Thirteen to Fifteen Years Old

This page lists books to read to children or for them to read to themselves. For books about children and childraising, see Education.

Many books listed on the pages for earlier ages continue to be suitable for this age, and may be appreciated with a growing sophistication.

Books

• Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E. L. Konigsburg. Elizabeth longs to be special, as Jennifer is. But when she really has to choose, Elizabeth discovers the virtue of integrity.
• Physical Science by David Harriman. These wonderful lectures, recorded before an audience of students just learning science and mathematics, teach the critical ideas in man's knowledge of the physical world by starting at the beginning of science and showing each step by which more was learned, what evidence and reasoning validated the new knowledge and how each step built on and extended prior knowledge into wider integrations. I was a physics major when I entered college, yet I can easily say that my actual understanding of physics is much greater as a result of this course than I can credit to any other class I've taken – in large measure because I now have a clear grasp of what the physical theories actually refer to and, thus, why they are correct.
• Shane by Jack Schaefer. Integrity triumphs over evil in this American classic western. Illustrates the necessity of standing up to one's enemies and the great power that good has when it acts with ruthless conviction.
  • On Heroism,
  • Hero Worship
• The Admirable Crichton, J. M. Barrie. Lord Loam, peer of the British Empire, espouses very democratic views as he compells all his servants to attend tea in which the domestics are treated all as equals to the nobility. Crighton, his butler, is horrified. Crighton believes firmly that Nature determines a hierarchy among men. "There must always be master and servants in all civilized communities, my lady, for it is natural, and whatever is natural is right." However, he admits that circumstances might alter cases, that under different conditions Nature might determine that "the same person might not be master; the same person might not be servant." These characters and ideas are tested when Lord Loam, his family, Crighton and a servant are wrecked on a desert island.
• The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope. The vacationing English gentleman Rudolf Rassendyll bears a close likeness to the true king of Ruritania, and his love of justice, adventure and the Princess Flavia lead him to masquerade as the king to defeat a plot by the king's brother to usurp the throne. Dashing bravery, humor and ingenious feats characterize the hero.
• The Scarlet Pimpernell by Baroness Orczy. By 1792, the idealism of the French Revolution had degenerated into a Reign of Terror. Ruthless mobs ruled the streets of Paris; and each day, hundreds of royals were executed by the guillotine, with hundreds more condemned to follow. Their only hope lay in being rescued by the Scarlet Pimpernel, the daring leader of an English faction that spirited aristocrats across the Channel to safety. But who was this Pimpernel, whose nom de guerre derived from the scarlet wildflower he employed as a calling card? First published in 1905, this historical adventure story -- timeless in its appeal -- is an irresistible blend of romance, intrigue, and suspense. Readers will thrill to the gallantry of its elusive, brave, and dashing hero who becomes the darling of the people, particularly Marguerite Blakeney, who scorns her foppish husband, Percy, as ardently as she admires the Pimpernel. (Publisher's summary)
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabith George Speare.
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Lawyer Atticus Finch defends rationality against irrationality, in the form of respect for individuals against collective, racial prejudice.

• Black Ships before Troy, The story of The Iliad by Rosemary Sutcliff. Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time. In it, the abduction of the legendary beauty, Helen of Troy, leads to a conflict in which even the gods and goddesses take sides and intervene. It is in the Trojan War that the most valiant heroes of the ancient world are pitted against one another. Here Hectore, Ajax, Achilles, and Odysseus meet their most formidable challenges and in some cases their tragic ends. Rosemary Sutcliff makes such extraordinary stories as those of those Trojan horse, of Aphrodite and the golden apple, and of the fearsome warrior women Amazons, accessible to contemporary young people. (publisher's summary)
  • Bibliography of Greek Stories for Children
• Captain Blood by Raphael Sabatini. Dr. Peter Blood, sold into slavery by his political enemies, becomes a pirate. His enemies too late wish they had not such an ingenious wielder of the sword of justice.
• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.
• Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono. Theme: Becoming independent. Kiki, a young Japanese witch, sets up business in a town that has not had a witch in a long time. She learns to make friends, identify her values, and identify herself as distinct both from her parents and her friends.
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
• Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute.

Videos

• Rattatouille by Pixar. An animated rat pursues and achieves the career he loves.

Text Books and Reference Books

• Singapore Math. Math books and curricula for pre-K through 12th grade. These books are cheerful, fun and teach math from the basics up.

Links

• History at Our House – Historian Scott Powell offers classes by teleconference and recommends books to read.
• Music at Our House – Music teacher M. Zachary Johnson teaches children to understand and appreciate the value of music to leading a value-rich life.

copyright © 2012 Andrew Layman, all rights reserved, 2/6/2012 9:55:39 PM, Topic: Thirteen to Fifteen, http://www.strongbrains.com

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