Below are brief reviews of the books I've read aloud to my sons (now 17 and 15) since the beginning of 2001. Most recent are at the top - and the quantity is decreasing as they become busier! For general ideas about books to read to teenagers, see the page fiction for teens. For an article about reading aloud in general, see Raising bookworms. For the books I read to them from May 1999-Dec 2000 see the page of books read aloud, for age 9-13.

October 2003

Terry Pratchett - The Wee Free Men

Officially a children's book, this is the story of Tiffany, a nine-year-old girl who gets caught up in strange events when another world tries to collide with the Discworld. Her little brother is stolen, and she goes to his rescue aided and abetted by the 'wee free men', the Nac Mac Feegle, who are six-inch high blue fighting chaps that speak with a Scottish accent and generally cause trouble wherever they go. An excellent book for teenagers and adults as well as a good introduction for younger children to the Discworld, and it's even divided into chapters (unlike all the rest of the Discworld books) so is ideal for reading aloud. If you want to know more about this book, you can read a longer review I wrote at the Ciao site, called Facing the Fearless Feegle.

August 2003

Jane Aiken Hodge - Go Saddle the Sea

Felix, a twelve-year-old boy, lives in his grandfather's house in Spain. He is unloved, other than by the cook. When she dies early in the book, Felix sets outalone on a mule to find his mother's family in England. Along the way he experiences exciting and sometimes terrifying adventures, meets some delightful people, and learns a great deal about the world He gradually overcomes his wilfulness, arrogance and stubbornness, and makes some lasting friendships. Arriving at last at his destination, he discovers that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence - and makes a major decision that leads on to the sequel. This is really a book for younger teenagers, but it's extremely well-written and makes an excellent read-aloud book. I wrote a longer review of this called Exciting Escapades at the consumer site Ciao.

Agatha Christie - Evil under the Sun

Hercule Poirot is on holiday in a hotel in a beach resort off the south coast of England. One of the other guests is murdered, and he works with the police to discover who is responsible. A nice balance of different types of people, and an interesting mystery with an unexpected ending.

July 2003

JK Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

A LONG book, fifth in the popular series. Well worth waiting for! This makes an excellent read-aloud, since each chapter is interesting in itself. Harry is now fifteen, and annoyed that nobody will tell him what is going on since the events at the end of book 4. During the summer holiday, staying with his muggle relatives, he is shocked by a dementor attack. Producing his patronus to save himself and his horrible cousin Dudley, he breaks the rule about under-age magic, and is called before the Wizengamot, threatened with expulsion from Hogwarts school. Although acquitted, his return to school is not as happy as usual, since there is a new and cruel teacher, Dolores Umbridge, who is soon appointed to be a school inspector. The book follows the usual form with different twists, as ever - ending with the Ministry of Magic finally realising that Lord Voldemort has returned, and Dumbledore explaining to Harry some more of the things that have confused him. I reviewed this more fully on the Ciao site, see A Great Family Read - although there are a few minor spoilers in the review.

Georgette Heyer - Detection Unlimited

An unpopular lawyer is murdered, while several people are returning from a tennis party in a small village. Scotland Yard is called in, and Inspector Hemmingway interviews suspects in his inimitable way. Dry humour and good characterisation run alongside the investigation, leading to the unmasking of the murderer. Enjoyable.

June 2003

Agatha Christie - Nemesis

This has to be the dullest Agatha Christie book I've read. Miss Marple is asked by letter to solve a mystery or right a wrong, for a friend who has died. Gradually she finds clues, and discovers what to do - but the plot is repetitive with lengthy monologues as everything so far is explained yet again! The 'clues' are very obvious, and the idea of Miss Marple as 'Nemesis' is mildly amusing rather than chilling.

May 2003

Georgette Heyer - Death in the Stocks

Some humour, interspersed with strong characters and a plot that keeps us guessing until near the end. Someone is found dead in some old village stocks, and the quest is to find who put him there, and why. Enjoyable.

April 2003

Georgette Heyer - Why shoot a Butler?

Great characters including the dry and amusing Mr Amberley, who sets out to investigate the shooting of a butler in a lonely road, late at night. Cleverly written, this 'whodunit' leaves us guessing right until the end.

March 2003

Agatha Christie - The Big Four

The world is under threat by four evil criminals. Poirot and Hastings come close to them all before the final climax. This is a thriller rathr than a mystery, with the usual pompous Poirot humour, and a few unexpected twists towards the end.

