Books to Give Your Kids For Christmas
We’ve got some book recommendations — some fun, some scholarly — that will enrich your child’s summer holiday reading list. Try out these tutor-recommended titles to launch your child into next year with improved fluency and comprehension, and a new-found love of reading!
Our tutors notice that one of the biggest determining factors for students’ creative writing ability is the number of books they’ve read for fun. Reading stories which align with their concerns and interests helps students form their own narrative voice and creative style. It equips them with a repertoire of characters and descriptions that they can draw from when creating their own work. Imaginative responses are a compulsory part of the HSC, so call this the most enjoyable exam preparation you can ever do!
These books are organised by genre and reading level, but reading level should only be used as a guideline. Some of the junior (yr6-8) books still contain serious themes and some of the senior (yr 11-12) titles are enjoyable for students well before they reach the HSC. It’s best to compare books your child has read before to the ones in this list and assess whether they would prefer a more challenging or a more pleasurable read.
For the Fantasy Fan
This category contains books about adventure and magic. Young women and men learn the skills they need to navigate a vast and dangerous world. The protagonists strive to make their worlds better, a task that comes at a great cost but an even greater reward.
Junior: The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin (Book 1 of the Earthsea Cycle)
Written by legendary Sci-Fi author Ursula Le Guin, The Wizard of Earthsea brings sophisticated ideas to young readers in a gripping and approachable manner. Go on a coming of age odyssey with the original wizard school story!
Intermediate: Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce (Book 1 of Provost’s Dog Trilogy)
Beka Cooper is a sort of police officer in a mediaeval fantasy town called Corus. She leads the scent hound Achoo to track down bad guys and protect her people. Beka is powerful, sensitive, and independent and Achoo? Adorable.
Senior: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Book 1 of the Kingkiller Chronicle)
A modern classic and for good reason. The Name of the Wind is a page turner from the get go. It takes you on a journey through magic and mystery as you follow Kvothe, a talented young musician, thief, and wizard.
Down to Earth Drama
This category contains books where relationships between people take the spotlight. Whether its the love-hate relationship of The Twits, the budding young adult romance of Hazel and Gus, or our difficult relationships with ourselves, this genre tugs the heartstrings and reminds us what it is to be human.
Junior: The Twits by Roald Dahl
This short and witty story documents an eccentric old couple and their positively bizarre lifestyle. Living in a windowless building, keeping monkeys for pets, and pranking each other constantly, this book will have you chuckling from start to finish.
Intermediate: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
A best-seller for good reason, The Fault In Our Stars follows the romance of two high-school students on their journey battling with cancer. Written beautifully, this book is hard to put down and teaches us about growing up and falling in love. This book will make you cry, but it will be worth it.
Senior: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a seemingly mundane, but ultimately haunting novel about coping in the real world. Eleanor faces the struggles of living out of home and joining the workforce while trying to cope with unresolved trauma and mental health issues from her childhood. Written beautifully, reading this book is like watching a lightning storm at sunset.
Dangerous Dystopia
It’s not getting any easier for these characters. War, famine and tyranny makes life a constant challenge, but someone has to rise up and make a change. Is war the answer? Or can we find our own way out?
Junior: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Book 1 of The Chaos Walking Trilogy)
Earth has been abandoned. New World, the planet where Todd lives, has something in the air which projects everyone’s thoughts out loud. How do you live in a world with no privacy and no secrets? It’s hard, but at least Todd’s dog Manchee can talk!
Intermediate: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Book 1 of the Hunger Games Trilogy)
What lengths must an authoritarian government go to to control its citizens? How about sacrificing two children from each district in a gruesome battle-royale? Don’t worry — the winner is celebrated as a hero and is rewarded with riches beyond their dreams!
Senior: The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
Welcome to post-climate change America. Follow the footsteps of young African-American Lauren Oya Olamina as she tries to find hope and home in the desolate wasteland left in the wake of the climate wars. Moving and beautifully-written, this book is a delight to read despite its dire setting.
Something For the Summer Scholar
The summer holiday is a great time to get ahead of the curve, and with these books, you’ll even enjoy it. These books are either in the High School Curriculum or will equip you with important skills for it. Most importantly, these books are beautiful and well worth a read regardless.
Junior: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Have you ever wondered what a “discursive” is? The Anthropocene Reviewed is an insightful and moving collection of “reviews” - but really, they’re perfect examples of what the discursive format can achieve. Read it front to back as a memoir, or choose the bite-sized topics that interest you. This book is easy to read and has something for everyone to enjoy. (And you might even learn what a good discursive looks like!)
Intermediate: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This Penguin Classic has earned its place in the hall of fame. Buckle in for mystery, friendship and heartbreak as Gatsby tries to have it all in a world where the odds are stacked against him. Dive into the glitz, glamour — and grime — of 1920s America.
Senior: T.S. Eliot: Selected Poems by T.S. Eliot
Poetry might not be every student’s first choice, but the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is one of the best poems ever written. Hauntingly beautiful and captivating, this poem captures many timeless modernist sentiments that strike right to the core. This collection contains Prufrock and many other poems assessable in the HSC! Why not get a head start and enjoy it at your own pace.
Each of these books has been read and carefully selected by our Head Tutor Breanna Lee. These are the best books to buy for Christmas or birthdays. Start here to enrich your child’s reading over the summer holidays.