Shard I need your help!

[StormingTexan he/him]

Hi Shrarders! I am hoping you guys can help me with a challenge I have made with my 12 year old daughter.
 

We have both agreed to read a book the other picks out over Christmas break. The idea is to pick out a book that will either change the other persons mind about a genre or at least still appeal to them even though it’s not a genre you typically like. 

I’m obviously a fan of fantasy as well as as sci-fi.  She is all about YA romance. The more dramatic the better. I’ll post a pic of some of her recent reads for reference. 
 

So what do I pick for her to read?
 

Oh and here is the kicker... It cannot be something either of us had read before. So right off the bat no Sanderson. 
 

 

 

[Orlion Blight he/him]

So. Depends on the "age group" you are looking for, but here are some suggestions I've read or heard good things about: 

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making by Catherynne M Valente

The Nine by Tracy Townsend

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohter & Max Gladstone (this one is really good)

The Lady Astronauts series by Mary Robinette Kowal (haven't read, heard good things about) 

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Little, Big by John Crowley (this is the highest reading level of all my suggestions) 

[Use the Falchion]

If she doesn't mind reading right-to-left, might I recommend the manga series Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War and Rurouni Kenshin? Both have anime, but I think the manga are better. 

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War is about two members of a presitgous high school student council (the president Miyuki Shirogane and his Veep, the titular Kaguya Shinomiya) as they fall in love with each other and engage in hilarious hijinks to make the other admit their feelings first. The two's incredibly different backgrounds help set the mood as well - Miyuki lives in a tiny apartment with his little sister and pretty useless father, while Kaguya comes from wealthy, being the daughter of the owner of one of the wealthiest companies in Japan (in the story).  There are other hilarious cast members as well! The series evolves after a bit, but it's a fun-low stakes emotional comedy that I think you both may enjoy. 

VIZ | Read a Free Preview of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Vol. 1

 

Rurouni Kenshin is the story about a samurai named Himura Kenshin who travels around Japan 12 years after the Meiji Revolution, fighting to bring peace wherever he is. After a run in with a man claiming to be Hitokiri Battousai (aka Battousai the Manslayer in the anime's dub), one of the most famous assassins in Japan and a villain even among those he fought beside, Kenshin finds himself at the dojo of one Kaoru Kamiya, and ends up as a guest there. And so the tale of romance, reconciliation, and redemption begins...

Rurouni Kenshin is one of my favorite manga of all time, even still. It has action, romance, tragedy, a little fantasy, and a lot of heart. The anime is very well-liked (well, the first two seasons anyway), the Trust & Betrayal OVA is breathtakingly beautiful and tragic, and the live action adaptations are actually good. If you liked Dalinar's arc in Oathbringer, you may like Rurouni Kenshin. HOWEVER, there is a downside, and it's a big one. This work necessitates the separation of an author from their work. The creator of this series got caught doing with some incredibly heinous stuff which more or less killed his reputation in the west. If you read this, you'll have to ask yourself if you can separate the message from the man. If not, I don't blame you. Heck, I still struggle with this. I'll link some videos that cover it better than I can. 

VIZ | Read a Free Preview of Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 1

Spoiler

MMO Junkie's Racist Director - Should We Hate the Work, or the Jerk? - YouTube

Rurouni Kenshin: The Art of Redemption - YouTube

Skip to 12:55 on the second link if you want to avoid spoilers. 

 

 

Other than that...maybe Jay Kristoff's Lotus War trilogy? I really like those books, but they do have sexual content, so be warned. 

 

EDIT: Another, more modern (and far less angsty) manga your daughter may like is called Spy x Family. It's about the journey of a spy as he takes on a dangerous mission to gain information from a reclusive diplomat during this world's Cold War era...by finding a wife, having a daughter and sending her to a prestigious elementary school where she can befriend said diplomat's youngest son. Unfortunately, the daughter the spy ends up adopting is a telepath, and the woman he ends up marrying is an assassin for the other country, using him as her cover for why she doesn't have a boyfriend. 

Overall it's the story of a three vastly different people coming together as a family, despite them using it as a disguise. It's also hilarious. 

VIZ | Read Spy x Family, Chapter 1 Manga - Official Shonen Jump From Japan

Edited December 12, 2020 by Use the Falchion

[Guest Somebody from Scadrial]

3 hours ago, StormingTexan said:

Hi Shrarders! I am hoping you guys can help me with a challenge I have made with my 12 year old daughter.
 

We have both agreed to read a book the other picks out over Christmas break. The idea is to pick out a book that will either change the other persons mind about a genre or at least still appeal to them even though it’s not a genre you typically like. 

I’m obviously a fan of fantasy as well as as sci-fi.  She is all about YA romance. The more dramatic the better. I’ll post a pic of some of her recent reads for reference. 
 

So what do I pick for her to read?
 

Oh and here is the kicker... It cannot be something either of us had read before. So right off the bat no Sanderson. 
 

 

 

What is she indifferent/in a bad opinion of?

The Wings of Fire series, especially after the first five books, which are kinda unnecessary, is a good series that is ongoing. The series is roughly split up in five book sections and it is currently on the third of these. These lack romance until the third 'section', so it should take her out of her comfort zone.

