Recommendations for spiritual reading for children?

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I normally feel pretty informed on the various Catholic resources out there, but my daughter asked me a question that sort of stumped me. She wants a book of spiritual reading.

She’s a “tween” who likes to read a lot. She already has a Bible, and she reads a ton of books on the saints. But I think she is looking for something more like “The Imitation of Christ” for middle schoolers.

Really, I guess I’m looking for an age-appropriate book that will help her talk to God rather than just being about God (and the saints).

Does anyone have any recommendations?
 
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Don’t underestimate her abilites- maybe try Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, or another of Lewis’ works
 
Try the imitation of Christ lol. It’s not that difficult.
 
Fair enough. She generally reads at a level several grades above where she is at. It’s the emotional maturity I’m less sure of. I do want her to get into the classic spiritual works. I guess I’m still hoping for something that would be a “gateway” into such works—something on the more easily digestible side of the spectrum.

I’ll have to take a look at Mere Christianity again. It’s been 15 years or more since I read it. Lewis might not be a bad way to go. She loves the Chronicles of Narnia.
 
Fair enough. 🙂 With that book, I’m a little concerned she might take some of it too much to heart. I know much of it was written with religious in mind. Maybe I could try reading some of it with her and helping her through it. That might be a good Lenten exercise.
 
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I’m very fond of this translation of the Interior Castle. It’s very approachable.

A tween or teenager (or adult) should be able to digest at least the First Mansion and the Second Mansion.

After that, a lot of what you’re able to digest doesn’t necessarily depend on age, but rather, where you are in your walk with God. And your ability to comprehend doesn’t necessarily stop at one point— suppose you’re able to handle the Third and Fourth Mansions, but the Fifth Mansion is a bit too abstract-- but there are a couple of things in it that you can relate to.

I think that’s the big thing against having an expectation for anyone to read the whole thing through— is that it gets too abstract. And it can be a bit discouraging after going, “Yeah! Yeah! I see that! I totally get it!” in the earlier territory that we’re solid on, and then go, “Ummmm… I can’t relate to this bit.” 🙂 So it’s not something that I’d pressure anyone to read from cover to cover, but rather, I’d say, “Hey, I want you to read this part up through this part, and let me know what you think.” And then leave it up to them as to whether they continue to relate enough to want to try to read further.
 
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You said she reads above her age group. This is a list from the LifeTeen web site for Catholic teens.


Another possibility;
That One Girl by Christina Mead is about Mary and what she taught us about being a Catholic girl; https://www.amazon.com/That-One-Girl-Lessons-Catholic/dp/0989287173

These are a list of books in various areas published by Loyola Press.


Try a Google search on Catholic Teen Spirituality.

Patrick
AMDG
 
Joe_5859 said:
Really, I guess I’m looking for an age-appropriate book that will help her talk to God rather than just being about God (and the saints)
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If this is really what she wants, I don’t see how a book is going to help. Maybe I’m wrong. Books are good for learning “about”, they’re not very good for “how to”.
 
I recommend The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. It’s a book about a demon named Screwtape who tries to make a christian fall into sin. It’s brilliant.
 
As someone who was a voracious reader at that age, and still am, whatever you have her read I encourage you to either discuss it in a meaningful way with her or find others who will. I read a lot of stuff at an early age that would have made much deeper an impact had I a sort of mentor there asking me what I thought about the material, sort of guiding my mind in the correct direction, if that makes sense. Kids can be too smart for their own good, and when you combine that with reading…well, some strange things can happen. Don’t underestimate her, but the mind of a young, earnest reader is often a horse that needs reigns.

I’ll throw Guardini’s “The Lord” out there. It’s a good size book, but not something you’re meant to sit down and read all in one go. You chew on it, sometimes for days. It’s not difficult reading, but it’s profound. And it won’t encourage her to start sleeping on the cement slab floor in the basement or other extreme penance practices that can seem attractive at that age.
 
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