Which books have your 12 year old dd's enjoyed recently?

[liliputlady]

My dd1 loves reading and I was going to buy her a book instead of an easter egg (she gets loads from others).

In the book shope the teen section seemed to offer not much other than very girly romance stuff or vampires.

She has reads pretty widely - would be grateful for any recommendations!

[liliputlady]

shop, not shope!

[bruffin]

Has she read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. DD loved that book.
DD is reading Twilight at the moment, so not really what you are looking for.
She started reading Eva Ibbotson lately which she is really enjoying.

[TheFirstLady]

Lilliputlady - could you give a few examples of books your DD has already enjoyed? My 12-year-old is a Twilight freak atm, but it sounds like your DD may not be. She loves Eva Ibbotsen too, as per Bruffin's DD. The Secret Countess is a good one or A Company of Swans. On the trashy side, she has been reading a lot of Cathy Cassidy and such like and of course the adventures of the fabbity fab Georgia Nicholson. She also loves my old Lorna Hills and Drina Ballerina books and still rereads authors like Michael Morpurgo. Actually your post has prompted me to realise that she has been doing vast amounts of rereading lately and not reading very much new stuff, so I will be interested in what people recommend for your DD.

[bruffin]

Just asked DD and she has just discovered Jean Ure.

[janeite]

Dd2 is going through a 'I don't fit into this family because I don't like reading' phase at the moment (grrr) but has enjoyed Twilight (crap but at least she was reading), the Georgia Nicholson diaries, re-reads of old favourites like Tom's Midnight Garden and Charlotte's Web (I guess these offer comfort value), Saffy's Angel (forget who by) and she is obsessed by Muddle Earth.

[TheFirstLady]

Janeite - the Twilight thing is rather wearing, isn't it. DD is currently reading Breaking Dawn for what must be the fourth or fifth time.

[janeite]

VERY!

She may like:
I Capture The Castle
Star Girl is lovely

[liliputlady]

THank you so much for all the suggestions - she can work her way through some of those. She's already enjoyed some Eva Ibbotson and loved the Twilight series (it was just me who's a bit sick of vampires!).

She fancies the Adrian Mole series from Book People - it says 14+ but I don't remember it being too adult - anyone read it recently?

Thanks again everyone and Happy Easter!

[liliputlady]

Looking at the reviews I think she'd love Star girl (me too actually!)

[janeite]

I think the Adrian Mole books are quite dated now tbh. Neither of my girls could get into them.

[bruffin]

Doesn't AM spend a lot of time measuring himself

[shirevix]

Sophie Mckenzie

[Goingspare]

Er, Twilight, but also
Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time;
Jeanette Winterson, Tanglewreck and Battle of the Sun;
the Percy Jackson books;
she has just read the last (17th) Roman Mystery by Caroline Lawrence, so I can put the extension plans on hold;
The Hobbit;
Geraldine McCaughrean, The Death Defying Pepper Roux;
the first two of the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, but doesn't think she's ready for the third yet; also his Ruby in the Smoke.

[duchesse]

My 12 yo is currently reading "Alone on a Wide Wide Sea" by Michael Morpurgo, which I read and loved. Within the last few weeks she's been reading her way through the Roman Mysteries, and I happen to remember that my older daughter's total favourite at this age was "Back Home" by Michelle Magorian. Also various books about a boy from a poor family who wants to be an actor, can't remember title or author name at the moment. Ballet Shoes she may be a little old for, but then again I read it fairly recently and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[duchesse]

I second Eve Ibbotson as an author to look out for.

[cory]

At 12, she could also start moving into the more adult stuff. Pride and Prejudice is a very enjoyable book. Dd enjoyed Rebecca and Jamaica Inn at this age. Or oldfashioned adventure and romance, such as The Three Musqueteers.

[liliputlady]

Good idea cory, thank you.

Lots to keep her going here, thank you all.

[janeite]

Wish I could get my 12 year old reading classics. Her sister gobbled Jane Austen up at 13 and since then (now 15) has been working her way through Hardy and the Brontes etc, as well as other 'adult' books like The Time traveller's Wife, The Kite Runner etc (not that I rec these for a 12 year old btw).

DD2 just wants to re-read things.

[overthemill]

adele geras is good, ithaka, troy etc
also eva ibbotson

[overthemill]

also try lovereading, they have good 'sections' for young adults

[cilldara]

Or Malorie Blackman. "Noughts and crosses" is the first of a trilogy. DD aged 11 is reading the second one now and really loved the first one.

[Sophia95]

We have a 13 year old neighbour and she recommends Inside My Head by Jim Carrington. It is a quite gritty but compelling book about bullying in schools. I read it - it has an amazing climatic ending! Good luck in your search.