Family Book Club Recommendations
April 27, 2023 9:22 AM Subscribe
Please recommend some books for a possible summer family book club. The readers are two parents in their mid-40s, a college age son, a high school age son, and a 10 year old daughter. We are open to books from most genres.
My kids are interested in doing a family book club this summer where we all read the same book and talk about it. The challenge is finding books that are engaging for all of us. We are all good readers, even my 10 year old daughter. I primarily read scifi and fantasy but am open to all genres. Although I read a lot, I have often found the books that I loved as a kid sometimes feel a bit slow for my kids, so newer suggestions would be especially helpful. Thanks!
My kids are interested in doing a family book club this summer where we all read the same book and talk about it. The challenge is finding books that are engaging for all of us. We are all good readers, even my 10 year old daughter. I primarily read scifi and fantasy but am open to all genres. Although I read a lot, I have often found the books that I loved as a kid sometimes feel a bit slow for my kids, so newer suggestions would be especially helpful. Thanks!
Best answer: Oooh I think Circe by Madeline Miller would be wonderful for this. It's beautifully layered, but not a difficult read at all.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:52 AM on April 27, 2023
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:52 AM on April 27, 2023
That's about the age I first read The Hobbit and the trilogy...
Something very different that might work, depending on the maturity of your daughter, is Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See." It works for a range of ages: My wife and I loved it when we read it last year, it's on my sons' summer reading list for senior year HS, and your daughter might appreciate the young girl who is probably the central figure of the story.
posted by martin q blank at 10:05 AM on April 27, 2023
Something very different that might work, depending on the maturity of your daughter, is Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See." It works for a range of ages: My wife and I loved it when we read it last year, it's on my sons' summer reading list for senior year HS, and your daughter might appreciate the young girl who is probably the central figure of the story.
posted by martin q blank at 10:05 AM on April 27, 2023
(As previously suggested on Ask) - I just read The Forgotten Beasts of Eld in full on a 3-hour flight. I loved it and if everyone likes fantasy, highly recommend!
posted by Glinn at 10:29 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 10:29 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Terry Pratchett works for all ages. I'd start with Guards! Guards!
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:33 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:33 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Our whole family (late 40s parents, teen, tween) enjoyed Trevor Noah's autobiography, Born a Crime.
posted by rube goldberg at 10:38 AM on April 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by rube goldberg at 10:38 AM on April 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
Best answer: Anything by Dianne Wynne Jones: Howl's Moving Castle, Charmed Life, Lives of Christopher Chant, Witch Week, Homeward Bounders, The Dalemark Quartet, Magicians of Caprona, Time City, to name a few.
If you haven't already read them all.....
posted by ichimunki at 10:48 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
If you haven't already read them all.....
posted by ichimunki at 10:48 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson might fit the bill. It's a nicely balanced blend of hard and soft sci-fi, with the main narrative unfolding through the eyes of a 14 year old. It has big themes you can discuss, but it's got enough going on story-wise that it's not a heavy read.
Another interesting read with a young protagonist is American War by Omar El Akkad. It's a dystopian view of a future post-secessionist America through the eyes of a 12 year old.
For something more upbeat, the recent Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin would probably satisfy a range of readers.
Portrait of a Thief (Grace D. Li) is a heist book where college students are the main characters.
Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun enters the uncanny valley in a gentle, oblique, and thought-provoking way that readers of various ages can engage with, and also has big themes. The main character is an Artificial Friend for a 14 year old girl.
Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land has a sprawling setting in both time and space, and is again a nice mix of big themes and dynamic plot.
Several People Are Typing (Calvin Ksulke) is billed as a work-from-home satire and has a technological aspect that might level the playing field for readers of different ages.
posted by cocoagirl at 10:49 AM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Another interesting read with a young protagonist is American War by Omar El Akkad. It's a dystopian view of a future post-secessionist America through the eyes of a 12 year old.
For something more upbeat, the recent Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin would probably satisfy a range of readers.
Portrait of a Thief (Grace D. Li) is a heist book where college students are the main characters.
Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun enters the uncanny valley in a gentle, oblique, and thought-provoking way that readers of various ages can engage with, and also has big themes. The main character is an Artificial Friend for a 14 year old girl.
Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land has a sprawling setting in both time and space, and is again a nice mix of big themes and dynamic plot.
