PickyKidPix has very specific tastes in books. She likes realistic fiction and dystopian, and that’s it. No fantasy, nonfiction, or action adventure for her. No Percy Jackson (boring), Harry Potter (snooze), or even YA chick lit romance. She also likes her realistic fiction be pretty dramatic. Special needs characters are a plus for her.
Even with such a limited range of books, her blog has garnered a lot of traffic for her book posts. Her third grade book list written as a third grader generally spends time on the page 1 of a google search.
7th Grade Books from a 7th Grader
6th Grade Chapter Books from a 6th Grader
5th Grade Book Recommendations from a 5th Grader
4th Grade Books I Liked When I Was In 4th Grade
4th Grade Chapter Books by a Picky 4th Grader
4th Grade Books Recommended by a Fourth Grader
Top 10: Best Books for 3rd Grade by Me (A Third Grade Girl Who is Very Picky)
Now that she’s reading YA dystopia which is not my cup of tea, I am at a loss to find her more books. And god knows that I stress out when she doesn’t have any books to read because reading is low on her priority list. Luckily, my Instagram followers were willing to assist me. I also found Imagination Soup’s list on Middle Grade Dystopian books to be very helpful.
PickyKidPix Loves These Three Dystopian YA Series
PickyKidPix weighs on the books she’s read, the books she’s reading, the books she’s considered or considering, the books she’s rejected because she saw the movie or the movie trailer, and more. Is this how a typical teen thinks when considering books? I’m not sure but she’s 13 years old!
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
“This is the first dystopian series I read in 4th grade.”
The Giver series by Lois Lowry
“I read the first book in 6th grade in English grade and read the rest of the series in 7th grade. This is my favorite series of all time.”
Legend series by Marie Lu
“I read these books in 7th and 8th grade and it shares the title of my favorite series of all time.”
She has tried:
I Am Number Four series by Pitticus Lore
“I read this book in 7th grade and I thought it was really good. I started the second book and I’m not sure if I am going to finish the series.”
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
“My sister read this series. I watched the first two movies and I thought the movies were pretty good. I am not planning to read this series because I already saw the movies. Also, some of my friends did not recommend it.”
She is currently reading:
The Young Elites series by Marie Lu
“I like it so far. It’s by Marie Lu who is one of my favorite authors! She wrote one of my favorite series, the Legend series. It’s written similarly to The Legends series because she switches perspectives. It’s not related to the Legend series though.”
H2o by Virginia Bergin
“It’s good but I like The Young Elites better. This is more realistic than The Young Elites because just the weather is different from modern days. I’m not sure if I’m going to finish this book.”
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
“My dad really likes this book. I think it’s one of his favorites. I saw the trailer for the movie and it looked ok.”
More YA Dystopian Books for a Middle School Girl Like The Giver, Hunger Games, and Legend
Instagram friends suggested:
@homeschoolingworldof7
Incarnate trilogy by Jodi Meadows
“I have never heard of this! I don’t like the cover but it sounds really interesting.”
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.
@cmandelski suggested:
The Selection series by Keira Cass
“This sounds familiar to me. It’s not usually the type of book that I would read, but I’m willing to skim it.”
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
@author_dmlukman suggested:
detective books by D. M. Lukman
I think these are too young for me.
@aboyarshinov suggested:
Uglies series by Scott Westfeld
“I started the first book in 7th grade, but then I stopped. I read about 30 pages. It was ok. It just seemed very obvious and predictable about what was going to happen but many of my friends liked this series.”
@writtenand bound suggested:
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
“This was the read-aloud in 5th grade. I did not enjoy the book or the movie. I’m not a fan of fantasy, so maybe that is why I didn’t like it.”
A Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L’Engle
“I read one page of it in 6th grade and I don’t really know what it’s about.”
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
“I saw the movie and the movie really scared me because I saw it in 1st grade.”
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
“I haven’t read it but I have heard of it because my mom owns it. I think it’s a little too young for me now. My mom says that it’s not but that’s my story and I’m sticking with it. I probably won’t read it.”
