of tension, Victoria, the girlfriend of James killed in the first book is after revenge and she has Bella in her sights. Killings carry on in Folks and Bella feels as though her time with Edward is slipping away. She has gradation round the corner, a well as having to pick between Jacob and Edward, knowing the decision either way will restart the battle between Werewolf and Vampire all over again. Not forgetting the biggest decision of all, life or death!
Breaking Dawn is the final in the series in the Twilight saga, and if you think everything will run smoothly, well you obviously haven't learnt anything from the first 3 books! It's all down to one decision for Bella; Edward the boy she is uncontrollably in love with or Jacob, who she has a great friendship and connection with. Just when she makes her decision something comes along that could change and destroy it all. Will they live happily ever after, read it and see!
Things I want my daughters to know - Elizabeth Noble
Follow the story of 4 sisters Lisa, Jennifer, Amanda and Hannah, the book starts at the last few weeks of their mothers Barbara's life, suffering from terminal cancer she has the torment of knowing her girls are going to grow up without her. All at different stages in their life Barbara knows there is so much she is going to miss and not get to help them and tell them about, so in her final weeks she writes them letters to help guide them from beyond the grave.
After Barbara's gone all 4 of the girls have to deal with the grief and loss of their beloved mother as well as their own troubles in life, and her husband Mark feels just as lost, trying to deal with the loss of the love of his life, looking after his and Barbara's daughter Hannah and his step children, Lisa, Jennifer and Amanda, he often finds himself thinking what would Barbara do.
Lisa is the eldest, is in a relationship with a man she loves who loves her back, but for some reason she just can't commit, is it because she cheated or is she just waiting to find someone else, with her mums advise; let someone look after you', she tells the truth about her cheating and loses the man she loves, but can they work through it? Jennifer is married to the love of her life but there relationship has lost its course, unhappy as well as feeling a pressure to have children, Jennifer needs her mother now more than ever to help her to decide if her marriage can be saved. Amanda is the wild one of the bunch, never in one place for too long she missed Barbara's final few weeks, after sticking around to help out with her sisters, she meets the man that could change everything, and also finds out a piece of information that not just changed her mind about her mother, but about her whole life! Hannah is going through her teenage years trying to become a women without her mother as a role model, dealing with friends, boys and now her grieving dad, the ups and downs of being a teenager are even bigger without a mum.
Through her letters Barbara tells the tales of her past as well as helping the girls with their futures. A sad but heartfelt story, you will laugh as much as you will cry!
An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
Colin Singleton, has dated 19 Katherine's having being dumped by 18 of them and on his 19, he graduates from high school and finds himself again dumped by his girlfriend Katherine. Fed up of being dumped for the 19th time by a girl names Katherine he is pretty much at his lowest, so when his best friend Hassan suggests a road trip to make him feel better Coin can't see why not. They take to the open road and end up in Gutshot, Tennessee, where they make friends and decide to stay put for a while.
While in Gutshot they discover it is home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand's grave, and get offered a job, interviewing textile workers. They make friends with a girl called Lindsay and her mother welcomes Colin and Hassan to stay at their house. What Colin is looking for is an eureka moment, so whilst in Gutshot Colin keeps himself entertained by coming up with a numerical answer for love, trying to come up with proof that relationships can be predicted and graphed. The road trip provides Colin the chance to find these answers as well as finding himself. The book has a great it all; wit adventure, maths, odd little history facts, boys discovering things they never knew about the opposite sex, heartbreak, family, friends and much more! In this nerdy and quirky book you are sure to laugh along with Coil as well as discovering with him that life is most unpredictable.
Boy Meets Boy - David Levithan
Paul is 15 years old and in high school, but it is different to pretty much all high schools out there; with a homecoming queen who used to be a boy called Daryl and the cheerleaders riding Harleys! Paul is gay lad growing up in a town that doesn't have a gay scene or a straight scene, they all got mixed up a while back', as part a mixed group of friends, all of whom have their own teenage troubles.
The book follows them as they hang out at concerts, advise each other and of course fall in love. Paul falls for a guy called Noah and as they begin to get serious his ex Kyle turns up and tells him all is forgiven, but what will this mean for his and Noah's relationship? Then there's Tony, who's parent's refuse to acknowledge that he is gay and so all the gang have to keep with Bible verses sharp to act like their Saturday nights are spent revising the Bible. Then there is Joni whose boyfriend Chuck controls everything she does, though she doesn't want to believe it and much to the annoyance and disapproval of the rest of the gang. Then by no means is least there Darlene, Homecoming Queen and football quarterback, who really needs her own book to deal with her complicated love life!
This book will have you laughing out loud, tearing up and getting get excited for all of its colourful characters. Its great read for all but also particularly for gay teens struggling or looking for something to relate to.
The Confessions of Georgia Nicolson - Louisa Rennison
In this series of 10 books you are welcomed to the very funny world of teenager Georgia Nicolson, Georgia is a 16 year old girl who has all the problems of ever other teenage girl, her parents are embarrassing, her little sister Libby likes to torment her and their very mad cat Angus. As well as all this along with her friends The Ace Gang' she has to deal with moody teachers, unflattering school uniform and the biggest problem of all boys!
Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging is the first in the series, welcome to the world of Georgia and her diary full of funny and unfortunate events! As well as having to cope with her roller coaster of hormones Georgia has to tackle the problems of friendships, family and boys. After some cringing episodes like where to put your hands when kissing, turning up to a Halloween party dressed as a big pumpkin when everyone else has gone for the sexy' look, Georgia has to deal with her attraction to Sex God' Robbie. Though all is not simple (as you will soon realise it never is in Georgia's world) as he is dating her enemy, Wet' Lindsey!
After reading the first in the series of The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson you will want to read them all so here's the list;
1. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
2. It's Ok, I'm wearing really big knickers!
3. Knocked out by my nunga-nunga's
4. Dancing in my nuddy pants
5. ...and that's when it fell off in m hand
6. ...then he ate my by boy entrancers
7. ...startled by his furry shorts
8. Luuurve is a many trousered thing
9. Stop in the name of pants!
10. Are these my basoomas i see before me?
Desktop Publishing & Design: A Beginner's Guide - Roger C. Parker
An excellent book for anyone wanting to learn about graphic design, this book will teach you to create simple adverts, brochures or fliers using
Desk top publishing.