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ASK! about Fiction

The suggested books are based on the following selection criteria:
reads with themes that appeal to the tweens
simple, yet fast-paced plots
titles that cater to avid readers

Some of the evergreen themes that appeal to children and teens are: horror, fantasy and mystery. After “Mr Midnight” series, you might like to introduce other available horror novels. This could help to break away the mindset of horror stories which are all about “Mr Midnight” and “Singapore Ghost Stories”.

The Watch House by Robert Westall
Call No.: Y English WES

“Ghosts in this book do not just spook you out. They have a history and reason for doing so. A girl’s unhappiness draws them to her and she discovers their world and secrets. Serious as the theme may sound, the characters are funny and theme interesting.”

Ghosts I have Been by Richard Peck
Call No.: Y English PEC
“Girl with special sight goes through a series of adventures, such as helping a child-ghost in trouble. The story is meaningful for children and filled with humourous moments.”

The Scarecrows by Robert Westall
Call No.: Y English WES
“This story combines family drama with th supernatural. A boy hetests his stepfather and his wrath brings out the ghosts of evil. In the end, he realises that he will be the one to banish them and protect his family from harm.”

For those who fall head over heels for Harry Potter, try
The Oracle by Catherine Fisher

Call No.: Y English FIS
“Female heroine in search of a new god in a Graeco-Egyptian world. Her quest is secret and fraught with danger. Within her soul she is torn by conflict for her faith is weak, yet she must seek the new god to save her world.”
The trilogy continues with Book 2 – The Archon and Book 3 - The Scarab

Eragon by Christopher Paolin
Call No.: Y English PAO

“A farm boy discovers a dragon’s egg and his life is changed forever.”

The Owl Service by Alan Garner
Call No.: Y English GAR
“A tragedy from the past replays itself when a strange pattern of owls is discovered. While the atmosphere is errie, the writing is witty and engaging.”

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson
Call No.: Y English THO
“An Irish teenager attempts to save his the things he love – family, music- from leaking into the fairies’ land. He also uncovers a crime his grandfather may or may not have commited.”

The Amulet of Komondor by Adam Osterweil

Call No.: J English OST
“Joe and Katie become actual characters in a computer game. They fight dragons and the FBI in the relams of magic and Earth.”

Knights of the Kitchen Table by Jon Scieszka ; illustrated by Lane Smit
Call No.: JS English SCI
“Three boys travel through time and adventure with King Arthur and his knights.”

Here are some suggested titles on Mystery & Thrillers:

Midnight Magic by Avi
Call No.: J English AVI
“In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of uke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.”

Spider Kane and the Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawler’s by Mary Pope Osborne ; illustrated by Victoria Chess
Call No.: J English OSB
“Lieutenant Leon Leafwing and Detective Spider Kane investigate the mysterious disappearance of Leon’s mother and members of the Order of the Moth.”

Behind the Curtain : an Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams
Call No.: Y English ABR
“A girl mimics her favourite detective Sherlock Holmes and solves mysteries in her home.”

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
Call No.: Y English HOO
“A boy tries to solve the mystery of the stolen jewel. Story set in olden Japan when it was the dream of many young boys to become a samurai.”

Read on for more suggested reads by authors

Some suggested authors:

Andy McNab’s stories are littered with military facts and armt-like techniques, which appeals to male readers. The fast paced plots are engaging and exciting.

In Avi Wortis’s stories, the young are the heroes and heroines. His stories, for both children and young adults, are set in different themes, from fantasy to adventure. Some of his works are ‘Best Shorts: Favorite Short Stories for Sharing’, ‘Crispin: the Cross of Lead’ and ‘Lord Kirkle’s Money‘.

Brian Jacques’s Redwall series is inspired by his real life experiences in World War II. His characters are animals who try to save their forests from evil creatures. His stories capture the audience’s imagination with vivid and humourous narration. His favourite character (which is himself), is the creative and kind-hearted Mouse Thief. Throughout the adventure, his characters break to enjoy the most delicious recipes and listen to the Mouse Thief’s hilarious songs. There’s even a recipe book of the food described in the book.

Dianna Wynne Jones, author of ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ , weaves the most creative and imaginative ideas into apparently real scenarios, which makes the world seem truly magical. Other books by her are ‘The Merlin Conspiracy’, ‘Eight Days of Luke’ and ‘A Tale of Time City’.

Richard Peck’s stories are about youths who are different. Some of his books deal with teenage issues, such as teen pregnancy, so require a more mature audience. He also writes stories suitable for younger ages. Some of his books are ‘Here Lies the Librarian’, ‘Monster Night at Grandma’s House’ and ‘A Long Way from Chicago: a Novel in Stories’.

References for furthur information

EBSCO Host Novel List: Available at NLB Multimedia Stations

The Ultimate Teen Book Guide by Daniel Hahn & Leonie Flynn
Call No.: English 028.1625

Books to Grow with : a Guide to Using the Best Children’s Fiction for Everyday Issues and Tough Challenges by Cheryl F. Coon
Call No.: English 011.62 COO

Popular Series Fiction for Middle School and Teen Readers: a Reading and Selection Guide by Rebecca L. Thomas and Catherine Barr
Call No.: English 016.823 THO

Junior Genreflecting: a Guide to Good Reads and Series Fiction for Children by Bridget Dealy Volz, Cheryl Perkins Scheer, Lynda Blackburn Welb
Call No.: English 016.813009 VOL

Answered by Ang Mei Jun, Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

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