Great books for young people?

[Tiefling]

I would say it doesn't. I'm familiar enough with you, Tiefling, to say you're not a typical 14 year old.

There are no real ironclad rules for this sort of thing. Some 12 year olds would be fine with the Martin books, most won't. You have to know the individual kid. As a general rule, though, I wouldn't give the books to any kid of mine unless I thought they were ready, and even then they'd have to deal with repeated talks about the adult issues raised; I'd be reading the books right along with them.

I guess I'm not really typical, but I have gone to school with droves of "typical" kids. That's what I'm basing my opinion on.

I'm not really sure any of them would WANT to read a book if they had to have repeated talks about the adult issues raised, though.

I just don't think that there's any book that's "inappropriate" for any age. If the mind is not ready, it will get bored, and the kid will stop reading the book. Otherwise, the mind will render the events of the book in a way that the mind is capable of understanding and is ready to accept.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffery

(Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, & Dragondrums)

While I read Thomas Covanent at the age of 14 I would NOT recommend it to children. That would be like recomending Dune to a child IMHO.

 

[Mistwell]

I guess I'm not really typical, but I have gone to school with droves of "typical" kids. That's what I'm basing my opinion on.

I'm not really sure any of them would WANT to read a book if they had to have repeated talks about the adult issues raised, though.

I just don't think that there's any book that's "inappropriate" for any age. If the mind is not ready, it will get bored, and the kid will stop reading the book. Otherwise, the mind will render the events of the book in a way that the mind is capable of understanding and is ready to accept.

I'd be interested to know if your opinion was the same at age 30.

 

[Infinite Monkey@Work]

Wonderful list!

I'll add Momo, by the guy that wrote the Neverending Story. Its similarly slightly dark and surreal, but still completely suitable for children.

 

[SemperJase]

I'd be interested to know if your opinion was the same at age 30.

So true. My views changed dramatically with the experince of those years.

 

[Michael Sorensen]

As a kid I read (usually several times each) --

The Dark Is Rising Sequence.
The Chronicles of Narnia.
The Secret of Nimh.
The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings. (mostly the Hobbit)
Lots of Roald Dahl.
One of my Dad's Greek Mythology books (not all the stories, but a bunch).
Some Piers Anthony.
The Myth series.
David Eddings.
The Colour of Magic (Pratchett).
and a bunch of others that I can't really remember right now (although I do remember Where the Wild Things Are, Dr. Seuss, and Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No-good Very Bad Day from a very early age).

As an aside -- I would not recommend Martin to anyone under 16-18 except in rare circumstances, but at the same time, I agree with Tiefling that most kids that age would read about 10 pages and surrender (heck, I know a lot of adults that would read about 10 pages and surrender=)).

 

[Danzilla]

When I was young I read a great number of books, a number of which have previously been mentioned so I’ll only add a couple...

Bullfinchs Mythology

Bio of a Space Tyrant (5 book series by Piers Anthony)

Though the second might not be for all children...

 

[MerricB]

Bio's definitely not for younger children; Xanth is, and some of the Incarnations of Immortality series - which I adore!

I grew up reading the ERB Barsoom books (A Princess of Mars, etc.) They're great for D&D inspiration!

Cheers!

 

[Tiefling]

I'd be interested to know if your opinion was the same at age 30.

If this board is around in 16 years, I'll let you know.

 

[LcKedovan]

Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffery

(Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, & Dragondrums)

While I read Thomas Covanent at the age of 14 I would NOT recommend it to children. That would be like recomending Dune to a child IMHO.

I dunno, I read them at that age and loved them... admittedly they were dark and I missed some undercurrents of the book due to age, however still suitible. Its like the Simpsons kids can laugh at it, but thez often totally miss some of the jokes that more adult viewers get. Ok, Dune would be pretty hefty... and I read Asimov's Foundation series at that age.... well started too and abandoned it.. reading it later in my 20s was MUCH more enjoyable.

-W.