When your child is learning French, one of the best strategies to build their vocabulary and improve comprehension is by reading books. Teenagers, like all readers, want to read books that interest them. However, many books written for older kids, are too advanced for beginner or intermediate French learners. Here is my list of beginner French books for teens that will help your teenager learn French, and keep them turning the page.
Since French and English share so much vocabulary, it’s natural to start reading in French, even as a beginner. If your teenager can find a French book that they enjoy, reading will become habitual and their French skills will steadily improve.
As a French elementary school teacher, I have found that many books on topics that interest older children are just too difficult for my students to read. That is why I want to offer some suggestions of great books that teens can read in French, as beginner or intermediate language learns.
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The 7 Best French Books For Beginners
For complete beginners, it is possible to find readers tailored specifically to each level. I recommend these for kids who want to start reading before they have skills to tackle longer French books.
However, your child or teen will soon be able to move on to more fun and interesting books, such as those listed here.
1. Alice In Wonderland Bilingual Version
Help your teen learn French by taking them down the rabbit hole of language learning with this bilingual version of Alice in Wonderland.
This classic book features nostalgic tales of magic and adventure, that your child is probably already familiar with.
On the left side of the page is the story in French and on the right is the English translation. This set-up lets readers immediately translate any words they don’t know – making reading quick and fun!
2. Les Jeux De Faim
The Hunger Games series in French gives your teenager the opportunity to read some of their favourite books…in a second language! And, if they haven’t yet been spellbound by 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen’s struggle to save her sister and survive the Hunger Games – they soon will be!
3. Asterix Series By René Goscinny
This comic book series has a long and entertaining history among the French-speaking world, and is a great reading source for teens who enjoy comics and graphic novels.
These hilarious books revolve around Asterix and his bizarre group of friends who embark on adventures and fight against the Roman occupation of their small village.
For an intermediate French learner, comics present a visual dialogue to promote the best efficiency in language learning. The words and concepts are not as simple as in beginner books, but the minimalist format encourages progression. As well, there are Asterix films to watch after reading.
4. L’Orphelin De Perdide
This simple full-length novel is a great French book for teenagers reading at an upper beginner to intermediate level.
L’Orphelin de Perdide is a science fiction book that tells the story of a small boy stranded on a strange planet. The writing is easy to understand, yet engaging for teens and young adults.
5. Le Journal D’Aurélie Laflamme Series
This series of books features the endearing tales of Aurelie Laflamme, a 14-year-old girl with loads of spunk and a wild imagination!
Aurelie Laflamme is dealing with the loss of her father, fitting in at an all-girls school, mending her relationship with her widowed mother, and navigating the world of boys…all topics perfect to interest a young French reader.
6. Vingt Mille Lieues Sous Les Mers Bilingual Edition By Jules Verne
Professor Aronnax, his faithful servant, Conseil, and the Canadian harpooner, Ned Land, begin a fantastic voyage to rid the seas of a terrifying sea monster. The monster turns out to be a giant submarine, commanded by the mysterious Captain Nemo. Thus begins one of the best novels for teens and young adults learning French.
In this book, the original French version (1869) is presented alongside the English translation of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Readers can consult the English text when necessary, which helps improve vocabulary and grammar.
7. Le Monde De Narnia By C. S. Lewis
A classic book in any language, The Chronicles of Narnia is the perfect series for any young reader with an expanding comprehension of French.
These novels are serious enough to entertain teenagers but are still written in an easy-to-read format that is designed to motivate.
7 Best French Books For Teens Conclusion
The biggest stumbling block to reading books in a new language is understanding the vocabulary. Reading books at the right level can help your child learn a lot of words simply through the context of the story.
My list of French novels for teens was written to help you pick a book at your child’s current level – be that beginner or intermediate. This will keep their reading experience both challenging AND fun.
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Understanding the terminology is the most difficult aspect of reading books in a foreign language. Reading books at the appropriate level might help your youngster learn a lot of words just by listening to them. Thank you so much!