It's no secret that literature has a huge impact on the formation of the younger generation. A child who reads a lot and different things ultimately gains his own view of the world, sees a variety of destinies and opportunities. It is no coincidence that teenage literature occupies a special place among writers and teachers, since it was at this age that exciting questions were first asked, first love was known, and other events occurred that made it possible to understand this diverse world. This is what we will talk about in the article.
Features of literature for adolescents
Teenage literature occupies a special layer in the book market. This is because precisely these books can become the most important in the life of the younger generation, especially in this difficult period, when global questions about life, about human injustice and pain, and, of course, about first love, take shape in the mind. By reading such creations, a person can get answers to disturbing questions, deal with his inner world.
Teenage literature includes many aspects. For example, some may tell about true friendship, love, about the inner world of different people. Many modern authors write about adolescents themselves, about their problems on the way of growing up and their fragile spirit. Such books are designed to show the diversity of our world in human relations. Other authors tell about adventures, exploits and other worthy deeds of the main characters. All this allows a broader look at the surrounding reality, strive for excellence and develop their qualities.
What can be offered to boys and what to girls
Teenage literature for girls and boys in the modern world has no clear boundaries. Of course, boys do not like to read tearful stories about love and deep relationships, but otherwise the teenagers of both sexes read almost the same books. But we still note those works that can be recommended for reading to girls. It:
- “Pollyanna” by Elinor Porter. A very bright book about human relationships, about faith in the best.
- A series of works “Watchmen” by Natalia Shcherba. In this book there are adventures, but a lot of thoughts about love, self-sacrifice.
- Series of books “Tanya Grotter” by Dmitry Emets. To some, this series may seem like a parody of the famous Potter (although at first it is). But further events are developing in a completely different way. The book contains many experiences on a love theme, a lot of thoughts about relationships and how to keep them. Teenagers sometimes show wisdom that is not familiar to adults.
And below will be listed books that can be recommended to boys:
- Adventure series of Cyrus Bulychev about the girl Alice, who talks about space travel, about flights to the past and so on.
- Books about Harry Potter. This is today, perhaps, the most famous series in adolescents, which even adults are read.
- For those who are interested in historical books, suggest reading A. Dumas. His works are historical information, filled with living experiences of people, their hopes and aspirations.
The most sought after genre in teenage literature to date
What can be said about the demand for genres in modern children? Our teens read almost everything, as there are more ways to get the coveted book now than our grandparents had. But works in the genre of fantasy or ordinary fiction are especially popular. With their help, you can immerse yourself in a fictional and unreal world, feel the taste of adventure, especially if life is more than monotonous.
Recently, books with a vampire storyline have been no less popular. So, the works of Stephanie Meyer (“Twilight”), Richelle Mead (“The Academy of Vampires”), Sergey Lukyanenko (“Dozors”), etc. are very much in demand. As you can see, such literature for teenagers is very diverse. Perhaps some parents would not want their child to read this, but as they say, the more you forbid, the more you want. Otherwise, you can read the book about vampires in parallel, and then discuss its plot.
Popular books about teenagers
Now the segment of teenage fiction directly about teenagers is gradually filling up. Such books are characterized by deep emotions, global issues and dreams. Some talk about love, some about ordinary life, but they all touch upon issues that previously had no significance. Below will be presented literature about adolescents:
- Julian Barn (“Metroland”).
- D. D. Salinger (“The Catcher in the Rye”).
- Galina Shcherbakova (“You never dreamed”).
- Stephen Chboschi (“It's Good to Be Quiet”).
Of course, this is not the whole list of books, but they most clearly show how complex the world of a teenager is with an undecided worldview. If you are a parent and want to supplement the list with other books, then read them yourself beforehand, since today very many recommended works tell you about terrible things - drugs, uncontrolled sex, and so on. Of course, at this age it is difficult to keep track of what the child is reading, but try to at least discuss the read together (of course, for this you need to study the work together).
Poetry for teens
Of particular note is the poetic works, which occupy not the last place in teenage literature. Indeed, it is with poems that one can sometimes convey feelings; it is at this age that they most often begin to write them. Therefore, teenage literature should also include such works. We list the list of authors who might be interested in them:
- E. Asadov.
- N. Zabolotsky.
- Frida Polack.
- A. Akhmatova.
- M. Tsvetaeva.
- S. Yesenin and many others.
All the proposed authors penetrate very deeply into the world of the younger generation, talking about various experiences on the way to growing up. Of course, this is not a final list, you can supplement it yourself with your favorite authors and their works.
Classic books for teens
It is very important to interest teenagers with classical literature. This may include authors of historical novels and short stories, as well as more modern ones. This is a very good and serious literature that will teach the younger generation to think, as well as to delve deeper into human relations. So, consider interesting books for teenagers from the classics:
- Gone With the Wind by M. Mitchell. A good book about love and war, about different characters and tolerance. Perhaps it is more suitable for girls, since the book still has more relationships than military action.
- “The Prince and the Pauper” by Mark Twain. In principle, any Twain books can be recommended to be read at this age, as many are aimed at a teenage audience.
- The Adventures of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It should be noted right away that if a child is too impressionable, then it is better to read it at a more mature age, since there are moments in the book that describe the horrors of poverty and villains.
- “Dandelion Wine” by Ray Bradbury. The book tells about one summer from the life of a teenager, which is filled with all sorts of experiences and thoughts.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. The book, published in the last century, is still readable. In childish words, it tells about the events of the thirties in America, about interracial conflicts and violence.
Modern books for teens
Modern teenage literature is no less interesting than classical. Now there are quite a lot of good books that are written as teaching human values or simply fantastic for developing the imagination. In any case, today you can find completely different books for your teenager. Here is a list of some:
- “Blame the Stars” (John Green). This book describes the romantic love of two teenagers with cancer. Yes, the work is quite sentimental, but very catchy, especially when you understand that in this situation, in principle, there is nothing to lose.
- “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (John Boyne). This book tells about the events that happened during the Second World War, namely about the concentration camps. There are no violent and bloody murders in it, but there is friendship and mutual understanding, which do not care about racial prejudice. The end, of course, is sad.
- “Metro 2033” (Dmitry Glukhovsky). This novel is suitable for adolescents who prefer science fiction in any of its manifestations. The author created a rather interesting world in the Moscow metro subway. Each station has its own laws and regulations that you should know. The protagonist embarks on a journey to save the world, but it turns out that you just had to talk.
However, teenage fiction is not limited to this list. Try looking for books yourself or offer it to your child.
Conclusion
So, now you know what interesting books exist for teenagers that you can recommend to read as a parent or relative. Each book cited in the article can bring something new and interesting to the world of your growing child, be it emotions or knowledge. Invite your child to read and read with pleasure!