# Book gift ideas for romantic African-American teenage girl **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006 "2015-11-30T02:24:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/1 "2015-11-30T02:24:07Z")
I am white and my 16 year old son now has a black girlfriend. As the Christmas carols start to play I am wondering what might make a good gift. She reminds me a lot of myself at the same age: smart, fanciful, exuberant, romantic. I don’t really know what’s she’s reading, though I will artfully inquire. When I was 16 I discovered the Anne of Green Gables novels and fell in love with the smart, romantic Anne living in a simpler time, sewing patchwork, wishing for puffed sleeves, squabbling with Gilbert Blythe. I was thinking that “Anne of Green Gables” might be a good gift, but…is it… too white? Or is it awful to even wonder that? Can you think of other novels that might be a good fit? Maybe something more fantasy/sci-fi where the heroine doesn’t exist in the same timeline we do? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/2 "2015-11-30T06:59:57Z")
If this girl were turned off by things that are “too white” she wouldn’t be dating your son. I think the main question is whether she’d like “Anne of Green Gables.” I couldn’t say without knowing her. I can say that getting that book from you with a note or inscription saying, “This was one of my favorite books when I was your age” would be flattering. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/3 "2015-11-30T09:28:33Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > If this girl were turned off by things that are “too white” she wouldn’t be dating your son. You make an excellent point. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/4 "2015-11-30T10:32:42Z")
Well, I’m going to plug a novel I wrote but will earn not a single cent from a purchase, so hopefully that won’t run afoul of the mods. If you think your son’s GF would like a paranormal YA romance, you might have fun splurging on a novel in this genre that actually “stars” the happy couple! _Night Wolf_ is a time travel werewolf romance set mostly in Victorian England (clichéd setup, huh?); you can read more about the plot and how it works [at this page](http://www.werewolfromances.com) I created to promote it. (It’s _not_ the publisher’s site.) Look in the right sidebar for links to _Night Wolf_, including a demo. [Here’s a video trailer.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FI2CMZE0x4) If you can get your son’s help regarding her hair, eye color, a likely pet name (if she has one–you can make one up), favorite hot drink and diner/café–you should be all set. You’ll also want a best friend (I’m sure your son will have that info) and naturally, your son’s info as the hero. You can even add a photo on the back cover. (Or just get the ebook, it’s cheaper.) BTW, if you’re worried about any “adult” sorta stuff, I’ll say that the romance is quite mild as far as YA novels go–no nudity or anything past 2nd base (and even that’s just implied). There’s an adult version with more sexy stuff, but it’s still fairly mild. It’s a cute and unique gift. And even if I say so myself, the book quality is much better than you’d expect from one of these sorts of gifts. Helps if she likes atmosphere and dressing in gowns, going to fancy galas, dashing young men with secrets, and running around trying to solve a murder mystery. Any other questions, please feel free to PM me. I can send you (or anyone) a sample preview chapter if you like. **I repeat: I no longer earn any money, not even as an affiliate, from this book.** But I like people to read the book just because I’m proud of the little thing. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/5 "2015-11-30T14:40:47Z")
Well, neither a novel or very romantic, but I am head over heels in love with **Ms. Marvel** , of which at least the first few trades are out by now. It’s been running for a year and change, and the titular Ms. Marvel is a second generation Pakistani Muslim girl in Jersey City. It’s about superpowers and all but it’s also, and probably more, about being a teenage girl, dealing with your immigrant identity, loving your parents but not necessarily understanding them, etc. The art is different across the series but always excellent and _never_ gross and boobular. I’m recommending it to all girls these days, especially girls of color. ETA - [here’s](http://www.amazon.com/Ms-Marvel-1-No-Normal/dp/078519021X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448894604&sr=8-1&keywords=ms.+marvel) the first trade. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/6 "2015-11-30T19:34:44Z")
You (probably) can’t go wrong with a gift card to Barnes & Noble or Books a Million. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/7 "2015-11-30T19:57:47Z")
Why are you giving a gift to your teenage kid’s girlfriend? Seems like you two are far enough apart to not even have to think about each other for Christmas, unless she comes over or something. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/8 "2015-11-30T20:31:19Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Why are you giving a gift to your teenage kid’s girlfriend? Seems like you two are far enough apart to not even have to think about each other for Christmas, unless she comes over or something. Why are you trying to discourage **carlotta** from doing something nice for this girl, based only on your assumptions about their relationship? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/9 "2015-11-30T20:45:57Z")