January - February 2003

Terry Pratchett - Night Watch

27th in the Discworld series. Sergeant Vimes gets taken back in time and finds himself re-living the early days of the Watch, during riots. Clever idea, but there is really too much fighting and bad language for my tastes, and not enough humour or plot. All ends well, but this was not one of my favourites by this author. Pratchetts are not the easiest of books to read aloud, since there are no chapters!

October - November 2002

Ellis Peters - The Sanctuary Sparrow

Liliwin, a juggler, claims sanctuary as the monastery aftr being accused of robbing someone at a wedding. Brother Cadfael doesn't believe Liliwin is guilty, and does some investigating before uncovering the truth. A well-told story with sufficient clues to guess who the guilty person was, eventually. Also a mild 'love interest' with a servant girl who is keen on Liliwin. Satisfactory conclusion.

August 2002

Mary Stewart - The Prince and the Pilgrim

Two separate plots start this book: the first revolves around Alexander, who is in exile with his mother after his father is murdered by King Mrch of Cornwall. The second is about Alice, who accompanies her father on pilgrimages each year. Eventually Alice and Alexander meet and fall in love. They must overcome Madoc, a relative of Alice's who expected to marry her, and who has established himself in her father's home while they were away. Realistic and very well-written.

May-June 2002

Agatha Christie - The ABC Murders

A cleverly-written book featuring Hercule Poirot trying tosolve a series of apparently arbitrary murders, each of which begins with a different letter of the alphabet. Gradually more and more characters are drawn together n an attempt to find the murderer; Poirot, meanwhile, is more concerned with the motive. His research and questioning lead to a clever twist and an entirely unexpected conclusion.

April 2002

Charlotte Brontë - Jane Eyre

Orphaned Jane is brought up by her cold, unloving aunt, and sent to a charity school where she suffers hardship. She perseveres, and at eighteen applies for a job as governess at Thornfield Hall. She makes friends with Mrs Fairfax, the housekeeper, and gradually falls in love wit Mr Rochester, owner of the hall: a blunt man, several years older than she is. Thronfield Hall has a mystery which Jane finally learns about in horrifying circumstances, leading her to depart immediately. Some rather unlikely coincidences follow, but Jane makes new friends and eventually finds her heart's desire in a most encouraging ending. I wrote a longer review of this book on Ciao, entitled My All-time Favourite Book as a Teenager.

August 2001

Terry Pratchett - Thief of Time

26th in the Discworld series. The apocalypse threatens when a glass clock is planned, although it is eventually averted. The Auditors take more of a role in this than in previous books, and Susan Sto Helit once again is called in to assist her grandfather, Death. Terry Pratchett keeps up his excellent style: clever plots underwoven with subplots; light humour mixed with apposite digs at life and human nature.

June 2001

Agatha Christie - Cards on the table

Cleverly written plot revolving around a bridge game. Hercule Poirot is invited to a party where, he is told, four successful murderers will be present. During a game of bridge, the host is stabbed. There are only four suspects, each of whom has probably committed murder - and got away with it - in the past. As Poirot investigates, helped by the police, each suspect in turn appears to be the guilty one until finally the truth is revealed. Excellent!

May 2001

GK Chesterton - The Innocence of Father Brown

Short stories about the clever Catholic priest, mostly involving his reformed thief friend Flambeau. soem clever plots, although some are rather convoluted and obscure. This book does include a few rather nasty murders, as well as light humour in places. Good for reading aloud.

Agatha Christie - The body in the library

The book begins when a dead body is discovered in Mrs Bantry's library. The police are called, as well as Mrs Bantry's friend Miss Marple. Unexpected twists occur as Miss Marple sets to work to solve mystery. Reasonably good although rather complicated in places.

Agatha Christie - Three Act Tragedy

An actor throws a dinner party, and one of the guests suddenly drops dead. An accident is assumed, until a similar event occurs at anothe rdinner party some months later. Hercule Poirot gets involved, and solves the mystery is his inimitable fashion. Clever plotting and almost believable ending, with a little humour thrown in.

April 2001

PG Wodehouse - Much Obliged, Jeeves

Bertie Wooster goes to Market Snodbury to help his friend Ginger in a political campaign. As ever he is beset with ex-fiancees, and worried that one of them might decide to marry him. Jeeves solves the problem in usual brilliant fashion.

March 2001

Terry Pratchett - The Truth

25th in the Discworld series. William de Worde, who writes monthly gossip letters for rich people on the Discworld, discovers that the dwarfs have created a printing press. And so the first Ankh-Morpork newspaper gets going. Meanwhile Lord Vetinari has apparently committed a murder, and has been arrested. Foul old Ron and the beggars play a larger than usual part in this book, another clever and amusing look at part of life from the Discworld perspective.

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