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Original poster

History loving novels for 12 year old?

34 replies

MrsHoolie · 08/04/2020 20:51

My dd is not an avid reader but she does love history,particularly the tudors.
Can anyone recommend any books or authors for her please?

OP posts:
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PomBearWithAnOFRS · 03/05/2020 02:11

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper is good. It's about a teenage boy who time travels to act with Shakespeare - lots of lovely details about Tudor everyday life, and a good story too.

Winniewonka · 25/04/2020 23:34

I don't think The Other Boleyn Girl is suitable for a 12 year old but Philippa Gregory has written historical novels aimed at teenagers.

Star555 · 21/04/2020 01:03

All of Rosemary Sutcliff's books are great! (Roman Britain, etc.)

Brunelofbrio · 15/04/2020 22:15

Sorry would not recmmend Wolf Hall for a 12 year old! Some very graphic violence from the start.

The Woolpack by Cynthia Hartnet is lovely.

Witchend · 15/04/2020 22:08

@jackparlabane
Exactly what I would recommend. Ds loved them a couple of years ago.
There's a lot of similarity between the Antonia Forest stories and Geoffrey Trease's Cue for Treason. Ds loved them both.

He also really enjoyed Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time. I think he's going to have lots of fun if they do the Princes in the Tower in history at school.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 15/04/2020 01:21

Cynthia Hartnett and Joan Aitken fuelled my love of history. I also read Catherine Cookson.

Ellmau · 15/04/2020 01:16

Sally Watson is another good older historical writer, and most of her books are available on kindle.

Potterspotter · 14/04/2020 12:34

Ha the cats of seroster by westall was one of my all time favourites. This has been a great thread for ideas for dd.

jackparlabane · 14/04/2020 12:32

Geoffrey Trease is good, lots of historical novels written for kids but old so better for age 12 or so.
Also Antonia Forest - The Player's Boy and the Player and the Rebels, has a boy running away with Kit Marlowe and ending up being Shakespeare's apprentice and embroiled in politics.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/04/2020 12:29

Please don’t give a 12 year old Wolf Hall ! The death scenes of people being tortured and burnt at the stake are the most searingly awful things I have ever read . I still feel green if I think of it. It is harrowing and incredibly gruesome, and you can’t even comfort yourself with the thought that it didn’t actually happen.

ludicrouslemons · 14/04/2020 12:22

I read a lot of Robert westall at that age, wwii stuff

BlueChampagne · 14/04/2020 12:20

The Woolpack by Cynthia Harnett
I, Claudius for some mad Romans
Charles Dickens
Leon Garfield also worth looking for
Josephine Tey The Daughter of Time
Joan Aitken is fun for alternative history.

QueenofLouisiana · 12/04/2020 23:16

A range of historical periods are written about by Emma Carroll- historically accurate, well written.
I loved Jean Plaidy and Georgette Hayer at that age. Be careful with Philippa Gregory’s adult books- Wildacre for instance is really not suitable.

KateF · 12/04/2020 18:40

I think I read all my mum's Jean Plaidy's at around that age. Rosemary Sutcliffe was another favourite but not for the Tudors I don't think. My dd enjoyed the Flavia Gemina series by Caroline Lawrence.

Cyberworrier · 12/04/2020 18:38

Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe about Roman Britain
Children of the New Forest by Captain Marryat set in the English civil war
And there are so many good books for children set in ww2, eg When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.

AravisTarkheena · 12/04/2020 18:35

I’ve just finished The Crystal Cave and it is an. Absolute. Banger. It is quite sophisticated though - not sure all 12 yr olds would get on with it. I can second the recommendation for At The Sign of the Sugared Plum, theres alps Witch Child by Celia Rees which I was obsessed with at that age. A Girl of Ink and Stars night also be worth a try?

MiniTheMinx · 12/04/2020 18:35

I was a similar age when I read a few Jean Plaidy.

LIZS · 12/04/2020 18:34

The Other Boleyn Girl , the White Queen etc

Potterspotter · 12/04/2020 18:33

Oh yes Mary Stewart Arthurian series is great, I read a lot of Jean plaidy at this age.

FrancisCrawford · 12/04/2020 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

timtam23 · 12/04/2020 12:22

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner - it is set slightly later than Tudor times (mid-1600s). It's a really gripping book, aimed at around age 12 I would think but I enjoyed reading it too!

FoxInABox · 09/04/2020 00:06

Not a book- but I highly recommend The Six the musical, fantastic for any Tudors fan. Lots of videos of the songs on YouTube. Hopefully once things are back to normal they will resume their tour.

GrumpyHoonMain · 08/04/2020 23:01

Wormswood is pretty good

Original poster
MrsHoolie · 08/04/2020 22:56

Thanks everyone,loads of ideas!

OP posts:
Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 08/04/2020 22:26

My story as per PP & Lady Grace Mysteries (both possibly a little young depending on what kind of not avid reader she is) are adored here so too

Traveller in time
King of shadows
Cue for treason

Lucy Worsley’s series too

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