Just don’t do what my mother did for my (now) wife - buy her a _mop_. ☹ Well, she isn’t Black, but still. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/10 "2015-11-30T20:56:00Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Why are you trying to discourage **carlotta** from doing something nice for this girl, based only on your assumptions about their relationship? I’m working with the information given and it seems like she’s stepping over typical social boundaries by trying to be welcoming to this girl. It may turn the girl off her by seemingly being too pushy. It might provoke a reaction in the son, or the girl to the son. You can say I shouldn’t assume things, but I was merely responding to the information that was provided. Lots of people do something nice for someone else only to have it be ill received by the other. My question was to try to ascertain the nature of their relationship so that a better response to the gift could be provided ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/11 "2015-11-30T22:06:37Z")
I read “Anne of Green Gables” when I was eight, I don’t think today’s sixteen year-olds read books like that. Not since “Young Adult” started becoming a thing. I think books are tricky gifts for someone you don’t know well - they’re based on such personal taste, it can be very hard to choose. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/12 "2015-12-01T00:37:55Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Why are you giving a gift to your teenage kid’s girlfriend? Seems like you two are far enough apart to not even have to think about each other for Christmas, unless she comes over or something. Believe it or not this would probably have been MY reaction to this thread if I wasn’t the one writing it. I generally hate giving AND receiving presents and am always on the lookout for how I can prune one more person from my gift list and never add new people to it. But I really like this girl, we click, and I found myself feeling like a giving a gift. I found myself feeling like giving her “Anne of Green Gables” though that might not be quite right. I still might not end up giving her a gift, unless I hit an idea that feels really right. I am certain, based on knowing everyone involved, that it won’t feel pushy to her and won’t annoy my son. I also don’t feel obligated. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/13 "2015-12-01T00:42:54Z")
**carlotta** - Did you happen to see the [Google Doodle](http://www.google.com/doodles/lucy-maud-montgomerys-141st-birthday) for today? ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/14 "2015-12-01T00:50:43Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **carlotta** - Did you happen to see the [Google Doodle](http://www.google.com/doodles/lucy-maud-montgomerys-141st-birthday) for today? No I hadn’t! Thanks for pointing that out! ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/15 "2015-12-01T00:58:52Z")
Thanks for the recommendations **Zsofia** and **choie**! Am checking those out. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/16 "2015-12-01T00:59:55Z")
> [@carlotta](#): > > Maybe something more fantasy/sci-fi where the heroine doesn’t exist in the same timeline we do? Connie Willis’s “Doomsday Book”, with a time-traveling female protagonist? > [@](#): > > Connie Willis labored five years on this story of a history student in 2048 who is transported to an English village in the 14th century. The student arrives mistakenly on the eve of the onset of the Black Plague. Her dealings with a family of “contemps” in 1348 and with her historian cohorts lead to complications as the book unfolds into a surprisingly dark, deep conclusion. The book, which won Hugo and Nebula Awards, draws upon Willis’ understanding of the universalities of human nature to explore the ageless issues of evil, suffering and the indomitable will of the human spirit. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/17 "2015-12-01T01:19:33Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Connie Willis’s “Doomsday Book”, with a time-traveling female protagonist? That’s a fairly sad book though, which some might find depressing. I’m not sure I’d get it as a present unless I knew the person in question would like that sort of thing. If I were taking a random stab at introducing someone to Connie Willis I’d probably use _To Say Nothing of the Dog_ - humor is usually a safer bet ( granted that one has a male main protagonist ). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/18 "2015-12-01T14:48:13Z")
Oh god, I’m practically crying just _thinking_ about Doomsday Book. (Not that that makes it a bad gift - it’s great! But.) ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/19 "2015-12-01T15:06:15Z")
I first read Doomsday Book when I was right about this girls age and loooooooooooved it. As a potential gift, it has the benefit of “sci-fi but not” – it IS (which is cool if she digs sci-fi) but it’s also historical fiction. It also is perfect if you have a fascination with morbid stuff. Goddammit, you guys, now you have me thinking of little Agnes! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006/20 "2015-12-01T15:42:38Z")
A little reminds me of Guy Gavriel Kay’s _The Lions of Al-Rassan_. Faux-history (it’s about the re-conquest of Spain just with different names) from the viewpoint of a female Jewish-analogue doctor. Really good but sad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-gift-ideas-for-romantic-african-american-teenage-girl/739006.md?page=2)