@itsparrottime09 suggested:
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
“This gets recommended a lot!”
More than This by Patrick Ness
“I’ve never heard of this. The cover kind of gives me a headache but I can cover it up if I decide to read it.”
A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.
Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.
How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?
As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?
From multi-award-winning Patrick Ness comes one of the most provocative and moving novels of our time.
This sounds a little bit interesting. I do believe in spirit guides, so this might pertain to my interests. I would like to learn more about why this young boy is “dead.”
@hopemefford suggested
Maze Runner series by James Dashner
*James Dashner has been accused of sexual misconduct.
“I saw a trailer for the movie and a lot of people said that this is a really, really good book. I can not read it because I know how it ends. I got scared from the trailer so I asked a friend how it ended.”
If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.
@pagesburstinghearts suggested:
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
“My English teacher recommended this to our class but I didn’t think it was very interesting. A friend of mine read it and said that it was good.”
I guess I always felt even if the world came to an end, McDonald’s still would be open.
High school sophomore Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, like “one marble hits another.” The result is catastrophic. How can her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis are wiping out the coasts, earthquakes are rocking the continents, and volcanic ash is blocking out the sun? As August turns dark and wintery in northeastern Pennsylvania, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. Told in a year’s worth of journal entries, this heart-pounding story chronicles Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all—hope—in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.
@lisamartinez suggested:
Facing the Lion: Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe by Simone Arnold-Liebster
“I’m reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I also read The Book Thief (6th grade) and Number the Stars (5th grade). I really like reading about WWII. I watched a documentary on Hitler at home and I thought it was really interesting. I would consider reading this.”
Facing The Lion is an inspiring autobiographical account of a young, non-Jewish girl standing up for her beliefs in the face of overwhelming pressure to conform to the Nazi propaganda machines. Simone refuses to accept the Nazi party and her simple acts of defiance lead her to be persecuted by her school and local officials, and ignored by friends. She is put in a harsh reform school until the end of the war.
How about you? Do you have any more suggestions?
I’d be grateful for any book recommendations for my picky teenage daughter! Thank you!
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Maybe your daughter will like to read “Battle Royale” that was written in Japan, but was translated into English. Some people say that the “Hunger Games” was taken from this book.
Hi Giora,
Thanks for your great suggestion. I’ll tell her about it! She’s so picky that it’s hard to convince her but she LOVES the Hunger Games and the connection might intrigue her. She likes to get the inside scoop on everything!
She’s hard to find book for. I’m delighted she likes realistic fiction. Has she read Patricia McLachlan’s books — I’ve reviewed many of her books. Was going to suggest Shannon Messenger’s series, “The Keeper of the Lost Cities,” but it does have action in it. I love the series. As well as Natalie Lloyd’s beautifully written books, a touch of realism and a touch of magic — reviewed her MG “The Key to Extraordinary” this week and her “Snicker of Magic” in 2013. Both books have realistic characters, plots, but also have a tad of magic to them that make you wonder.
Hi Pat,
It’s that tad of magic that turns her off, unfortunately. She likes realistic fiction where the character really goes through a traumatic event or has special needs.
I am with you – not a fan of dystopia books.
Hi MaryAnne,
Those dystopia worlds freak me out; as if reading about them could make them become real. Also, I hate it when kids are abused or killed. I had trouble reading The Hunger Games or even watching the movie because of that. It gives me nightmares!
We also liked Solstice by P.J. hoover and especially the Killer of Enemies series by Tim Tingle.
Hi Karen,
I think the Killer of Enemies series is by Joseph Bruchac. I’m a big fan of his books too! I’ll have to tell my daughter about Solstice! Thanks for your great suggestions!
Bah! I’m such a goof!
We love both authors at our house.
Hi Karen,
Me too!! On both respects!
She might like my Seed Savers series…
Hi S. Smith,
Thanks for the heads up on your Seed Savers series. I’ll let her know.
If she likes WWII books, I really like Ruta Sepetys books,