Four years ago I made a list of books that my children were reading at the time. Now that Princess is nearly 15 and Matey 12, I have made a new list of books that I recommend for tweens/teens 11-14 years old.
This list is based on what my son & daughter have read. The majority of the list is autobiographical as I love ‘feeding’ my children great books that will inspire and challenge them to do something great with their life.
When I google books, I always go to www.booko.com.au first as it shows me where I can obtain the book from anywhere in the world, both brand new and second hand. It also shows the price for the cost of the book and the price for posting it to your home. Thus, I feel it is a great place to start searching when buying a particular book. For my overseas readers, try www.booko.com (or your country’s version).
Next week I am posting a list of suitable war books to read. Thus, this week doesn’t include any of them.
** indicates that it is a Christian book.
Must Read (A Definite to read in my opinion!!)
- “Do Hard Things: A teenage rebellion against low expectations” by Alex and Brett Harris
Inspirational
- “Be the Change” by Zac Hunter
- “Breakthrough” by Jack Andraka
- “Chapter One: You have the power to change stuff” by Daniel Flynn
- “You were made to make a difference” by Max Lucado & Jenna Lucado Bishop **
- “You have a Brain” by Ben Carson
- “Angels in the ER” by Robert D. Leslie **
- “Miracles in the ER” by Robert D. Leslie **
- “Chain Reaction” by Darrell Scott & Steve Rabey **
- “Soul Surfer: Ask Bethany” by Bethany Hamilton **
- “Soul Surfer: Catching God’s Wave for your Life” by Bethany Hamilton **
- “Soul Surfer: Devotions” by Bethany Hamilton **
- “Teen Talk: Becoming a teen with Passion & Purpose” by Sharon Witt **
- “Teenagers are People Too” by Joyce Meyer **
- “Battlefield of the Mind for Teens” by Joyce Meyer **
Biographies/Autobiographies:
1. Christian:
- “Soul Surfer” by Bethany Hamilton**
- “Is that Really You God” by Loren Cunningham **
- “The Night the Angels Came” by Chrissie Chapman **
- “I have Seen God” by Klaus-Dieter John **
- “Love has a Face” by Michelle Perry **
- “Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis **
- “There is Always Enough” by Heidi Baker **
- “Expecting Miracles” by Heidi Baker **
- “Under their Very Eyes: The Astonishing Life of Tom Hamblin” by Deborah Meroff **
2. Sport:
- “Faster than Lightning – My Story” by Usain Bolt
- “No Limits” by Michael Phelps
- “What I learned along the Way” by Dawn Fraser
- “Stronger Now” by Nicole McLean
- “Making the Call” by Lance Easley
- “Winning Balance” by Shawn Johnson
- “Believe” by Sally Pearson
- “Torvill & Dean: Our Life on Ice, The Autobiography” by Torvill and Dean
- “True Spirit” by Jessica Watson
- “Swimming to Antartica” by Lynne Cox
- “Running Pink” by Deborah De Williams (ran 18,000 km around Australia)
- “Pole to Pole” by Pat Famer
- “On Top of the World” by Rebecca Stephens
- “Facing Up – a Remarkable Journey to the Summit” by Bear Grylls
- “Lionheart” by Jesse Martin
- “Alex – the Making of a Champion” by Tessa Duder
3. General
- “Born to Fly” by Ryan Campbell
- “The Happiest Refugee” by Anh Do
- “Life without Limits” by Nick Vujicic
- “Gifted Hands – the Ben Carson story” by Gregg Lewis
- “Kate” by Sean Smith
- “Mao’s Last Dancer” by Li Cunxin
- “I am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai
- “The Maddie Diaries” by Maddie Ziegler
- “Walking Free” by Munjed Al Muderis
- “Rachel’s Tears” by Beth Nimmo & Darrel Scott **
- “The Dick Smith Way” by Ike Bain
- “The Boy who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba
- “Chinese Cinderella” by Adeline Yen Mah
Tweens:
- “God’s Generals for Kids” by Robert Lardon & Olly Goldenberg **
- “The Journey of Yung Lee” by Judith McCoy Miller
- “The Wright Brothers” by Charles Ludwig
- “Man on a Mission: the David Hilmers Story” by David Hilmer with Rick Houston
- “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo**
- “The Kidnapped Prince” by Olaudah Equiano
- “Stirling Biographies” series – Neil Armstrong, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, etc
- “The Dog Who Loved the Queen” by Jackie French
- “Naya Nuki” by Kenneth Thomasma
- “With Two Hands” by Rebecca Davis **
- “My Story” series
- “My Australian Story” series
- “Ten True Tales” series eg Titanic, Surviving Sharks etc
- “I Survived” series eg The San Fransican Earthquake, The Bombing of Pearl Harbour etc
- “Usborne True Stories” series eg Escape, Spies, Crime & Detection
- “Barron’s Graphic Classics” eg A Tale of Two Cities, Julius Caesar, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Romeo & Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, The Last of the Mohicans etc.
Boys – Tween
- “Teentalk: Guy Talk” by Sharon Witt
- “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls
- “YWAM Christian Heroes Then and Now” series by Janet & Geoffe Benge **
- “Freedom Seekers” series by Lois Walfrid Johnson **
- “Viking Quest” series by Lois Walfrid Johnson **
- “Airquest Adventures: Sudden Impact” by Jerry B. Jenkins**
- “Mik-Shrok – Adventures of an Arctic Missionary” by Gloria Repp **
- “Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain
- “The Voyages of Captain Cook” by Paul Hanlyn
- “Treasure Island” by Robert L. Stevenson
- “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss
- “The Hardy Boys” by Franklin W. Dixon
- “Biggles” by Captain W.E. Johns
- “Gimlet” by Captain W.E. Johns
- “Mission and Survive” by Bear Grylls
Girls – Tween
- “Girl Wise: A Girl’s Guide to Friends” by Sharon Witt **
- “Girl Wise: A guide to being you” by Sharon Witt **
- “YWAM Christian Heroes Then and Now” series by Janet & Geoff Benge **
- “Sisters in Time” series of Historical Fiction** (American Challenge, American Dream etc)
- “Little Women”, “Jo’s Boys, Little Men, Good Wives” by Louisa May Alcott
- The “Trudy” Series eg “Trudy takes Charge” by Mary Alice Faid (old Sunday School prizes of mine)**
- “Nancy Drew” by Carolyn Keene (the older books are better than newer version)
- “The Agatha Christie Adventures Graphic Series” (Hercule Poirot) adapted by Francois Riviere
- “Kit Hunter” series by Peter Grey
- “My Royal Story” series
- “The Janis Project” by Nancy Rue **
- “The Journey of Elisa: From Switzerland to America” by Nancy P. Brummett
- “Missy Franklin: Swimming Sensation” by Christine Dzidrums
- “Beautiful in God’s Eyes for Young Women” by Elizabeth George **
- “A Young Women after God’s Own Heart who reflects the heart of Jesus” by Elizabeth George **
- “The Heaven Shop” by Deborah Ellis
- “Shauzia” by Deborah Ellis
- “Worrals” series by Captain W.E. Johns
Enjoy reading!!
I would love you to also comment below on any books that you have found inspirational for this age group as I am always on the ‘lookout’ for new books. Thank you.