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Preteens

Book recommendations for 11 yr old girl

20 replies

lollylaughs · 10/10/2013 08:22

I am doing an order for Christmas via Amazon (takes a while to get to us so im being ultra prepared this year Grin). Dd is 11 and not an enthusiastic reader although we try to encourage her to read. She has read the Roald Dahls we have here but she doesn't read voluntarily unlike ds who reads anything he can get his hands on.

If she were to choose a book it will be the activity type sticker books. Has anyone bought the most fantastic book that their 11 yr old dd loved? There are so many books to choose from that I feel a bit lost with what to order for her.

She dances, can be girly at times, but loves being outdoors so isn't a tomboy but somewhere in between and she loves animals.

Any recommendations?

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booksteensandmagazines · 10/10/2013 12:17

Girl Missing by Sophie McKenzie often appeals to unenthusiastic readers

If she likes horses there's The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St John or for dogs there is Soldier Dog by Sam Angus (though it is sad).

I put together this list for 11/12 years olds - perhaps you can see something on there that would appeal:

www.booksteensandmagazines.com/blog/reading-list-year-7-11-to-12-year-olds

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highlighta · 10/10/2013 12:22

This reply has been deleted

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Bluebell99 · 10/10/2013 12:24

How about David Walliums, he has a new one out "demon dentist?" His books are very funny and may tempt a reluctant reader. The mr Gum books are also very funny. My 11 yr old dd loves reading and is also a big dr who fan, so is reading a lot of those atm. Michael morpurgo tells a good yarn, and you can often get book sets of his from the book people.

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breadandbutterfly · 10/10/2013 13:44

My non-reading ten-year-old dd discovered Artemis Fowl and is now a can't-stop-reading 11-year-old! So I recommend that. Has she read Harry Potter? - seems to do the trick for many kids.

Our dd also got on much better once we got her a kindle - I suspect some non-readers have visual issues (dyslexia?) making reading harder. Recent research has shown that dyslexics can find reading easier on e-readers:

[[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24144078]
]

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MotherOfSoupDragon · 10/10/2013 14:10

DD (aged 12) loved Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay and the sequels. Saffy is adopted and sets out to find out about her childhood before adoption. It was a winner of the Whitbread Children's Book Award.

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lollylaughs · 10/10/2013 16:54

Have been on to order Saffy's Angel and Girl Missing. Many thanks, if she enjoys Saffy's Angel then I will order the rest of the series.

lets hope she can sink her teeth into these Grin.

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MotherOfSoupDragon · 10/10/2013 16:56

Fingers crossed! My dd has read her way through all the books that come after Saffy's Angel now and said yesterday she wished there were more Smile

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MotherOfSoupDragon · 10/10/2013 16:56

I have ordered Girl Missing too.

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Gilbertus · 10/10/2013 19:13

Girl, Missing looks far too distressing for my 11 year old. My 13 year old dd might like it. My 11 year old loves David wallliams, some Jacqueline Wilson, the pony detective series, any pony book. She loves reading and reads every night but hates anything scary or too thrillerish.

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Gilbertus · 10/10/2013 19:18

She's just finished The Princess And The Foal by Stacey gregg which she loved - sounds sickly but is actually fascinating story about Olympic equestrienne from Arabia. Journey to the river sea also very popular.

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Takver · 10/10/2013 19:51

I would definitely second the recommendation for Saffy's Angel + sequels. DD has them as audiobooks too, they're very well read.

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lollylaughs · 11/10/2013 09:52

Does Amazon have discount codes? If so does anyone have one that I could use please Wink.

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verytellytubby · 12/10/2013 20:49

My reluctant reader 11 year old is reading Gone and loving it.

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Picturesinthefirelight · 12/10/2013 20:53

Dd is a prolific reader & loves Antony Horiwitz. Ds us reluctant & likes David Walliams & Roald Dahl

Dd dances too and us working her way through the vintage dance books in her school library.

She loves the Olivia stage school series which are fairly new out.

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Maltakano · 12/10/2013 20:55

Has she read Diary of a Wimpy Kid? They are illustrated and sort of handwritten, like a diary. Also Dork Diaries.

I'm a school librarian and they are by far the most requested books by 11 year olds.

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Maltakano · 12/10/2013 20:57

Oooooo, also Michael Morpurgo is your chap for lovely stories about animals. on a roll.

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Primrose123 · 12/10/2013 21:01

At that age my DD loved I am David, The Silver Sword, the Lady Grace Mysteries, the Roman Mysteries, the 'My Story' series, Dolphin Diaries, Sheltie the Shetland Pony stories and lots of others. I'll see if I can remember any more.

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MotherOfSoupDragon · 12/10/2013 22:04

Ooh The Silver Sword, yes, that was a great hit here too. And both Simon Mayo books. Also the Jasper Fforde books for children, The Last Dragon Slayer, I think.

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FrenchLimeBlossom · 12/10/2013 22:20

The Alanna books by Tamara pierce and the summer tree trilogy by guy Gabriel Kay are worth a read!

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Jessplus · 20/11/2013 12:50

bit much to recommend my own book perhaps but couldn't resist as Cassie my main character in Starlight Academy is a dancer who is also adventurous and likes the outdoors. Books 1 and 2 available on amazon!

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