[Sara Posts: 171 Status: Offline WWW]

My 13-year-old daughter has read a lot of teen fiction, but she's tired of dystopian and fantasy, and she's not really ready for relationship stories. She says she likes books with "quirky characters" (her words). Some of her favorites have been Rebecca Stead's LIAR AND SPY and WHEN YOU REACH ME.

Anyone have any recommendations of MG and/or YA that fit the bill? In time for Christmas shipping?

Thanks!

[LadySlipper Posts: 174 Status: Offline]

Has she tried the Secret Benedict Society books, by Trenton Lee Stewart? 

[olmue Posts: 3,428 Status: Offline WWW]

Counting by 7s. The MC is super smart and quirky. Also Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee.

[JodyJS Posts: 1,224 Status: Offline Preorder now! Out Jan. 7, 2020! WWW]

I second this series. Really fun books.

Also, what about the book where the three rich kids lose their parents in a house fire and go to live with their guardian's family...UNTIL their evil uncle? shows up and tries to steal their fortune (and kill the kids)? Obviously, I can't remember the name of the series. I believe the kids have minor powers. The eldest is a girl, the middle is a boy, and then there's a baby. 

[ChristinefromCorona Posts: 806 Status: Offline]

Wendy Mass has a lot of quirky characters (and a lot of MG novels  ). 

[Christy Posts: 615 Status: Offline Luck= preparation + opportunity WWW]

Anna and the French Kiss or any of the Ally Carter books.

[Vonna Posts: 1,766 Status: Offline WWW]

Based on her preference for Rebecca Stead's books, I'd recommend The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer and The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau. A great book with a bit older (age) concept is What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell.

[jancoates Posts: 129 Status: Offline Obsession? What obsession? WWW]

Flora & Ulysses has a couple of quirky kids, and it's laugh-out-loud funny, too


And Jody, is it Lemony Snickett?

[JodyJS Posts: 1,224 Status: Offline Preorder now! Out Jan. 7, 2020! WWW]

YES, jan. Thanks for putting me out of my misery! A Series of Unfortunate Events.

By the way, I'm loving these suggestions. Looking forward to reading some of them over the break.

[Yvonne Ventresca Posts: 90 Status: Offline WWW]

One of my absolute favorites is Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick. Great voice, quirky MC, contemporary plot and although it hits some serious subject matter it has a fabulous uplifting end to it.


Yvonne

[Sara Posts: 171 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks, everyone! I'm going with Counting by 7s. But I'm definitely going to come back to this list for future recs.

[mariwho Posts: 165 Status: Offline twitter: @MarilouReeder]

I ordered Counting by 7s for my daughter, too, based on some reviews. It sounds like a good one.

[Hélène Boudreau Posts: 699 Status: Offline *yawn* WWW]

My girls love THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ME by Karen Rivers: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13436378-the-encyclopedia-of-me

and

SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE by Joanne Levy: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11354687-small-medium-at-large?from_search=true

[JennaWren Posts: 1,781 Status: Offline WWW]

Ooo, this is great stuff! My almost-12-year-old daughter reads well above her age, but I'm looking for books that are less focused on romance/dating/etc and that are not terribly heavy. These are perfect suggestions!

[angela Posts: 491 Status: Offline WWW]

SAVVY by ingrid law

[Deb Cushman Posts: 39 Status: Offline WWW]

May be a little young for her, but the May Bird series, starting with May Bird & the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson has the quirkiest of characters.


The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
I'll put in a second vote for Savvy by Ingrid Law


I'm looking forward to seeing what others suggest. I love quirky characters myself!

[MVP Posts: 104 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

You could try Hilary McKay's series about the Casson family... Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, and I think maybe one more.  They are quirky, funny at times, and poignant at others.


I'll also second the recommendation for Millicent Min, especially if Counting by 7s goes over well.

[Sara Posts: 171 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks! I keep adding these to my list.

I gave her Counting By 7s, and although she hasn't read it yet, I did, and I LOVED it. What a beautifully written, funny, quirky, satisfying story! I highly recommend.