It's a given that writers need to read whenever they're not writing, so I'd like some suggestions for my book list. You can give reasons as to why you suggest it or not, up to you. I will read literally anything if it sounds interesting. I've read medical books, gardening guides, psychological stories, historical discoveries, even astrology books. I love learning about the world more than I like reading about fictional characters which is weird because that's all I write about…But! if it's such a good book that you can't help but suggest it, please do. I'll more than likely read it anyways. I'd like for these suggestions to be physical copies I can get at Barnes & Noble, I don't like reading online or at libraries. Suggest to your heart's content, name as many books as you can. I don't mind if you list one book or a hundred. Just a heads up though, I have the reading level of a 4th grader. No joke. Okay, go!
I'm unsure if you can get it at Barnes & Noble, since I got a copy for free from my local library, but picking up a copy of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride would definitely be one of my recommendations. It's kind of cliche, I'll admit, but it's a pretty simple read and very entertaining. Another would have to be The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. It's a five book series with a tonne of worldbuilding and a plot that made me gasp out loud - it's always nice to see consequences that have a lasting effect on the characters and story in general.
Personally, I adore The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Wizard of Oz series. But, if you want a non-fiction read, I would highly recommend Quantum Mechanics: The Theoretical Minimum.
Reading level of a 4th grader??? Though I wouldn't recommend it to a 4th grader, Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International series is a nice blend of humor, supernatural, and action. Any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series would be fine for all ages from what I can recall. I personally would recommend Going Postal or Making Money, both are wonderfully hilarious and books I read back in 3rd and 4th grade. Anything Discworld will be pretty intriguing, as the book series takes place in a world on the back of a giant flying turtle, upon which rests four elephants, and finally the world itself on the back of those four elephants.
I'll try to look into all of these as I make my book list, thank you All!
Six of Crows it is amazing and has several narrators so it is really interesting
@Smallfry I've never read six of crows, but the author is Maggie Stiefvater, right? I really love some of her other books, what is Six of Crows about?
Also, I would totally recommend "The Book Theif," by Markus Zusak and the "Harper Hall," trilogy by Anne McCarthy
The Six of Crows is about a group of thieves from a gang that get hired by a rich man to break into the most secure prison in the world in exchange for a lot of money. It is really good and there is a squeal that I don't like as much but is still good.
most of the books i read are young adult or teen, but i'll rec all the good ones (links to goodreads):
Magnus Chase (also by rick riordan)
Pivot Point(About a girl who can see what will happen if she makes a decision. it's told in alternating chapters of the two Paths, and she has to make a really difficult decision at the end. Very funny. The sequel, Split Second, is also good.) and The Forgetting, written by the same author as Pivot Point. And I Am Number Four is an old favorite(Not the whole series, though. Mainly I just like the first and second books.), about an alien who looks like a human named John, who is number four to be killed by the enemy aliens, the Mogadorians. As he grows into his new powers, or Legacies, the war reaches its peak as it is desperately fought on Earth. John and the other numbers have to defeat the Mogadorians for the sake of Earth and their home planet Lorien. The entire series is called Lorien Legacies. Sorry for the long paragraph!
I recently read "The Princes Saves Herself in This one" which is really good. It goes through the life of this woman who has suffered abuse and the death of people she was close to. It is written in poetry format.
I also read Frankenstein which was beautiful overall. When you let yourself be in the Creatures shoes' and understand his side of everything the story just falls together.
I read adult fiction more than teen or children's so I don't know if many of the books I like are at your reading level. Cami and Smallfry mentioned some stuff by Rick Riordan though and I've read all of his books. Steer clear of the Kane Chronicles and be aware that Magnus Chase is basically a photocopy of Percy Jackson, but his books are an amusing light read if somewhat formulaic.
~ The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer are a definite yesyesyes
~ Renegades by Marissa Meyer
~ The Selection series by Kiera Cass
~ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is heartbreaking but enchanting (My favorite of the list)
~ Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Percy Jackson definitely!!!
Fantasy Novels:
"The Magicians" by Lev Grossman. This is only the first book, and is followed by "The Magician King" and "The Magician's Land." Netflix has a series entitled "The Magicians," named after the book, but the two differ considerably from each other.
"The Raven Cycle" by Maggie Stiefvater. This is a four-book series about West Virginian teenagers who go searching for a dead Welsh king in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" and "Heroes of Olympus" and "The Trials of Apollo" by Rick Riordan. The author used to teach middle- and high-schoolers, so the general reading level is pretty standard. The series are based after Greek and Roman mythology.
"The Kane Chronicles" by Rick Riordan. Egyptian mythological-based.
"Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard" by Rick Riordan. If you've read PJO, then you probably know the surname 'Chase.' Annabeth's cousin is a Norse demigod and it just keeps getting better. Based on Norse mythology.
Mystery Novels:
"All For The Game" by Nora Sakavic. This is a trilogy about a boy named Neil Josten who runs away with his mother from his father, nicknamed the Butcher, and joins a misfit college sports team a year after his mom passes away.
Young Adult Novels:
"The Infects" by Sean Beaudoin. Chicken. Zombies. Sexy undead chick. Lots and lots of vulgar. The book is written, obviously, for young adults, since it features mild sex scenes and detailed gore. It's written well, but is bizarre.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Some kind of happiness, I forgot the author
All the Bright Places- Jennifer Nieven (made me cry it was soo good).
The Lunar Chronicles-Marissa Meyer (someone said it above but they are so good)
Milk and Honey- Rupi Kaur (this is poetry but so so good)
If you’re okay with some darker themes, read An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. It changed my life.
You have to read some of Benjamin Alire Saenz's books - his writing is very simple and easy to read but so, so beautiful. My fav of his is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe :)
I'd suggest reading the Glass Sentence, it's the first book from a trilogy and it has such a interesting premise and has a really good writing. The trilogy's name's Mapmakers. Here's the author's site:
http://www.segrovebooks.com/
The Lunar Chronicles is a must, as is Frankenstein, which is a beautiful yet morbid book that I hate that I love. So good, yet so morally challenging. I LOVE IT!!! Also, Catching Fire is my all time favorite book!
Anything by Joan Bauer is good, but I recommend Hope Was Here, Almost Home, and Close To Famous.
Also Penny From Heaven and Turtle In Paradise are perfect!
I highly recommend the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. It's very underrated and deserves so much better!
The Queen's Thief series, that somebody already mentioned, is one of my new favorites. I read them all a couple months ago. The first book is a little boring, but I still really enjoyed the characters, the quest, and the mythology. And the ending!!!! The second and third books are AMAZING. I'm buying them all soon.
Unfortunately I read a lot of old classics… But someone at a 4th grade reading level can always improve! You're missing out! I had to fight to read harder stuff too, but it was so worth it.
I think some stepping stones to read harder level books would be fairy tales like The Light Princess by George MacDonald (so funny, and takes like an hour or so to read), and The Princess Bride (I'm sure you've heard of it, absolutely amazing, also hilarious). Anne of Green Gables is also easier, but hard-ish too.
Then read The Hobbit. Then The Lord of the Rings. Then Jane Austen books. I HAVE SO MANY I LOVE GAH.
