Inspirational Books For Teenagers

DSD is flying out from the US to live with us in a couple of weeks. Yay!

It's a 24 hour journey all up - she's a seasoned traveller so she'll know to take her iPod etc. etc. but I want to send her a couple of books too cos she may not have the money to buy stuff like that.

I'd like to find something a bit inspirational rather than the usual girl meets boy kind of crap.

She's been through some rough times recently and been getting into drugs, drink, boys, sex so I kind of want to give her something 'real', a biography about someone of similar age and how they managed to make a fresh start.

I don't want a self-help, theory book - a real-life biography would be better.

Any recommendations?

Oh, and I'll probably get her something a bit trashier as well just to mix it up but I don't think it will be too hard finding that.

hi Fiona, my daughter got for christmas Chicken soup for the teen soul: real life stories by real teens. I think that would be a winner.

Another book I cant recommend enough, and think every teenage girl should have a copy of it, is kaz Cooke's Girl Stuff. How old is your DSD?

If you want something inspirational in line with drugs, alcohol etc. then the perfect book would be...

In My Skin by Kate Holden

Kate wrote the book herself about her teenage life on the streets. It's essentially the story of a good Melbourne girl who becomes a heroin-addicted prostitute and it leaves out all of the "boy-meets-girl" cliches. It can be a bit graphic in some parts - so depending on her age will depend on if you think it's suitable for her. But it's an inspiring read and anyone who has been there (even if it's only to a small extent) will get value out of this book.

And for fun... send her off with a copy of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight (if she hasn't already read it) ;).

The Diary Of Anne Frank. The more modern editions have some of the stuff that her father editted out about her sexuality etc. She never did make a fresh start but none the less I think that it's a wonderful book and everyone should read it.
Maya Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt
Girl, Interrupted - They made it into a movie, can't remember the author.
Helen Keller's autobiography - The Story of My Life.

I also agree with the Chicken soup books...there are a few in the series...

Also tell me i'm here by anne deveson

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tell me i'm here by anne deveson

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I couldn't second this book enough - absolutely heartwrenching.

thanks so much - all great suggestions, keep em coming.

Had a quick look at the chicken soup series - looks good.

tigger, she's alredy got the Kaz Cooke book. We bought it for her last Xmas when she was 14 and she said it was "a bit young" for her.

She's 15 going on 32.

oh dear... hopefully she will become 15 going on 16. good luck.