Several People Are Typing (Calvin Ksulke) is billed as a work-from-home satire and has a technological aspect that might level the playing field for readers of different ages.
posted by cocoagirl at 10:49 AM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Watership Down
posted by Daily Alice at 10:58 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Daily Alice at 10:58 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells are sci-fi with swashbuckling adventures and engaging characters. Probably OK for the 10-year old, but give them a look first to be sure. Best read in order, I think.
posted by Quietgal at 11:21 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Quietgal at 11:21 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Naomi Novik's Uprooted.
Of the 600+ fantasy novels I’ve read over the last few years, Uprooted is clearly the best.
posted by jamjam at 11:31 AM on April 27, 2023
Of the 600+ fantasy novels I’ve read over the last few years, Uprooted is clearly the best.
posted by jamjam at 11:31 AM on April 27, 2023
Response by poster: These are all very interesting suggestions. Almost all of the scifi/fantasy suggestions I have read, but I do not know if I would have thought they would be great for my 10 year old yet. (I am happy to re-read something for the club).
posted by bove at 11:50 AM on April 27, 2023
posted by bove at 11:50 AM on April 27, 2023
I don't have a specific suggestion, but it might be helpful if you say a little more about the parameters for your particular 10 year old because there is such a range in terms of stamina to get through longer books and such variability in terms of comfort with adult language or adult themes.
For example, my kid loved the Murderbot diaries at late 10/early 11, but if your 10 year old (or you) are at all sensitive to foul language or fairly graphic violence, they are not the right books.
posted by ElizaMain at 12:11 PM on April 27, 2023
For example, my kid loved the Murderbot diaries at late 10/early 11, but if your 10 year old (or you) are at all sensitive to foul language or fairly graphic violence, they are not the right books.
posted by ElizaMain at 12:11 PM on April 27, 2023
The Last Unicorn might work really well. I'm going to nth Dianna Wynne Jones, and Dark Lord of Derkholm in particular as being fun for all ages, especially if the older members have read a lot of fantasy. I also immediately thought of Cornelia Funke's Inkspell books, which I read as an adult and loved, ditto Catherine Valente's The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:46 PM on April 27, 2023
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:46 PM on April 27, 2023
Or, I forgot, if you want to go classic, the original Treasure Island in audio book format had my kids spellbound at about that age and there's a lot to unpack there for adults.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:49 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:49 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith (1943).
posted by Rash at 12:51 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 12:51 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: When my kids were 11 and 13, I read aloud to them the book The Goblin's Puzzle by Andrew Chilton. It was a clever, delightful fantasy story, with lots of charm for my kids and lots of playing with fairytale conventions to entertain me. It's incredibly smart and very funny. Truly, read the editorial reviews on the Amazon page. It's a romp.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:57 PM on April 27, 2023
posted by bluedaisy at 12:57 PM on April 27, 2023
My family (big mix of ages) had a blast with a family book club last summer, but we took a different twist that was basically a series of book exchanges between me, my husband, and our two teen daughters. We each recommended one book for each person and received one recommendation from each person. (So we each ended up with three books on our lists.) The only rules were that you already had to have read and loved the books that you recommended AND you had to genuinely think each other person would enjoy the one you chose for them. We fudged this plan a bit for our youngest (then only 6), but it was great fun. Lots of good book discussions, lots of people reading things they wouldn't have otherwise, and plenty of books lovingly chosen and offered. We're planning to do it again this summer.
posted by hessie at 1:17 PM on April 27, 2023
posted by hessie at 1:17 PM on April 27, 2023
If you have seen the movie The Lost King, or read or seen anything about the discovery of Richard III's remains and questions about how he compared to Shakespeare's portrayal of him, as well as the Tudors' take, you might like The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
posted by jgirl at 1:19 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jgirl at 1:19 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
The book my entire family read and that we discussed together (four kids, the youngest would have been about fourteen at the time, but I think a ten year old would manage perhaps with a little support) was The Life of Pi. So that’s my suggestion.
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 2:11 PM on April 27, 2023
posted by Erinaceus europaeus at 2:11 PM on April 27, 2023
Seconding Terry Pratchett but recommending "The Wee Free Men", the first of his young adult series about Tiffany Aching. The protagonist is about your daughter's age.
posted by macfly at 5:37 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by macfly at 5:37 PM on April 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was just going to recommend Wee Free Men as well - it is very funny and very accessible for a 10 year and the heroine is a great role model of inner strength and courage being enough.
posted by metahawk at 7:32 PM on April 27, 2023
posted by metahawk at 7:32 PM on April 27, 2023
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy
Tove Jansson's Moomin books are wonderful. My husband and I enjoyed them as much as our kids did - probably more. If you wanted to pick just one, I'd go with Moominpappa at Sea. The year I first read it, it was the best book I read that year, beating out all the adult books on my list.