If she can handle some profanity, the Middle Falls Time Travel stories is a pretty good choice (most of them don't have romances, but the third one is a love story.).

[Alvron]

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Battlemage by Taran Matharu
Bloodsong by Anthony Ryan

The first two are closer to her normal genre but have fantasy/sci fi elements that could get her interested in reading more while the last two have light romance while being heavier on the fantasy element.

[StormingTexan he/him]

7 hours ago, Somebody from Sel said:

What is she indifferent/in a bad opinion of?

She claims to not like anything fantasy/sci-fi related. I actually think though that it is just because she hasn’t given it a good enough chance. One of her favorite TV shows is Julie and Phantoms which obviously had supernatural elements so not too far off. I just need to find something with enough romance to keep her interested.
 

She did try Reckoners and liked the first book but kinda lost interest after that. 

[Alvron]

5 hours ago, StormingTexan said:

She claims to not like anything fantasy/sci-fi related. I actually think though that it is just because she hasn’t given it a good enough chance. One of her favorite TV shows is Julie and Phantoms which obviously had supernatural elements so not too far off. I just need to find something with enough romance to keep her interested.

I would highly recommend The Host then.  It has a love triangle, three romances (though one is very, very light) and a female protagonist, something that would make the story easier for her to relate to.  It's also been made into a movie though I haven't seen it so can't really say if it's good or not but my niece loved it.

It's a shame you can't recommend the Mistborn trilogy as I think she would enjoy it with all the Vin viewpoints.

[StormingTexan he/him]

3 hours ago, Alvron said:

I would highly recommend The Host then.  It has a love triangle, three romances (though one is very, very light) and a female protagonist, something that would make the story easier for her to relate to.  It's also been made into a movie though I haven't seen it so can't really say if it's good or not but my niece loved it.

It's a shame you can't recommend the Mistborn trilogy as I think she would enjoy it with all the Vin viewpoints.

Thanks! I read the synopsis and I think this may be a winner. 

Yes maybe some day I can convince her to give Mistborn a shot. I’m the only one in the family that like Fantasy and Sci-Fi. I got the Alcatraz books for the kids when they were a little younger thinking that may be a good way to introduce them and I was the only one that read them haha. 
 

Edit: Oh I just went to buy the book for her and see that it’s the same author as Twilight Saga which was what I was thinking initially. This looks like a good choice! 

Edited December 12, 2020 by StormingTexan

[Condensation she/her]

I answer the ca - wait, you've already got one. Shame.

Is The Host good? Should I read it?

[Orlion Blight he/him]

On 12/12/2020 at 9:12 AM, StormingTexan said:

She did try Reckoners and liked the first book but kinda lost interest after that. 

A very reasonable reaction

[Guest Somebody from Scadrial]

On 12/12/2020 at 7:12 AM, StormingTexan said:

She claims to not like anything fantasy/sci-fi related. I actually think though that it is just because she hasn’t given it a good enough chance. One of her favorite TV shows is Julie and Phantoms which obviously had supernatural elements so not too far off. I just need to find something with enough romance to keep her interested.
 

She did try Reckoners and liked the first book but kinda lost interest after that. 

May I introduce you to the Magisterium, it's listed by my library as being by Holly Black, but is a joint effort between her and another author. It is pretty heavily romantic with a lot of fantasy. It also has a lot of books so should give her more time with the series.

The Five Kingdoms series by Brandon (not Sanderson) Mull might be a good choice, the driving plot is a love story with two of the secondary characters having a love story as well.

I probably won't have the best advice as I tend to be put off by heavy romances.

I thought of a Sci-fi book! The Lost Frontier series has a subtle love story with a lot of father-daughter relationship in there too.

Edited December 13, 2020 by Somebody from Sel

[Use the Falchion]

6 hours ago, Somebody from Sel said:

May I introduce you to the Magisterium, it's listed by my library as being by Holly Black, but is a joint effort between her and another author. It is pretty heavily romantic with a lot of fantasy. It also has a lot of books so should give her more time with the series.

Seconding the rec, but the romance aspect is pretty...immature? Not bad, but it's VERY much about pre-teens and teens learning to sort out their feelings than sappy romance from what I remember (I still need to read that final book though...)

[Guest Somebody from Scadrial]

1 minute ago, Use the Falchion said:

Seconding the rec, but the romance aspect is pretty...immature? Not bad, but it's VERY much about pre-teens and teens learning to sort out their feelings than sappy romance from what I remember (I still need to read that final book though...)

... It's a twelve year-old. Plus I don't really know many heavy romances. It is a definite romance though.

[Use the Falchion]

15 minutes ago, Somebody from Sel said:

... It's a twelve year-old. Plus I don't really know many heavy romances. It is a definite romance though.

Who is into YA romance, which usually have teenage protagonists. I'm not saying it's bad - again, I second your choice. But if the intended audience wants a little more than just "does s/he like me? What am I supposed to do in a relationship? Why am I messing this up," then they should be warned of that ahead of time.