Gentle easygoing for a 12 yr old

The Casson Family series. The first is Saffys Angel. (I lent mine and it was never returned).

The Binny for Short books. I think there are three.

The Time of Green Magic.

All by Hilary McKay.
All funny, clever, charming, realistic but safe for the timid. With the additional pleasure of describing what everyone has to eat.

Toms midnight garden is a lovely book quite similar in feel to the secret garden but more modern. Eva ibbotson as well. Francis hardinge books are beautiful but not sure if they might be a bit more suited to 14+ ... If she's a confident reader she'd be ok.

I may be imagining the scene more vividly in my head. I read the book when I was about 12 and I remember it highly disturbing me, I think it made me uncomfortable as it wasn’t portrayed as wrong but I haven’t read the book since then and whenever someone brings it up it’s the first thing I think Of

It’s not that I don’t think a 12 year old could handle a book about someone being hit it’s that the book doesn’t show that it’s wrong it sort of shown as just something that happens and that the father was right for hitting 7 year old daughter

I mean Little House in Big Woods was set when? Counting back from when they got to Pepin probably early 1870s. I think its worth discussing the difference in parenting styles. It is certainly on a par with AOGG (I keep mentioning this as the OP's daughter liked it) especially when Anne whips Anthony Pye for disobedience in class!

Charlotte's web and the Giant under the Snow oldies but goodies, I still read the giant under the snow now I'm 58, I love it for a bit of escapism.

Which overall makes the book a rather uncomfortable read

Onlyjudycanjudgeme
It’s not that I don’t think a 12 year old could handle a book about someone being hit it’s that the book doesn’t show that it’s wrong it sort of shown as just something that happens and that the father was right for hitting 7 year old daughter

It's in Little House in the Big Woods that Laura is punished by being hit with a 'switch' . She was punished because she slapped her older sister Mary. It's the only reference in the whole book series of any physical punishment from Pa or Ma. It's hardly a misery memoir style story.

She’s 12 @Bluesponge !
If she can’t handle a story with someone being hit with a belt then should she be reading anything above The Rainbow Fairies?

I wouldn’t recommend the little house seiries as at some point in the first book it tells of the father hitting the main character with his belt

Don’t we think children can cope with that in context?! Certainly no more stressful that the first AOGG book which the OP’s daughter enjoyed.

MarieQueenofScotts
I wouldn’t recommend the little house seiries as at some point in the first book it tells of the father hitting the main character with his belt

My Friend Flicka series
The Hobbit (much better than the film)

Oh and I forgot the Pony Detectives Club series by Belinda Rapley. My daughter adored these at about the same age.

The Holly Webb books are lovely. Try The Chocolate Dog and The Snow Bear.

Charlotte's Web
Little Women
Varjak Paw
The Secret Garden
Carrie's War
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe

The Girl with the Silver Eyes, by Willo Davis Roberts

Karen McCombie: Allys World series - about a 13 year old life, really fun and funny series, loads of books

Emma Barnes: Jessica Hatherwaite Media Star - fun book

King Arthur trilogy - bit heavy going but good books to really get into when you've loads of time

Meg Cabot:
Princess Diaries books - long series, easy read, funny. Great if you've seen the films too

Narnia series

Judy Blume books

Classics
Lorna Doone
Treasure Island
The Railway Children
Charlotte's Web
Little Women
To kill a Mockingbird
Alice in Wonderland

And for an overlooked classic try The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett. It's gentle witty and wise with lovely characters and absolutely nothing dreadful happens.

Anything by Joan Aiken
www.joanaiken.com

I loved The Babysitters Club series at that age. Might be a bit dated now though (I'm 40)?

! Goodnight Mr Tom is horrifying and traumatic, even for an adult. Definitely not gentle reading

I think the ending outweighs the “trauma”. Depends on the child of course, DD lapped it up aged 9ish.

Oh and Gerald Durrells books are fascinating for that age - My family and Other Animals, plus several titles he wrote as semi-fiction for kids

Noooo! Goodnight Mr Tom is horrifying and traumatic, even for an adult. Definitely not gentle reading.

(IMVHO)

Eva Ibbotson books are perfect for that age. My DD also enjoyed the Last Wild and associated books (Piers Torday I think). Plus the Wolf Brother series (Michelle Paver). Also Heidi, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Box of Delights. She loves The Dark is Rising series, but not sure they are gentle. Children of Greene Knowe too. Frank Cotrell-boyce has loads of good titles too.

The Gauntlet
Moondial
Goodnight Mr Tom
Tom’s Midnight Garden
Little House in Big Woods series
Emily of New Moon
The Dark is Rising series

Also might be slightly harder but the 13 treasures by Michelle Harrison is a suggestion I have to give to anyone of that age