Victoria Minks, Bookbug and Writer
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Top 10 Books Ages 13-16

4/20/2016

12 Comments

 
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I'm back today with another list of books I read, this time from ages 13-16. I'd like to mention again that for these ages as well, my reading levels changed considerably, and so please bear that in mind. :) Let's get started! 

1. On To Oregon Also known as Seven Alone this is a book based on true accounts. I read this book so many times-- the way John matures throughout the book was always great to read. *This book was edited for language etc*

2. A Matter of Pride by Dorothy Simpson is a sweet and funny growing-up book. I am still amazed how the author could pull such an interesting story simply from the main character's lack of shoes. It spans a few months in Janie's life at school, where she has to adjust to a new teacher. 
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3. The Wall Trilogy by Robert Elmer is SO good. I still read them like once a year. It is a trilogy--so technically this is three books. The first book is directly after WWII in Berlin and the main character is a thirteen year old boy, Erich. The second is when the Berlin Wall goes up, from the viewpoint of Erich's polio-ridden half sister, Sabine. And the final one is when the Wall comes down, seen through the eyes of Sabine's daughter, Liesl. My favorite was the first one, and I didn't get the last installment till I was sixteen, but when I read it-- WOW! It took my breath away. I think I even cried, and that's rare. The third one is really good, because of how it ties everything up from the books before it--so you have to read the whole series. ;P lol. 

4. Tree of Freedom This is by Rebecca Caudill, and was one of my favorites. It is a little slow in parts, but I think that was what I liked-- I felt like it portrayed settlers in Kentucky accurately, because there was boring days, I'm sure! It also incorporates the Revolutionary War, which adds a big plus for me, and I just enjoyed the sweet story throughout it. Watching the family grow closer together was nice. 

5. Anne of Green Gables Series And of course, the classic Anne series by L. M. Montgomery. Anne is still my 'happy read'. I read these books over and over, laughing till I cried, making notes of their clothes, and daydreaming. 

6. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare. I actually read this first for school but reread it often in the years following. I was so intrigued by the story, and appreciated the fact that although it was Biblical fiction, it didn't take liberties with people or events of the Bible like many books do. I still get all depressed when I think about poor Marcus and Samson, but the character development is wonderful. 

7. Johnny Tremain  Another Revolutionary War book, (this one by Esther Forbes) this book is one of the biggest things that made me love the War for Independence. I was distraught over Rab, annoyed by Isannah, and sometimes Johnny was ridiculous. But all that makes for a very real book, and Johnny grows so splendidly throughout it that it was one of my favorites. 

8. Silas Marner by George Eliot. This is still a favorite of mine, and I actually have two copies-- a modern paperback with a mini biography of George Eliot in it, and a really old hardback from over a hundred years ago. I first read this book at fifteen and I couldn't put it down, nor can I leave it alone, but keep going back to reread it. A mystery, a be-sure-your-sin-will-find-you-out book, but also just a sweet story of the power of love, I never get tired of it. 

9. In His Steps This is the famous book by Charles Sheldon (which, after I read In HIs Steps I read a biography of the author and it's astounding how busy that man kept himself for the Lord!). In His Steps changed the way I thought about things, and definitely challenged me. 

10. Pilgrim's Progress Which has been a staple in Christian reading for hundreds of years, is a book I turn to time and time again. In fact, it's so inspirational to me that I keep a copy of it in my book bag (for editing) at all times. If you haven't read Pilgrim's Progress, then you should, because it was even a favorite of Charles Spurgeon. ;) 

Those are my 10 books for ages 13-16. What were your favorite books during these ages? Have you read any of the books I listed? I'd love to know, so don't forget to drop me a comment below! :) 
Have a lovely day,
Victoria
12 Comments
Olivia R.
4/20/2016 07:46:55 pm

So many good books! I've read exactly half of the ten you mentioned (Anne of Green Gables series, Johnny Tremain, Silas Marner, In His Steps, and Pilgrims Progress). I've read one and a half series by Robert Elmer: The Adventures Down Under and another one (can't remember the title) in Denmark during WW11. My siblings love those! I've seen the movie of Seven Alone, but never read the book.

Some of my favorites during that age range were the Grandma Attic series by Arleta Richardson (which I still LOVE!), Millie and Elsie Dinsmore series, Amish series by Carrie Bender, and books by Louisa May Alcott.

Reply
Victoria
4/21/2016 10:32:39 am

Thank you for commenting! :)
I've read the Down Under series too. They were so interesting, weren't they!
Funny thing, I've never seen the movie of Seven Alone. lol. I've read the first few books of Grandma's Attic, but sometime I should read the rest of the series. ;) And I read the first half of Elsie Dinsmore, and a lot of Louisa M. Alcott's books. :) What is your favorite Lousia M. Alcott book? I like Little Women, of course, and Old Fashioned Girl. :) My sister has two short story collections by her and those have some really sweet stories in them, as well.

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Olivia R.
4/21/2016 07:54:29 pm

The movie for Seven Alone is quite heart-wrenching. We don't watch it very often because so many of us cry!

You definitely should finish the Grandma Attic series. I like the later ones when she is married! Hm...favorite Louisa M. Alcott!? I'd probably say Little Men or Jo's Boys.

Victoria
4/23/2016 01:21:58 pm

I'm sure Seven Alone is! There's one part in the book that always has me feeling rather blue, because everything seems like it's just going so wrong. But the end is good so it makes up for it. :)
I'll have to read those Grandma Attic books then, it looks like! :P I like Little Men, but I haven't read Jo's Boys yet. (that's the third, right?) It's on my to-read list. I'm almost afraid to because I'm worried for some of the characters. lol!

Abigail
4/21/2016 11:16:46 pm

I am currently reading In His Steps, so I got excited when I read it on your list. I started reading Pilgrim's Progress when I was younger but never finished. Have you ever read Uncle Tom's Cabin? I hope I'll get around to it someday. I also very much enjoyed the Grandma's Attic Series. I have a collection of all Louisa May Alcott's books on my Kindle, so I want to read those sometime. Especially Little Men. I read a segment of that one once and liked it.

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Victoria
4/23/2016 01:25:06 pm

That's so neat! I really enjoyed In His Steps. I haven't read Uncle Tom's Cabin, but I'd like to! Have you read it? I started listening to an audiobook of it once, but didn't get very far. I'm (unfortunately) not a very good audiobook person. I read so fast that I got annoyed at how "slow" it was. lol! I'll probably have to read it on my kindle app sometime instead.

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Abigail
4/27/2016 04:45:20 am

Audiobooks are great! I do understand that they could seem kind of slow sometimes! I have not read Uncle Tom's Cabin, but I want to. We were talking about it in my history video for school (I'm homeschooled), and my teacher started giving some of it away. I had to fast forward that part. :)

Victoria
4/27/2016 12:31:12 pm

Haha, I know how that is with homeschool. ;) Well then, looks like we should both read Uncle Tom's Cabin. I'll bump it up on my list of things to read. ;)

Olivia R.
4/24/2016 03:22:37 am

Actually Jo's Boys would techincally be the fourth book because Little Woman and Good Wives are two seperate books but are usually read as one. Anyway, I thought Jo's Boys was a pretty satisfying read, although one character's story always makes me emotional.

Reply
Victoria
4/26/2016 12:45:37 pm

Yes, that's true, isn't it. Oh no... an emotional story... Guess I'll have to read it soon. :D

Reply
Katja L.
5/6/2016 07:56:40 am

Well, technically I'm a year short haha, but here are ten of my favourite books just now:

1: ‘The School of the Woods’ and ‘Secrets of the Woods’, by William J. Long. Although Long believes in Old Mother Nature, I love his writings.
2: ‘Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key’ by Mrs. H.R. Haweis. This is technically aimed at a very young audience, but I find Chaucer's poetry wonderful. It helps to speak French. ;)
3: ‘Owls in the Family’, by Farley Mowat. Totally Canadian book and HIL-AR-I-OUS!!!!! (Has a very few undesirable words etc.)
4: ‘Æsop's Fables' translated by George Fyler Townsend. Biggest collection of Æsop's fables I've seen yet. Of course the gods etc. is ridiculous, but I like the morals.
5: ‘With Tears in my Heart: Poetic Meditations of a Christian Woman’, by Gertrude Grace Sanborn. I've had this book for years but I've recently read some poems that I'd never read before so I thought of it. Wonderful book, poems, and testimony. For instance: in in August 1952, she wrote a poem about God asking for “withersoever”. She goes on to say he says “reflect on your answer” because “he knew the breach 'twixt my words and my heart”. Then she concludes, “So He lead, and I followed thru each waiting day till my heart and words had but one voice to say, ‘Withersoever!’”. In November 1952, her twenty-year-old daughter Audrey died.
6: ‘A Bear Called Paddington’, by Michael Bond, from the ‘Paddington’ Series. SO funny and British!!
7: ‘The Sword, the Ring, & the Parchment’ by Ed Dunlop, from ‘The Terrestria Chronicles’. This is the only one we have so far. I've had it for several years as well. :)
8: ‘The World I Live In’ by Helen A. Keller. Although I disapprove of the way she speaks of the Bible, God, and the Greek and Roman gods, she's an excellent writer. I also really love ‘The Story of my Life’. We have a eBook copy that include some of her letters and some extracts of Annie Sullivan's letters when she first began working with her.
9: ‘The Story of David Livingston’ by Vautier Golding.
10: ‘Squirrels, & Other Fur-Bearing Animals’, by John Burroughs. Although Burroughs also believes in Old Mother Nature, his writing is excellent.

<3

Reply
Victoria Minks
5/6/2016 01:47:01 pm

Thanks for sharing, Katja! I enjoy hearing your favorite books.

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    Victoria Minks is a bookbug and writer, with oodles of daydreams and ideas. She loves historical fiction, chocolate, music, horses, and old books, and firmly believes that there is whimsy and beauty in any day. She was saved at age 5 and desires to write for God's glory.
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