I am not a strong reader. I have some learning disabilities, and read at probably a 7th grade level. I know that sounds harsh, but its the reality. I am trying to find a book that isnt too difficult for someone like me to read. This means an easy to follow plot, and fairly simple vocabulary. The more descriptive the author is, and the bigger the words, the more I struggle.
I am looking for an adventure story with a female protagonist. Scifi is my favorite genre but its not totally necessary to be scifi. I am open to any suggestions as long as its a fun adventure story with a female main character. Ideally with no or little romance
I have mostly read Young Adult books because they are the easiest for me to actually read and understand. But now that I am a middle age adult YA stories aren't the most appealing anymore. Im not saying I wont consider YA books, they tend to be my only option. But id love to know if there are any other books out there that might be to my level.
I asked at the library and the librarian was a bit rude when I mentioned my poor reading abilities. So I figured I'd try asking here. I know this probably isnt the type of things most of you enjoy reading. I also know my post is likely full of grammatical errors. I am trying my best.
by jessietrekkie
28 Comments
Most librarians aren’t assholes. I understand why you’d be hesitant, but it might be worth trying talking to someone different.
I’ll say up front that it’s not always easy for me to judge difficulty, but Janet Evanovich’s Gabriella Rose books may fit the bill. All of her books feel light and fun to me, but Gabriella Rose specifically is kind of globe trotting treasure hunting adventure.
Stephen King writes books that are pretty easy to digest. He writes in generally short chapters, so for me, it makes it easier to comprehend and not get lost when I feel like stopping. It’s always at the end of the chapter 🙂
He has a series of books that star a detective named Holly Gibney. They are a little scary and violent at points, but she’s a great protagonist. The first trilogy she is in is called the Bill Hodges Trilogy. You kind of need to read them first to get the full depth and breadth to Holly. Then there are books thereafter that are Holly focused.
So try older SFF. The adult market used to reach down to 14. Even now the default assumption is that adult books are at around 6th grade especially for the breezy pulp end.
It’s fantasy but see if you can get Elfshadow by Elaine Cunningham.
Pern by McCaffery should be easy but might be too young.
Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon kicks off a nice SF action series.
It’s not sci-fi, but True Grit by Charles Portis. Mattie is a badass heroine. It’s a young woman avenging her father’s death
The Ship Who Searched by Anne McCaffrey. Strong female protagonist who becomes a crime fighting space archeologist in a sci-fi set in the future. If you like it, there’s four or five more but this one is the clearest and easiest to read and follow (and my favourite)
The Menagerie Trilogy by Tui T Sutherland. A lonely teenager finds a secret zoo full of magical creatures and gets to work there. The narrator is male, but there are multiple female MCs that are central to the story. It also has talking magical creatures and is really funny. I bought it for my kid and loved it so much I bought my own copy.
If you haven’t read them, I think *Divergent* and *The Hunger Games* would be good choices. Older YA would generally be doable, and fit the description of fun adventure plots that are easy to follow.
For adult reads, you might try *Legends & Lattes* or *Monk & Robot*.
It’s written for 10-14 year olds, but I would 100% recommend reading The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I read it aloud to sixth graders and I love it so much!
Skyward by Sanderson is YA I suppose but I found it super fun.
If you haven’t read Hunger Games yet it seems like an obvious next step for you. It’s YA but beloved by adults too.
As far as “adult” books are concerned, Taylor Jenkins Reid might be a good author to start with. I read Carrie Soto is back and Maybe in Another Life earlier this year and liked both. They’re both modern novels, maybe in another life has a sprinkle of magical realism.
I applaud you for trying to read even though it can be a challenge. You might try reading a play (NOT Shakespeare) because they are often easier to understand than novels. You could try a digital download of the play [Cake for the Queen](https://www.youthplays.com/play/cake-for-the-queen-by-robin-blasberg-513&ref=), for example, to see if it suits you.
The “His Dark Materials” series by Phillip Pullman.
It’s a YA series (though a deep one) and has one of the best female protagonists in all of literature in my opinion – Lyra Belacqua.
It’s also a mixture of sci-fi and fantasy. I can’t say much without spoiling it, but it’s one heck of an epic adventure.
I’m sorry about that librarian. Reading is for everyone.
You might have some luck with T. Kingfisher. I think “Nettle and Bone” is fairly easy to follow, features minimal romance, a female MC, and is an adventure story. It is fantasy though. You could also try “A Sorceress Comes to Call” and “A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking”.
For sci-fi, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers might fit, but might also be more of an early high school reading level.
The Bloody Jack series is one of my top favorite female protagonist. I’m 37 and I still love this series.
Look into the Light Lark series. While the author has received criticism over her success (that she had influential people helping her), I found the first book simple and easy to follow. Haven’t read the rest, but worth looking into.
