Posts: 2588
From: Here, there and everywhere.
Registered: Jun 2004

posted October 22, 2004 01:42 PM         

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Hello, I can't believe how smart and worldly you guys are for your age, really! I have a 13 y/o son and I'd really like to get him to look at the world from a more spiritual perspective. He doesn't really believe in God, angels, druids etc. Could anyone reccommend reading that isn't too "out there" but has a spiritual message. Also, he seems to read on a lower level. So, Plato is out! Also there is all the teenage hormone thing going on, something with a self esteem message would be great. The funnier, the better. I know that's a tall order, but I'm open to anything. Maybe a book that helped you when you were a young teen.
Thanks! Mary

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Posts: 1025
From: California, USA
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posted October 23, 2004 03:26 AM         

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Philbird- first, thanks for having the confidence in us to ask this question. The books I would recommend are "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Alchemist". I found that both works contain wonderfully subtle ideas about fate, God, and the purpose of life; hopefully, both would be within his reading range. But neither will get him into heavy-duty Linda Goodmanism- both are philosophically realist and stoic.

I hope this helps.

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Hello everybody! I used to be QueenofSheeba and then I was Apollo and now I am QueenofSheeba again (and I'm a guy in case you didn't know)!

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posted October 23, 2004 01:46 PM         

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Thanks QOS, He's not a lord of the rings type, or harry potter. I'll check out the alchemist though.

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Posts: 906
From: dreamland
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posted October 24, 2004 01:05 AM         

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Phili-just ask him to read linda goodman's sun signs.he'll melt like wax.that's how i came into this field.i too did not had faith and did not believe in god ,but now.........

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From: Vancouver USA
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posted October 24, 2004 04:52 PM         

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QoS! I The Alchemist.

Now, I'm inspired to read it again.

Thanks!

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posted October 25, 2004 04:14 PM         

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Thanks Folks.
I just realized one of the two books Jay brought all the way from PA., is called Strega Nona. A story about a grandmother and granddaughter who were homeopaths. All he brought was those two books and some clothing. Of all the things he could have brought... It is however, a reading level of about fourth grade.

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Posts: 313
From: Colorful Colorado
Registered: Aug 2003

posted October 25, 2004 07:38 PM         

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You know it's kinda funny... I was in the 7th grade when I came across my first Linda Goodman book... It was like, my bible for a while... Not that it taught me about relationships with the opposite sex, but just relationships in general... esp. by use of the sun signs combination formulas in the back.

ALthough I understand if he's intimidated or just plain not interested in reading +900 page book.

RIII

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posted October 26, 2004 02:33 PM         

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Posts: 1159
From: UK
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posted October 31, 2004 07:30 PM         

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Hi Mary,
Im adore books and a couple in my collection came into my head when I read this. My brother (15, but is also a slow reader) enjoyed these ones, and I also thought that they might appeal to and help boost up your son.

The Doomspell Trilogy: By Cliff McNish

1.The Doomspell- These books were written specifically for kids but I found them to be quite mature, with a positive message with a theme of hope and self-belief.
Hopefully he wont be put off by the fact its about magic, witches and other worlds because its a really good book and the other two are amazing aswell!!
Heres what it says on the back cover;
"In a blaze of light, rush of wind, and scrabble of claws, Rachel and Eric are ripped through the wall and hurtled on to another world. Like thousands of other children before them, they have been snatched away by the witch.
But this time the witch has met her match. Rachel discovers that she has extraordinary gifts, similar to the witches. The witch is excited - she has found someone she can use for her own evil purposes. But for the witche's victims, Rachel is their only hope."
Rachel and Eric are excellant and realistic characters, both with different personalities that you can emphasize with and like.
What do you think? Would he like them.
Here they are on Amazon, if you wanted to find out more and read reviews ect; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-2771172-1605750

Hope this is helpful, do you know what subjects hes into? Like dinosaurs, history or animals, or anything like that?
Ill try and think of some more!!

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Posts: 1159
From: UK
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posted October 31, 2004 07:34 PM         

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Oh oh, also Phillip Pullmans trilogy Northern Lights, Subtle Knife, Amber Spyglass; is really really excellant, with spiritual theme too!!
It might be a bit mature for him but I think he might really like it!!

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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted November 01, 2004 01:46 PM         

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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posted November 04, 2004 12:31 PM         

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Thank you!

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posted November 06, 2004 11:44 AM         

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Hey Philbird, just wondering hows it going, and if u've tried out any of the books, and if so did he like them?! If not Ill think about any others I know...

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From: Easton, ME USA
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posted November 30, 2004 04:01 PM         

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I'm new here and was reading through some of the conversations that have been posted. I noticed that books are the topic of conversation as of now. I've been looking at the Amber Spyglass and I was wondering.... is it a good read? Is it worth buying?
Also, as I have not been in school for a year and I have three sisters in high school and a little brother in head start, what do high-schoolers do and what do you all like?
Just wonderin......

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Posts: 1025
From: California, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted December 02, 2004 12:28 AM         

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Big_Midget, you must read The Amber Spyglass and the rest of the trilogy. Don't buy it, tho, find it at a library.

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Hello everybody! I used to be QueenofSheeba and then I was Apollo and now I am QueenofSheeba again (and I'm a guy in case you didn't know)!

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posted May 17, 2005 02:41 PM         

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high school's tough....

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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted May 18, 2005 01:21 PM         

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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posted May 20, 2005 10:29 AM         

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but, that's when a person shapes his life.

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From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted May 22, 2005 07:07 AM         

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What's the boy's sign? I think that might give a clue towards his tastes.

I'm an old guy (32). I read and write well, but I don't particularly care for reading novels most of the time. I prefer informational books.

I also don't care for fantasy books like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter (though I heard a Harry Potter book on CD once and it was great!). Some novels I did like, and was quite inspired by would be Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. They don't promote a spiritual agenda, but Ayn Rand infuses her own carefully created philosophy into her books making them quite thought-provoking. The books challenge a traditional way of thinking, and may force your son to establish for himself whether or not he agrees with the philosophy she lays out.

I'm not sure where you are going to find a story that touches on spirituality without fantastical elements. C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia are very spiritually based, but also quite fantastical.

Could you try something like Reader's Digest? They often have inspirational stories with spiritual undertones. Also, fantasy movies with spiritual themes are easier to digest than fantasy books (for those that aren't into them). I can't think of some of the better ones right now. The only one that comes to mind at all is Pay It Forward. Oh, try an old movie The Dark Crystal. Great one!

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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted May 23, 2005 08:20 AM         

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Other movies like that:

The Labyrinth

13 Going on 30

50 First Dates

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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posted May 23, 2005 09:13 PM         

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The Amber Spyglass- Philip Pullman, right? I tried to read his books a couple of years ago, but didn't like his writing style very much. But yeah, that's another series you should look at, Philbird- they have spiritual undertones, if I can remember right- more than undertones, I think.

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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted May 28, 2005 09:21 AM         

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The Jacket was like that also.

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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posted May 29, 2005 10:56 AM         

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And The Butterfly Effect.

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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posted June 03, 2005 01:39 PM         

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I don't think The Butterfly Effect is very appropriate for 13 year olds. lol

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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted June 03, 2005 03:39 PM         

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Oops. I forgot about the age. I would remove The Jacket, too. A little scary at first.

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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