Suki Wessling: writer, teacher, radio host

Book list for pre-teen gifted readers

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Suki
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Pre-teen gifted readers often run into a problem around the age of ten: as younger children they read everything in children’s literature that they could get their hands on. By the time they reach ten years old, they’re starting to run into roadblocks when looking for appropriate books. Some ten-year-olds are ready to go on to Young Adult fiction, but most aren’t. Young Adult, with its focus on teens’ changing bodies and questioning of their place in the world, is often inappropriate and sometimes very upsetting for “tweens” who have outgrown children’s books but are looking for meaty reading to satisfy their literary cravings.

The list below contains books recommended for this demographic. In general, recommended books will not contain violence described in a visceral way, though books that very sensitive readers might want to avoid are starred. If you have recommendations for this list, please leave them in the comments below.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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Comments

11 responses to “Book list for pre-teen gifted readers”

  1. Reading list for your gifted young reader – Avant Parenting

    […] Book list for pre-teen gifted readers […]

  2. Suki Avatar
    Suki

    Here’s a book list vetted by Common Sense Media for a variety of ages and on a variety of topics: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/guide/essentialbooks?utm_source=042213_Essential_Books&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly

  3. Jo Avatar
    Jo

    Hi – Love the list – it’s very useful thank you. Ender’s Game though, has visceral violence in it I think (I reread it a few months ago), and a couple of other topics than you wouldn’t have to be “very sensitive” to be bothered by.

    1. Suki Avatar
      Suki

      That’s why Ender’s Game has an asterisk – some parents said their kids did fine with it, and others thought it was too violent. Sometimes it’s hard to make a call so included it with caution.

      I’m glad you found the list useful!

  4. Suki Avatar
    Suki

    I have also written a book list that intersects well with this age range:
    The Search for the Girl Scientist in Literature: http://www.write4kids.com/blog/2011/01/the-search-for-the-girl-scientist-in-literature/

  5. Feminist inspirations – Avant Parenting

    […] for The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for my list of good books for gifted pre-teen readers. (Click here to see that article.) This book is exactly what I was looking for: An inspiring story about a child just the right age, […]

  6. Empty Shelves for Gifted Readers – Avant Parenting

    […] Book list for pre-teen gifted readers […]

  7. Useful links | Rhondda's Reflections – wandering around the Web

    […] Book list for pre-teen gifted readers – The Babblery “Pre-teen gifted readers often run into a problem around the age of ten: as younger children they read everything in children’s literature that they could get their hands on. By the time they reach ten years old, they’re starting to run into roadblocks when looking for appropriate books. Some ten-year-olds are ready to go on to Young Adult fiction, but most aren’t. Young Adult, with its focus on teens’ changing bodies and questioning of their place in the world, is often inappropriate and sometimes very upsetting for “tweens” who have outgrown children’s books but are looking for meaty reading to satisfy their literary cravings.” […]

  8. preteens Avatar
    preteens

    Very good list of books thank you very much for sharing it.
    Regards!

  9. SALLY GUYNN Avatar
    SALLY GUYNN

    I think I have a preteen fiction book recommendation for your list. “The TortoiseTales” is a fiction book collection of nine separate short stories targeting the 8-12 year old reader. A 130 year old tortoise communicates the stories to a young girl he meets and the stories are fun with relatable animal characters who also teach some great life principles and pique interest in nature…www.thetortoisetales.com.

    1. Suki Avatar
      Suki

      Thanks! It sounds great.