There’s also the Ms. Peregrine series – think of x-men but innocent kids saving the world in an alternate universe. I really enjoyed those books.
Edit: the Ms Peregrine series has strong female supporting characters, but the main character is a boy.
I’m going to recommend the high five rule that a school librarian taught my son for choosing books based on difficulty. Find a book you’re interested in, open to a random page, read the page and take note of how many unfamiliar words there are. If there are 0-1 new words, it’s too easy. 2-3 unfamiliar words is just right. 4 is a challenge. And 5 is too many, so you should try something easier until your vocabulary and reading skills improves. If you can’t figure out a word from context, don’t be afraid to look it up. You can even write it down for later so you don’t interrupt the flow of your reading (or if you’re reading on the kindle app, just click on the word and it should show you the definition). This will help you become a stronger reader.
As for recommendations, for science fiction try The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James. I’ve been reading a lot more horror than anything else lately, so I don’t have much else to recommend off the top of my head.
Look into T Kingfisher. She is my go to for fun reading.
Just going to put it out there that audiobooks totally count as reading, if that would be easier for you!
Also, don’t apologize, your post has better grammar than much of the slop on the internet these days.
I think Shanna Swendson’s books might work for you! They’re mostly fantasy, with female protagonists, but shorter and on the less challenging side. She’s written several different series (for adults, not YA) – I’d particularly recommend the *Enchanted, Inc.*, books (which kind of lean toward fantasy/romance), as well as the Lucky Lexie series (which leans fantasy/mystery). They’re generally fun, light reads.
Murderbot by Martha Wells- the first books in the series are novellas so short the protagonist is a gendeless robot.
Anything with a female protagonist by Terry Prachett if you would like to explore some humorous writing with a deep sense of humanity underneath. The Granny Weatherwick witches series is what I would recommend.
The Talking Earth or Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. Both relatively short engaging teen survival stories.
A little longer and more complex in its story telling, but Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barhill is really good fantasy adventure.
I’m an adult man(at least, chronologically speaking) that picked up the audiobook of Sabriel (in my library app, Libby and Hoopla) simply because Tim Curry reads it, and absolutely loved the story. Wasn’t until the second book I stopped and thought “Wait, is this a kids book?” because it’s just really good. Turns out, they are kids’ books, but I love them anyway- read what you like, a story can be good even when aimed at a younger audience- though I admit, that’s not always the case.
Maybe Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shards of Earth. Space opera, kind of an ensemble cast, but with a female lead and a few other great and unique female characters. I don’t think Tchaikovsky is especially difficult to read, but I’ve never really evaluated it that way. There are 3 books and that trilogy is complete.
I’ve seen this same request many times on reddit, and the answer of “Hi-Lo” books usually comes up. I have no experience with this myself, but it means high engagement, low reading level requirement, you may have some luck searching along these lines, or maybe someone can give some good examples.
I’m sorry the librarian wasn’t more helpful to you, they really should have been jumping at the opportunity to serve you.
Also, I really love audiobooks, after decades of thinking they were dumb. Now all I do is listen, and I can get through a hundred books a year, easily, since I listen while driving and playing some games that don’t take too much thought. Listening to books was an adjustment, the first few were a blur, but once you develop the habit, there is a whole new layer of enjoyment to get out of them, as many narrators really elevate the story.
Best of luck in your search, there are always new books to discover.
Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfield.
The Island of the Blue Dolphins
Sharon Shinn, Anne McCaffrey are both great sci fi authors that are very accessible. You might also like Mercedes Lackey and Robin McKinnley, though they are generally more fantasy than scifi. (Sharon Shinn and Anne McCaffrey write/wrote both genres)
Also I’m sure I’ll get crucified but Twilight is really accessible and got people who weren’t readers reading. As others recommended the Hunger Games is very readable. Divergent I literally threw the final book across the room it made me so furious so proceed with caution 😉
Patricia Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles.
If you like a different take on zombie or post apocalyptic stories, Adrienne Lecter has a couple series. One is Green Fields, then Beyond Green Fields, & the other is World of Anthrax. Easy to read, female lead, some science, some horror, and a lot of chuckles.
I would point you towards the Spellkey trilogy by Ann Downer. It is YA, but it’s original and well written.
In the same vein, the works of HM Hoover are generally excellent. Not too long, not too technical, but with great characterization.
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. It’s technically a young adult book, but honestly the only thing that makes his young adults or children’s books different is the age of the protagonist.
This is the first book in a series about a young girl named Tiffany Aching. In the first book her baby brother gets stolen by fairies and she has to go and get him back.
Don’t let it being YA turn you off, I’m a 50-year-old woman and this series is my favorite and Terry Pratchett is my favorite author. His works have humor and heart..