(no subject)

[cahn]

Oh hey it's December now, which means I should get presents for D's nieces. (D's nephews have now all graduated high school, and so they either get gift cards or we might try to figure out a family gift.) Which means I am asking you for help! Nieces are senior in high school and freshman in high school. The freshman isn't as much of a reader. The senior loves to read, so finding something good for her is more important. Senior!Niece also loves fantasy.

Last time I asked for recs, years ago, someone recommended Tiffany Aching, which the nieces were too young for at the time, but now may be the time (if I haven't passed it already). I just started Wee Free Men and am enjoying it a lot so far, and that may be part of the present. (I guess Tiffany is 9? so maybe technically too young for Senior!niece? But the book does read to me as more of a high-school reading level than a 9-year-old reading level.)

Other things: D's sister and brother-in-law are extremely devout and conservatively evangelical Christians and don't read fantasy at all (though they have come to accept their kid reading it). I don't think I could give her anything at this time that, say, has explicit sex scenes, or a gay or trans main character, and I'd also be a bit wary of too much violence/horror-themes. So, for example, Some Desperate Glory, which I already gave to D's nephews, is out.

Extra points for subtext of "here's how you grow up" and "here's how you deal with a flawed parent." (My sense -- which could of course be mistaken -- is that D's sister is an incredible parent that anyone would be lucky to have, and brother-in-law is less so. I do not think that there's anything particularly bad going on (I'm sure I have at least my share of flaws as a parent too), just that I remember at that age books being a helpful way to work through figuring out independence and becoming a different person than my parents.)

Comments

[shewhostaples]

Oh, what a fun question (for us - I realise it must be more fraught for you)! I can't think of any fantasy off the top of my head (maybe Eva Ibbotson, but her witch/monster books are aimed at younger readers) but a lot of mid-century British children's lit runs on "our parents made poor choices and this is why we live in an interesting premise". I'm thinking particularly of Noel Streatfeild's Apple Bough, where the parents make the whole family trail around the world after the child prodigy who isn't really enjoying it much himself. I Capture The Castle is probably the classic in that vein. More recently, Hilary McKay is very good at that chaotic family vibe - there's the Exiles series and the Casson family series. They're marketed at younger readers but they are absolutely glorious.

Whether any of them are obtainable where you are is, of course, a very different question...

[antisoppist]

Seconding Hilary McKay's Cassons series. Reading as an adult there is clear adultery but it went over the younger readers' heads. Start with Saffy's Angel, but Indigo's Star has an actual American in it. The Exiles are more of a normal family but very funny about sisters.

I'd say Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike but there is a bit about Daisy realising she fancies girls about halfway through.

For the older one, Jane Gardam Bilgewater or A Long Way from Verona?

Judith Kerr's When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is excellent for resilience.


If it helps at all, there was this thread where I asked for recs for Eldest when she was 12
https://antisoppist.dreamwidth.org/252312.html

[cahn]

Ohhhh, I have seen When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit around but never read it! I shall put all of these on my list.

And thank you for the thread! I got a few ideas from that as well :D

[mildred_of_midgard]

It's one of my favorite books!

ETA: Though be aware it's middle grade.

[cahn]

Haha, it's a fun question for me too! I mean, as you say, the actual execution is a bit fraught for me, but I love getting book recs :D Speaking of which... I have read none of these. Including I Capture the Castle, which I know is a classic and I should have read it! Right, gonna go to the library this weekend! Thank you!