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What are some good suggestions for a 15 year old? Сlassic books pls

One of my new year’s goals with my son is to do a read along of classic books. What are some good suggestions for a 15 year old?

Deirdre #recommend #classics

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81 Answers

Amy

The Hobbit!

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Regan

Where Red Fern Grows

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Debbie

I want to read that. Been reading all the classics from my youth lately. There are things I notice in the writing now that I didn’t notice then. Time and a new perspective, I guess

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Regan

@Debbie – yes I have been reading classics from my youth , I have noticed a lot of things now that I didn’t know

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Debbie

The Yearling. I’m reading it right now and really enjoying it. The Call of the Wild is good too

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Pippa

I loved The Call of the Wild, must have been around that age when I read it.

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Thania

the outsiders! very good book

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DeirdreQuestion author

He read that in 8th grade. We did a read along then

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Lois

The Outsiders, The Giver,To Kill a Mockingbird,The Adventurers of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, The Princess Bride ?

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Gwendolyn

I second The Outsiders.

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Regan

I second all of this tiles ?

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Maryalis

My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara. Authors to consider: Jack London, Mark Twain, Howard Pyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Jane Austen, P. G. Wodehouse, if you are looking at the older classics. Also check out the list of Newberry award winners.

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Maryalis

The Once and Future King by T. H. White.

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Elaine

Perfect for that age. I read it about then too.

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Alexis

YESSSSSSSSS

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Naomi

Stranger in a strange land by Robert Heinlen…..

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Mary

Sexual content might not work

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Naomi

@Mary oh I don’t even remember sexual content…I read it years ago.?

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DeirdreQuestion author

Yeah…that’s awkward enough let alone reading it with your mom

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Naomi

@Deirdre ???

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Sally

Maybe Mom can discuss with him. May feel ?, but didn’t we all promise we would be open in discussing one day? ?

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DeirdreQuestion author

I’m looking for something that we can take turns reading out loud. I wouldn’t be comfortable reading a sex scene to my son

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Mary

Harry Potter series
To Kill a Mockinbird
These from a junior high English teacher
Also Agatha Christie
Many boys this age like science fiction

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Ender’s Gam

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Carolyn

So many great suggestions! Not classic, but very timely….the Hate U Give. Really important and you can offer your insight!

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Bonnie

My Antonia

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DeeAnn

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman…not a classic but truly a special story…:)

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Bonnie

If he likes time travel: 11/23/63

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Christine

The never-ending story, Peter and Wendy, Alice in wonderland, white gang, black beauty, the secret garden (may be too girly), the complete Grimm brothers tales….

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Christine

Narnia, treasure island, the princess bride (not sure how girly)…

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Mary

I read Princess Bride to my junior high classes. Every time it is shown on TV, kids write to me with great memories. The book is a fuller story while retaining all of the whimsy and humor. But ” as you wish”.

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Sally

My sons loved Narnia!

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Beverly

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70401.On_the_Road?from_search=true

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DeirdreQuestion author

One of my favorites

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Beverly

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7442.The_Electric_Kool_Aid_Acid_Test?ac=1&from_search=true

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Mary

So drug inspired….

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Beverly

@Mary “Long considered one of the greatest books about the history of the hippies” it shows the self-indulgence, narcissism and disillusionment with government that is also so prevalent today.

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Mary

@Beverly yeah, but from this hippie,drug inspired. Just saying….if parent is fine, I am, too.

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DeirdreQuestion author

I have that on my bookshelf. My kiddo is definitely not ready for this just yet

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Michael

I have that.book also it’s a little out there for kids to understand

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Beverly

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16981.Invisible_Man?from_search=true

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DeirdreQuestion author

He’s reading this in school. I’m so happy that this was on the list

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Susan

Huckleberry Finn, a Separate Peace, Far from the madding crowd, A Wrinkle in Time, Enders game.

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Beverly

Disappionting to see so many of the traditional mostly white male novels. And so many children’s books. Teens want coming of age. They want their world widened.

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Mary

See my comment below.

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DeirdreQuestion author

He reads a lot of coming of age, etc on his own. Our school curriculum doesn’t feature a lot of classic novels and I want to expose him to them. I enjoy reading out loud as well as playing audio books

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Lynn

Unfortunately, most of the “classics” that teenage boys would enjoy were written by white males. 50-100 years from now it’ll be a different story! ?

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Mary

As a teacher, I’d hesitate to recommend books that are more controversial, that is replete with sexual innuendo or drug references, unless the parent knows the book and chooses to deal with the content. When reading with a younger person, you need to be ready to explain and discuss honestly. Just my two cents…or three…but this should be an enjoyable time for all, not uncomfortable.

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DeirdreQuestion author

I should add that my son has autism so explaining sexual content or drug references might be challenging.

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Mary

@Deirdre phew! Yeah…maybe the beauty of some other, lighter lit would be good. What is he reading in class? Of Mice and Men is ninth grade lit here and allows for convo on bullying, the Depression, poverty…social situations. And it is a novella which helps so that he can feel the accomplish,net of finishing an entire book. Helps to glide to the next one.

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Jill

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

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Elizabeth

To Kill a mockingbird, a separate peace

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Renee

Dickens

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Rosalie

Anything by Charles Dickens.

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Barbara

The Red Badge of Courage

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Gail

New book: Wonder

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Alexis

Bridge to terabithia

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Joanne

A Tale of Two Cities, Silas Marner, Ethan Frome, Kidnapped, Treasure Island

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Glen

lord of the rings…

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Vona

Lord of the Flies, 1984, Brave New World (do those count?) The Giver, if he hasn’t already read it. These are the books that say things young people need to be hearing, especially now.

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Laura

Fahrenheit 451, because it can start so many other discussions and reading adventures

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Vona

@Laura ~ Yes, that one, too.

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Seth

So You Want to Be a Wizard, by Diane Duane.

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Jessica

Not sure if it counts, but what about Alex Ryder. Action packed spy series. Loved it.

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Glen

or the James Bond books

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Lynn

Sorry if these have already been suggested. For Classics: Of Mice and Men, Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Journey to the Center of the Earth.

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Jessica

Journey is on my list, still to be read. To kill A Mockingbird is amazing. Don’t like Animal Farm.

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Lynn

@Jessica. It’s been a looong time since I read Animal Farm. Maybe I shouldn’t recommend It until I re-read it ?.

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Jessica

I respect the book. The only reason I don’t like it is because it doesn’t end happily. But maybe others will enjoy it.

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Kat

The Three Musketeers

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Mindy

The unabridged Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, A Tale of Two Cities, LOTR.

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Michael

Neverwhere by Neil Gaimam

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Michael

Sorry Gaiman

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Anupama

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I will never forget the impression it left on me and how it shaped my reading choices.

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Bill

Anything and everything by Dickens

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Valerie

To Kill A Mockingbird

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Sam

Holes by Louis Sachar

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Kayrene

Harry Potter series (even if he saw the movies)

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Sharon

I love books that bridge the way to hard subjects. Something that open the lines of communication !The invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the burn journals by Brent Runyon, and Speak by Laurie Anderson

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Gayle

Life on the Mississippi or Roughing It by Mark Twain

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Pamela

Great Expectations is wonderful on audio books.

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Quintino

walden

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