By the time they are eleven or twelve some children will have decided that they no longer want stories read aloud to them. So long as you are doing plenty of other things with them and it is their decision, this should not be a problem. However, if your children still enjoy having books read aloud, do continue for as long as they want. It may only be half an hour in the evening by this stage, but it is still a valuable time for you to relax together. If you find the idea of reading aloud to teenagers strange, read my article 'Raising Bookworms'. To see lists and brief reviews of the books I have read to my sons in the past few years, see the pages books read aloud 1999-2001 and books read aloud 2002-2003.
At this stage, although many children will still enjoy books in the section listed for the 9-13 age group, you can also read classics intended for adults, or your own childhood favourites. Some reviews from my son (written when he was 12) can be found at Tim's book page. In our family, Dad sometimes reads CS Forrester 'Hornblower' books, about a sea captain, or WE Johns 'Biggles' books about the famous air pilot in the last war. If you have not previously attempted 'Lord of the Rings' (see previous list), now might be the time to do so as your childrens' concentration should be well able to cope with a book extended over several months. Yet more suggestions can be found at The Bookbag - reviews of books for teenagers.
A few books enjoyed by my children as teens are:
Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey etc
Classics with a great deal of humour, which work well being read aloud. Some of the language is old-fashioned and may need explanations, but they give a good view of society in the last century. Ideal introduction to some classic literature.
Charlotte Bronte - Jane Eyre
This was my favourite book during my teenage years! It tells the story of Jane, an orphaned and neglected child who grew up to become a governess in a wealthy man's household. Exciting, if melodramatic plot, and most believable people, as well as giving a good indication of life in previous centuries.
Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, and many others!
These books are quite short, usually under 200 pages, and not particularly difficult reading: however they work well as bedtime read-aloud books for teens, with their clever plots, lengthy investigations, and brilliant conclusions. Agatha Christie wrote about 80 books, usually involving a murder with several likely suspects; yet most endings remain a surprise even after reading several of her other books. Hercule Poirot, who solves some of the problems, has become almost as much a legend as Sherlock Holmes, and the delightful elderly Miss Marple, who seems to get involved in others reluctantly, is a challange to ageism worldwide!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes books
There are various collections of short stories about Sherlock Holmes, from the first person narrative point of his friend Dr Watson. Although now over a century old, these mystery books make good reading aloud for long evenings. The seedier parts of 19th century England are involved - such as opium dens - but there is a dry humour as well as exciting plotlines.
Gerald Durrell - My Family and Other Animals, Birds Beasts and Relatives, etc
The story of a family of teenagers who, with their mother, move to Corfu. They meet a series of delightful characters who guide them through the pitfalls of living in an entirely different culture. This book particularly appealed to us as life in Corfu is apparently rather like life in Cyprus! There is some bad language used in some of the speech in the books (minor swearing) which could be missed out, but it is generally realistic. For animal lovers, Gerald Durrell has written many books about his expeditions around the world to collect rare and endangered species of animal to breed in his animal sanctuary in the Channel Islands.
James Herriot - All creatures great and small etc
Based on his own experiences as a vet in Yorkshire in the middle of the 20th century, James Herriot introduces us to delightfully eccentric characters and some serious vetinerary practice. As he gets to know the local farmers and is gradually accepted, we gain plenty of insight into the people of the time.
Jerome K Jerome - Three men in a boat, Three men on the bummel
The first of these is a hilarious account of three hypochondriacs who decide to take a boating holiday on the River Thames. Not much plot but plenty of anecdotes written with wry humour. A bit of moralising thrown in (but this book was written at the start of the 20th century) and a few peculiar events but enjoyable to read aloud. The second book has a similar theme, except that this time the three men take a cycling holiday in Germany.
Jan Karon - At home at Mitford, Light at the Window etc
Relaxing and gentle books about Father Tim, an Anglican minister in small-town America. No major excitement or dramatic plots, but a series of sub-plots developing through his relationships with a wide variety of people. Believable characters and conversations, and some light humour as well as sadness at times. There is a strong underlying Christian worldview implicit in the books, and Father Tim's relationship to God is unambiguous. But it is so well integrated that these books also appeal to many who are not themselves Christians.
CS Lewis - Out of the Silent planet, Perelandra, This Hideous Strength
A science fiction trilogy intended for adults, but appropriate for older children. Ransome, the story-teller, is kidnapped and sent to another planet where he meets and learns to communicate with the creatures living there. In the second book, he has to undertake a major task on another planet, in an allegory of the Genesis story of Creation and the Fall, and in the third book - which is somewhat frightening in places - he is up against evil criminals back on Earth.
Janette Oke - Heart of the Wilderness, Seasons of the Heart etc
A prolific Christian authors from the USA who has written several books about pioneer families around the turn of the century, following their trials and problems as well as their joys. A definite Christian message in each, alongside likeable and believable people.
Terry Pratchett - Discworld series
The cult humour/fantasy series (currently 26 books) based on a world which caricatures people and situations on earth. Full of unlikely people, trolls, dwarves and wizards, there is a lot of humour and clever observation going far deeper than is normal in this genre. Excellent to read aloud, as there is lots of subtle humour, although watch for a bit of bad language - mostly minor - from time to time.
Jean Ure - See you Thursday
A teenage girl is annoyed that her mother is going to take in a lodger, a blind music teacher. When she gets to know him, she finds he is young, undemanding and charming - and starts to fall in love with him. Excellent book to help see the positive side of blindness, and the kind of prejudice that handicapped or disabled people can sometimes suffer.
PG Wodehouse - Jeeves series, Blandings Castle etc
Another series written in the early 20th century full of humour and description of upper class society. In the Jeeves series, we meet Bertie Wooster, a wealthy bachelor in his 20s who is frequently asked to help his friends and lands himself in trouble. Jeeves, his valet, usually solves his problems. In the Blandings Castle series, Lord Emsworth is the delightfully eccentric earl who loves nothing more than keeping his pigs and wandering around the castle grounds. He comes into conflict with the rest of his family but usually emerges victorious.
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