Hey, I've got a question for you. Two of my students made a very bad English exam, so they'll have to make a taks for English during the holidays. However, I don't have the time to make task (it has to be finished tomorrow). That's why I wanted to let them read a book. The students are about 17 years old and they've read some texts in class, but never a book. Their English is pretty bad (although they had already four years of English).

I'm looking for some easy, fun books. Books by Tartt or Coetzee are for example way too long and difficult for them. A book of 100-250 pages, written in an easy language, would be perfect. Any ideas? Abbreviated stories are ok as well.

MarieLouise said:

You know weirdest thing Flowers in the Attic came to my mind, it's absolute crap (their brains will rot ), but sure is a page turner, EASY EASY - I read it when I was 11 although it is for adults

ZombieKitten said:

I remember that one The 'readers' are Turkish boys though, so I don't think Andrews is very suitable.

I remember reading 'Catcher in the Rye' when I was about 15, and I like it a lot. Unfortunately, I don't have it at home to check whether the language is esay enough.

Magazines might help, too. People magazine comes to mind. Vogue and Harper's Bazar may also work.

As far as easy books go, only those aimed at tween and teenagers come to mind, such as any of the Babysitter's Club books by Ann M. Martin, anything by Judy Blume.

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant was a pretty easy read and very much a page turner.


Let's see... Jodi Picoult writes pretty interesting and easy books, too.


I hope that helped!

How about Charlotte's Web

Here are some good ones for that age group - and the originals were published in French, so if you wanted to give them the English and the French (to refer to) they are available:

http://www.amazon.com/Eye...0744590108

http://www.amazon.com/Dog...pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.com/Bet...198&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Rab...280&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.com/Lit...12&sr=1-10

Harry Potter
Stephen King
Jonathan The Seagull (a summary of ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ by Richard Bach)
A story of at least 80 pages by Haruki Murakami (English translation)
The catcher in the rye - J.D. Salinger
Maybe Roald Dahl in English?

That's the direction I'm thinking of. Translations are not a very good idea, although I think Murakami has been translated wonderfully.

Will check out your suggestions soon.

MarieLouise said:

Ok...I get it now. Why do you think the translations are a bad idea? These are good ones - I gave them to my niece who is 16.

applekisses said:

They're not necessarily a bad idea, but I might have to explain to the headmaster of the school why I chose the books. I've read some Murakami myself, and I can easily give a few arguments for it... Those originally French books I haven't read myself, so that would be more difficult.

I haven't read Jodi Picoult or Charlotte's Web either, anyone else who thinks those are good choices?

Hey, AppleKisses, thanks for your help anyway !

They love reading Stephen King in Dutch, so maybe they'll go for that one. I'll include some vocabulary and grammar exercises to make sure they at least need the English version.

I'm thinking about The Diary of Adrian Mole as well, but I didn't like it when I was their age...

MarieLouise said:

I see...and you're welcome.
Charlotte's Web is a great choice.

i'd suggest "the lion the witch and the wardrobe" - it's a very short book, very easy english, and very engaging.

Anxiety said:

love that.

also,
'how i live now'

i think it's meg rostoff???