Katniss Everdeen, the arrow-wielding hero of the Hunger Games series, may be a popular role model for some teens these days, but don’t forget about Jane Eyre.
Fifteen-year-old Gabi Landim Araujo lists the classic Charlotte Bronte novel of the same name as one of her current top three reading picks thanks to its inspiring main character.
“I think it’s a really empowering book for women particularly,” says Landim Araujo.
The coming-of-age story sees the titular Jane Eyre persevere through a lifetime of hardship and it’s that inner strength Landim Araujo finds inspiring.
“The current books kind of envision women like super heroes (but) Jane Eyre is kind of like a common girl,” she explains.
Reading is one of Landim Araujo’s many hobbies. Although she also enjoys TV and movies, books are different.
“I feel like (with) books you have more room for imagination,” she says.
Landim Araujo moved to Canada two years ago from Brazil and although she could speak English well she struggled a bit with the written word. Her teachers encouraged her to read more to help her writing as the two skills go hand in hand. The plan worked, says Landim Araujo, and as her writing improved her love of reading grew.
Now a member of the Teen Advisory Group at West Vancouver Memorial Library, Landim Araujo attends monthly meetings and helps plan events for other teens. She has read most of the recent popular young adult novel series and says fiction is her favourite genre especially historical fiction.
“I really like books set in the past or a dystopian future novel,” she notes.
The library has a great teen section, she says, and adds: “I feel like people my age don’t always appreciate what the library has to offer.”
Five Things You Might Not Know About YA, by Shannon Ozirny, head of youth services at the West Vancouver Memorial Library
YA (young adult) books offer rich, rewarding reading experiences and the selection of books for teens is now the best it’s ever been. Here are five things you might not know about what the teens in your life are reading:
1. It’s not all dystopia and sex: There is a vast amount of YA out there ranging in genres and subject matter from True Grit-style Westerns, to living with a grandparent with dementia.
2. There really is something for everyone. Just ask at your local public library. Librarians function like a reading concierge!
3. YA is not just for teens: There are some fantastic cross-over novels out this year for fans of titles like The Book Thief. New ones like Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit and Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys are perfect for parents and grandparents to read along with the young people in their lives.
4. YA audiobooks are ideal listening selections. They can be shorter than adult novels and some of the best narrators in the business are featured in the productions. Try anything narrated by Kirby Heyborne (like the fantastical Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children or the terrifying Scowler). He’s the Meryl Streep of the audiobook world.
5. Many popular adult authors also write YA. The list is long and includes big names like Sophie Kinsella, James Patterson and Gregory Maguire.
Having trouble getting the teen in your life reading? Bring them to the library (or go get a stack of books on their behalf). Librarians can find a book for anyone with any interest, and they love a challenge.
This story originally appeared in a special Kids Biz section of the North Shore News, which focused on different activities for kids and teens.