Skellig and Kit's Wilderness are two strange, interesting books by David Almond that are worth reading.
posted by Redstart at 8:24 PM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Tove Jansson's Moomin books are wonderful. My husband and I enjoyed them as much as our kids did - probably more. If you wanted to pick just one, I'd go with Moominpappa at Sea. The year I first read it, it was the best book I read that year, beating out all the adult books on my list.
Skellig and Kit's Wilderness are two strange, interesting books by David Almond that are worth reading.
posted by Redstart at 8:24 PM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
The novel Flora and Ulysses is wonderful. The college kid might find it a bit childish, but it's got a huge heart, is very funny, and would give you lots to talk about.
The movie is cute, but doesn't come close to living up to the source material.
posted by that's candlepin at 6:51 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
The movie is cute, but doesn't come close to living up to the source material.
posted by that's candlepin at 6:51 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.
posted by wicked_sassy at 6:53 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by wicked_sassy at 6:53 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Is Dune too old-school?
Let me tell you about Dune, or Dune World, as it was called in Analog magazine when it first appeared in 1963. My father had a subscription to it, since before, when it was called Astounding; and issues piled up around the house. I'd look through them when I was first learning to read, but they were beyond me - great pictures, though. And by the time "Dune World" came I could read the captions, and I was intrigued, it was 3rd grade and I'd just read my first grown-up book (Kon-Tiki). Try as I would, though (and I kept trying) I wasn't able to 'get' Dune until I was about 14. And even then a LOT of it went over my head.
Another idea for the 10-year-old, maybe some Dragonriders of Pern ?
posted by Rash at 12:03 PM on April 28, 2023
Let me tell you about Dune, or Dune World, as it was called in Analog magazine when it first appeared in 1963. My father had a subscription to it, since before, when it was called Astounding; and issues piled up around the house. I'd look through them when I was first learning to read, but they were beyond me - great pictures, though. And by the time "Dune World" came I could read the captions, and I was intrigued, it was 3rd grade and I'd just read my first grown-up book (Kon-Tiki). Try as I would, though (and I kept trying) I wasn't able to 'get' Dune until I was about 14. And even then a LOT of it went over my head.
Another idea for the 10-year-old, maybe some Dragonriders of Pern ?
posted by Rash at 12:03 PM on April 28, 2023
Response by poster: My 10 year old has read a lot, but still mostly "kids" books. She has read the first Harry Potter. She loves graphic novels and has read a ton of those like the Percy Jackson graphic novel, the Wings of Fire series, Amulet, Click, Katie the Catsitter, the Dragon Girls series and more.. She really liked the Alcatraz books by Brandon Sanderson.
She recently read the Rebekah Girl Detective books.
posted by bove at 1:45 PM on April 28, 2023
She recently read the Rebekah Girl Detective books.
posted by bove at 1:45 PM on April 28, 2023
The Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage might work, then. The writing is great; the story is layered, creative, and intriguing; and there are a range of characters who are fully drawn for various readers to identify with. Two more recommendations are Dove and My Side of the Mountain.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:57 AM on April 30, 2023
posted by cocoagirl at 11:57 AM on April 30, 2023
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex is funny and entertaining enough that you might all enjoy it.
posted by Redstart at 12:32 PM on April 30, 2023
posted by Redstart at 12:32 PM on April 30, 2023
I think James Herriot's Dog Stories would be a marvelous book for a family to read together, but only if you’ve already got a dog or are planning to get one, because I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t inspire a longing in your kids.
Herriot's work in general are not without literary merit, and if you don’t want the potential problems of the dog book, you might look at the others.
posted by jamjam at 6:57 PM on April 30, 2023
Herriot's work in general are not without literary merit, and if you don’t want the potential problems of the dog book, you might look at the others.
posted by jamjam at 6:57 PM on April 30, 2023
Response by poster: Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. We met and decided that we would each pick a book. The books we chose were:
A Wizard of Earthsea
When You Reach Me
Circe
Howl's Moving Castle
The Goblin's Puzzle
I marked as a Best answer anyone who suggested one of the books that got picked, but I appreciated all of the ideas.
posted by bove at 6:24 PM on May 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
A Wizard of Earthsea
When You Reach Me
Circe
Howl's Moving Castle
The Goblin's Puzzle
I marked as a Best answer anyone who suggested one of the books that got picked, but I appreciated all of the ideas.
posted by bove at 6:24 PM on May 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by genrand at 9:36 AM on April 27, 2023 [2 favorites]