spending all our money on brand new novels

[faeriemaiden]

I really love my job.

Now, not every day is the giddy glory that the eight hours last Saturday were, but going to work and doing my work continuously makes me happy. Borders may not get a ringing endorsement from me as companies go, and certainly I have to wade through a lot of bureaucratic nonsense, and sell a lot of rubbish books (and even

Comments

[aohdwyn]

For tween-age girls? Tamora Pierce, all the way. Great heroines, nothing explicitly sexual (some stuff that shocked me, when I was a prudish ten years old, but looking back is very tame, and nothing a teen girl can't handle) and very fast reading. No vampires, unfortunately, but I've never been a big reader of vampire fiction, and what vampire fiction I'm A) reading now or B) have heard of, is all very much adult, explicit stuff. Charlaine Harris, for instance, is wonderful, but not in the least YA. TBH, I think that's why Twilight is so popular -- it fills an as-yet unfilled niche, being sexy vampire fiction without the sex. Of course, like I said, not that knowledgeable about vamp-fic.
Lessee ... I don't know if Borders would have it, or even if it's still in print (with the popularity of YA vamp novels, hopefully they're reprinting it, and you could suggest that they stock it?) but Vivian Vande Velde's (oof, is that a mouthful) YA vampire novel Companions of the Night would be a great post-Twilight book. No sequels, unfortunately, but all of her books are great, and she's a prolific author who deserves to be more in the spotlight.

Other, more general fantasy/YA/romance authors appropriate for teen girls ... Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles = awesome, as are all her books; Diana Wynne Jones, of course; Tanith Lee's stuff is great, though a lot of it is sadly out of print; Diane Duane's Young Wizard series is Amazing, and good for post-Harry Potter readers too; Sherwood Smith's Wren series (I think it was re-printed recently as a box set?) and her Crown/Court duel books; and ooooh, Shannon Hale is a relatively new writer with amazing YA books, I wish she had been writing when I was 12, I would devoured her books then.
That's all I can think of that would fit the age group ... and all, I think, not too difficult reading for those unfamiliar to it.

[bornofstars]

Seconding Tamora Pierce! Her Circle of Magic series was my first introduction to Fantasy Other Than Harry Potter, and while they're not high literature, the characters and plots are pretty fantastic. Her Immortals quartet (beginning with Wild Magic) was also a favourite of mine, and her Alanna books are good as well. Really, you can't go wrong with Tamora Pierce if you're looking for quality YA fantasy.

As for reluctant readers, perhaps try Lois Lowry's The Giver or A Wrinkle in Time; they're both science fiction, but subtle enough that I don't think it would alienate readers, and they're full of ideas, and beautiful writing. The Sight is a fantasy about wolves that I absolutely adored as a pre-teen - the writing is quite good, and the story is enormously compelling and original. My friend Megan's sister loved it, and she isn't a reader at all. And what about E.L. Konigsburg? Her books are always wonderful.

I'm trying to remember other books I loved when I was younger...hm. Perhaps I'll return with more titles...

[aohdwyn]

The Immortals Quartet was my favorite as well. =) It was much easier for me to connect with the uncertain, emotionally damaged Daine than with brave, tomboyish Alanna.

Oooh, I LOVED From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg! I spent my childhood being dragged from one museum to the next, and it was always fun to imagine being able to spend the night in one. I would love to spend the night at the Art Institute, although I'm pretty sure the Hall full of Armor would be inordinately terrifying at night.

[bornofstars]

Oh, definitely - I enjoyed the Alanna books, but never truly connected emotionally with them. Daine and Numair I loved.

The View from Saturday is my favourite E.L. Konigsburg. A gentle sense of humour and a bunch of intelligent, misfit children coming together? So lovely.

[faeriemaiden]

Heeee, my mother just gave me our extra copy of The View from Saturday. (But of course it was the paperback. Hmph.)

I love E.L. Konigsberg because she writes for children in the same way that most people write for adults -- something about all of the layers and ideas and interesting ways of looking at things and organising the telling of the story itself is so wonderful and right and expecting that children can understand things too, and it makes me happy.

[aliseadae]

Second to the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg and also her The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. They aren't SF/F but her books would be good for reluctant readers.

I'll think about this one and get back to you with more suggestions!

[wanderlight]

Wow! I am, essentially, seconding everything here. ;) Tamora Pierce was what turned me from a reader into a Serious Reader -- not the kind of reader who reads serious books, but the kind of child reader who would occasionally skip recess to read -- and Diane Duane's books probably changed my life. Patricia C. Wrede's stuff is so good that I like re-reading it even now, and it's really funny besides; Diana Wynne Jones does wonderfully wacky stuff that no one else can pull off.

As for boys -- not that girls won't love these also, because obviously I did, but I've never met a boy who liked Tamora Pierce much unfortunately -- T.A. Barron's Merlin books are excellent. Also, Orson Scott Card. <3

Banui, you are the Good Samaritan of all things literary, you know that? ;) Yay for improving young reading minds!

[faeriemaiden]

Banui, you are the Good Samaritan of all things literary, you know that? ;)

It is my life's goal. :D

(Although it is extremely distressing when a young teenage girl comes in looking for a book to read, because she HAS to read a book for school, and I try to interest her in Gail Carson Levine or Madeleine L'Engle or someone, and she walks off with a Clique novel instead. Inside I cry a little.)

[wanderlight]

(I know what you mean. My younger sister reads the Clique novels and all of that stuff. Inside I cry a little, too.)

[faeriemaiden]

Not that knowledgeable about vampire fiction myself -- I love a good vampire story, but almost all of them are crap. (Hence why I am writing my own?) Stupid teenage girls falling in love with vampires. They're alien and creepy and WILL EAT YOU. Unless you are Joss Whedon, I will probably not be interested.

Ooh, yes, Diana Wynne Jones! I think I can see some reluctant readers latching onto Howl's Moving Castle, or the Chrestomanci books, especially girls starved for adventure stories in which girls actually get to DO SOMETHING, and still get to be girls while they do it.

I keep meaning to read Young Wizards myself, but I've never run into them except in bookstores, and I, having little money, never buy books I haven't read. Except for today. But that was the sequel to a book I had read and I couldn't just buy one! And yes, Sherwood Smith!!! Crown Duel & Court Duel might be a good recommendation for Twilight fans looking for more fantasy romance, though this is of course a very different kind. And Wren is great fun; haven't read those in ages, though.