Jane Austen with a twist - for children
It's no wonder that Jane Austen's books have stood the test of time: they're funny, romantic and full of crisply perfect observations about people and they ways we all get along.
Pride and Prejudice is of course a much-loved route into Austen's works - and it's perfect for older teens. But here are other books by other authors that may appeal to children a little bit younger.
The BBC will be celebrating all things Jane Austen this summer 2017 in their #LoveToRead campaign.
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Boywatching
Author: Chloe Bennet
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 7+This hilarious story of Chloe and her friends navigating their way through the highs and lows of teenage life is a highly entertaining read for younger teenagers
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The It Girl: Superstar Geek
Author: Katy Birchall
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+Anna Huntley just moved to London and isn’t the most popular girl at school. But when her dad gets engaged to one of the most famous actresses in the world, Anna is thrust into the spotlight. A funny book about friends, family and learning to be yourself.
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A Most Improper Magick
Author: Stephanie Burgis
Publisher: Templar
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 10+A 21st-century take on Jane Austen's world, entertainingly viewed through the eyes of a 12-year-old heroine who discovers she has inherited her mother's magical abilities.
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Lydia: the wild girl of Pride and Prejudice
Author: Natasha Farrant
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 11-16
Reading age: 11+A spirited reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, told from the perspective of Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister. It is great fun to see her thoughts on her older sisters Jane and Lizzy, plus Mr Darcy.
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Withering Tights
Author: Louise Rennison
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 11+When Tallulah’s parents pack her off to an am-dram college, she hopes she will become a toppity-top-actress type. Infectiously mad and hilariously dramatic, Withering Tights is unputdownable.
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Flirty Dancing
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+First of four books, this is smart, funny writing, engagingly balancing the serious stuff - bullying, first love, friendship - with the joy of lindy hop and aerial moves.
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Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright
Author: Chris Riddell
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Interest age: 7-12
Reading age: 8+While famous writers and their pampered pets gather for a literary dog show at Ghastly-Gorm Hall, Goth Girl Ada has a mystery to solve. This high-speed adventure is penned and illustrated by the children's laureate, Chris Riddell.
