I asked for a Borland C book and compiler, which my parents gave me for my 15th birthday (I think)... I tried to read it but I couldn't understand it.
I also used to carry around and read the "Practical C++ programming book", trying and failing to grok it... what I didn't understand (and what I didn't hear anywhere) was that trying small examples is the only way to really get started in a new programming language.
As a high schooler, the only languages I made progress in were the super-approachable ones -- like TI-basic and QBASIC.
The modern internet would have made it all so much easier :-)