Here's how to find the perfect English book!
First, think about the types of books you like to read in Swedish! Do you like adventure stories? Science-fiction? Fantasy? Comedies? Maybe you like to read fact books about real life and real people? Or maybe you don't know what types of books you like!
Next, visit your local library, go online or ask your friends, family or English teacher for book recommendations! (See below!)
When you find an English book that interests you, read the first 2 pages. How much can you understand without any help?
If you can understand 95% of the text, then it is a good book for you to read independently.
As you read your English book, talk about it with friends and family. Have a conversation in English about your favourite characters and interesting parts. Try to guess what will come next in the story!
Spend 10-15 minutes every day or every other day reading in English.
If you decide you do not like the book you are reading at home for fun, try a different book until you find one you like. Don't force yourself to keep reading a book you do not enjoy!
What should you do when you find new words you do not understand in an English book?
Try these reading strategies before Google Translate:
Does the word look or sound like a word you have seen or heard before in Swedish?
(here are some examples: adventure, mystery, background, theater)
Try to separate the word into parts. Do the different parts look or sound like words you have in Swedish?
(here is an example: passport)
Read the sentence again and look for clues. Are there antonyms or synonyms in the sentence that help you know the meaning of the word?
Read the whole paragraph that surrounds the word and try to guess what the word could mean.
After that, try to ask someone who speaks English what the word means. Ask the person to explain the word to you in English instead of translating it.
Finally, use Google Translate but remember that it's not always correct!
Here are some English books recommended by students in Sweden over the last 5 years:
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Bejanmin
Icebreaker by Lian Tanner
Notorious by Gordon Korman
Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak
Shine! by Chris and J.J. Grabenstein
Malamander by Thomas Taylor
Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace
Trapped in a Video Game by Dustin Brady
The 44 Rules of Amateur Sleuthing by Jamie Nash
The One and Only Ivan by K.A Applegate
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Online Novels: