Books For Intermediary Readers

At fifteen, I like to think I have safely emerged from that awkward reading stage customary to preteens - in other words, the murky abyss between children and adult novels (skipping “Teen Fiction’s” unappetizing vampire romances altogether.) On the cusp of the vast, and replesdant world of “general fiction”, but barred to the possibility of inappropriate content - most, including parent’s, struggle to come up with a suitable book list. I can recall lingering between the harsh divide between Children’s fiction small, but colorful quarters - jam packed with coloring books and Thomas the Train sets - and, adjacent, a vast, sophisticated space of bookshelves and catalogue computers, reserved, seemingly, for grown-ups. In the 9-12 section- a small, uncertain limbo - I would spend hours honing the volumes for something suitable to take home - no romance, no fantasy, and as little modern day settings as possible. I was (and still am) an extremely picky reader. Flitting across all sections - these are some of the gems I stumbled upon, and to this day, enjoy.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

This is one of the first classic’s I ever read, and helped kindle my passion for the genre. The character’s were of my approximate age and younger, which enabled relatability while simultaneously delving into some very dark, and “grown up” themes. “Scout” - our six year old narrator - manages to inject humour, fun, and innocence while relaying her morose narrative concerning, among other things, rape, murder, and discrimination. Like her, I found myself tackling these experiences as they presented themselves - developing a more refined moral compass, and almost easily taking each scrap of dark revelations into stride. There are indeniablely sensitive subject matters present in this book - however, I believe there is no better way than to introduce oneself to them in the sun drenched, rural town of Maycomb, Mississippi.

Guests of War trilogy - Kit Pearson

Kit Pearson was always a reliable source during the dark ages of tween reading. She penned a large assortment of novels, generally historical fiction, that were invariably lovely to peruse. Among my favorites were her “Guests of War” trilogy, featuring two english children sent to Canada in the 1940s, as while as “Awake and Dreaming,” set in my hometown; Vancouver. Her characters, generally girls, are invariably relatable and maintain richly rendered imaginations laid bare upon the page

Flavia De Luce series - Alan Bradley

The pinnacle of teen fiction - and also a series I, as while as many other adults, continue on reading. Alan Bradley writes with a delicious mixture of humour and intelligence - fully delving into the thoughts of eleven year old detective/budding scientist, Flavia. If any elder tweens are deterred by her age - Ms. De Luce is fortantly wise beyond her years, and charming for all generation brackets. I would describe the series as a “sophisticated murder mystery,” devoid of romance, and other frivolous subjects often equated to teenagers. The setting, also, features a quaint english town, circu, for those historical fiction lovers, 1950s.

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L’engle

Although I have never maintained a healthy relationship with fantasy, this book, certainly replete with the fantastical, is still one of my favorites. The opening line, “it was a dark and stormy night,” drifts into a detailed sketch of the narrator, awkward Meg, and her brilliant family, all of whom reside in a creaky old house by the woods. Readers are then thrown into a thriller concerning Meg’s missing father, held captive on a distant planet. This book, however, does not adopt the habitual flavour of a far fetched space odyssey, and, although set in a “galaxy far, far, away” never ceases from being relatable. I would recommend reading this novel by a fire, upon a cold, stormy day, with a cup of tea or hot cocoa at hand.

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

I bought “Wuthering Heights” on my thirteenth birthday in Victoria, and, ever since, have harboured a fond attachment for the somewhat sinister tale. One may observe, judging from the vague plot, that this a merely a harlequin romance, raised to it’s lofty status by the antiqued language and deleination as “classic.” To be fair, the narrative does contain doomed love, stormy moors, and even a fringe reference to werewolves. However, it is also evidently penned by someone with a vast imagination, and steeped in Victorian Culture - the same atmosphere that fashioned all good horror stories, Frankenstein, The Raven, etc . I spent a good three weeks exacvuting this novel for buried bits of treasure, and was not disappointed.

Other Great Books I haven’t enough time to elaborate on…

I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai

And then there were none - Agatha Christie

Currents - Jane Smolik

The Hobbit - J.R.R Tolkien

Between Shades of Grey - Ruta Sepetys

Longbourn - Jo Baker

After Alice - Gregory Maguire

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Watership Down - Richard Adams

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins