When my husband and older daughter get together, their favorite conversations revolve around the television shows they both watch. My conversations with her also revolve about something we have in common, books. These shared interests make for interesting conversations that rise above the ordinary, “How are you? Or “What are you doing in school?”
With the surge of popular YA (Young Adult) books, one of the ways we can connect with our teen grandchildren is to read the books they are reading. When your pre-teen or teen wants to read a book that all his/her friends are reading but you (or the parents) think the subject matter might be too mature, consider this; read the book along with the child.
In my conversation with a social worker on this subject, she suggested that reading together can open discussions on those “difficult” topics like drug abuse, sex, and violence. If the child is asking to read these books, he/she already is curious about them and will find a way to read them anyway. But, if you read them, too, you have some influence on how he/she views the topic, and you can get to know your grandchild better, seeing how he/she thinks. As always, if you are the grandparent or other family member, make sure you get the parents’ approval.
If you have no clue what books might be good for this new adventure, ask you grandchild what he/she is reading both in school and on their own. You can also suggest some from the following list that have been and continue to be popular. (Check out the websites that follow each entry for additional information on these books and some of the films that have been made from them).
1. The Hunger Games trilogy: The Hunger Games #1, Catching Fire #2, and Mockingjay #3: author Suzanne Collins: “In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives.” Written by author
2. The Maze Runner trilogy : author James Dashner: “Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790864/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)
3. Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant: author Veronica Roth: “In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergent, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)
4. The Fault in Our Stars: author John Green: “Two teens, both who have different cancer conditions, fall in love after meeting at a cancer support group.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582846/?ref_=nv_sr_1)
5. The Giver: author Lois Lowry: “In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435651/?ref_=nv_sr_1)
6. The Host (#1) The Seeker (#2) The Soul (#3): author Stephenie Meyer: “The book is about Earth, in a post-apocalyptic time, being invaded by a parasitic alien race, known as "Souls", and follows one Soul's predicament when the consciousness of her human host refuses to co-operate with the takeover of her body.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Host_%28novel%29)
7. The Ghosts of Heaven: author Marcus Sedgwick “A bold, genre-bending epic that chronicles madness, obsession, and creation, from the Paleolithic era through the Witch Hunts and into the space-bound future. Four linked stories boldly chronicle madness, obsession, and creation through the ages.” http://www.yabookscentral.com/
8. Princess of Thorns: author Stacey Jay: “Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.” http://www.yabookscentral.com/
9. Hunting Monsters: author S.L. Huang: “Ever since she was a small girl, she has learned to be careful on the hunt, to recognize the signs that separate regular animals from human-cursed grundwirgen. To harm a grundwirgen is a crime punishable by death...”
10. The Fall: author Bethany Griffin: “Madeline Usher has been buried alive. The doomed heroine comes to the fore in this eerie reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story "The Fall of the House of Usher."
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