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Original poster

Book recommendations for 12 year old girl, not fantasy, horror or crime

86 replies

motherofonegirl · 01/05/2024 00:25

My 12 year old daughter is an avid reader but has run out of books to read! She doesn't like fantasy, horror or crime. She enjoys books about people. Has read lots of war setting/survival/success against the odds type books. She has read all Jacqueline Wilson, Judy Bloom, Heart stoppers, Enid Blyton, Sufiya Ahmed, David Baddiel, A M Dassu, Benjamin Zapheniah, Malorie Blackman, Onjali Q Rauf, Katherine Russell, Michelle Magorian. Her reading age is 15+ but she isn't keen on young adult themes yet. Any ideas please?

OP posts:
CancelledCheque · 03/05/2024 07:03

I suggest LM Montgomery’s books: the Anne of Green Gables series are true classics and I’ve read them many times for good reason! The Emily trilogy (Emily of New Moon, Emily climbs, Emily’s quest). Also Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm.

TheaBrandt · 03/05/2024 07:02

God not Virginia Andrew’s can’t believe anyone recommended that for a 12 year old - dodgy incest books!

Theres stacks of more modern books Dd was like this at 12. She loved Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya sisterhood / The Great Godden Meg Roshoff / We Were Liars go into any nice independent book shop to the young adult section

110APiccadilly · 03/05/2024 07:02

You could go old school with Ballet Shoes, and the other Noel Streetfeild books. Or Ruby Ferguson's "Jill" books. Afaik both of those are fairly free from the stereotypes you sometimes get in older books.

Another series of old books is Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine books, and again I think they're fairly stereotype free (unless we're talking stereotypes of inseparable twins, anyway!)

SplendidPendips · 03/05/2024 06:55

Also, 'Wonder' and the following up 'Auggie and Me', but guessing she's read those.

SplendidPendips · 03/05/2024 06:52

Picking up on the fact she likes books about people, my son recently enjoyed 'Bob, No Ordinary Cat'. It's an adapted version of A Street Cat Named Bob, with swearing removed. There is a follow up too.

salamithumbs · 02/05/2024 20:29

The Hilary McKay books or Cathy Cassidy?

2mummies1baby · 01/05/2024 09:57

Sorry, I've thought of more! Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and its prequel series, All The Wrong Questions. Very much in the vein of 'surviving against the odds'.

westcountrywoman · 01/05/2024 09:39

TanteRose · 01/05/2024 00:36

Helen Forrester series, starting with Twopence to Cross the Mersey

https://helenforresterbooks.com/memoirs/twopence-cross-mersey/

Also recommend these. I was around 12/13 when I started reading them.

JanesTeddy · 01/05/2024 09:37

I would recommend Georgette Heyer my first read was Sylvester ( The Wicked Uncle) or These Old Shades or The Grand Sophy.

Actually after rereading your post I would suggest Georgette Heyers An Infamous Army set in Waterloo.

2mummies1baby · 01/05/2024 09:37

Ooh, also classics like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Secret Garden and Peter Pan were ones I first read at about that age.

2mummies1baby · 01/05/2024 09:33

If she likes war settings, I would recommend Hitler's Canary and Valentine Grey, both by Sandi Toksvig. And Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo.

Jaclyn Moriarty (sister of Liane) is a fantastic author for teen girls, and Simon James Green a great author for teens in general.

I read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee at her age- both an excellent introduction to the Civil Rights Movement in the US, as is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

stargirl1701 · 01/05/2024 08:34

Does she like sci-fi?

Does she like nature?

SummerLightning · 01/05/2024 07:56

To add I've also read all these books and enjoyed them 😂. Unlike some of the nonsense she reads.

SummerLightning · 01/05/2024 07:54

A couple of books along the "succeeding against all odds tale" a la "wonder" that my dd enjoyed:

Out of my mind
The war that saved my life
Fish in a tree
You're not so awful, falafel (not sure this title is quite right?)

The first two were listed as the favourite books a young teenage group of girls I mentored. (This was in the US and I haven't heard these books mentioned so much in the UK)

Mine also loved the scythe series by Neal shusterman and of course hunger games and divergent

Needmorelego · 01/05/2024 06:54

Goodnight Mr Tom and Back Home by Michelle Magorian are favourites of mine.

Original poster
motherofonegirl · 01/05/2024 06:45

user1492757084 · 01/05/2024 02:31

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
My Literature Loving daughter devoured them.

The Midnight Fox.
The Hatchett series
Tudor Roses and other history based books..
by Hilary Mantel and Margaret Campbell Barnes etc.
The Mary Rose - about the ship of Henry VIII.
The Bronte sister's books.
Take her to join a large library with a well read librarian.

Edited

Thank you. Our local library never reopened after COVID and the big library in the next town does have lots of books, but my daughter has either read them or they aren't her cup of tea. They will get books in, but need ideas of what to ask for.

OP posts:
Original poster
motherofonegirl · 01/05/2024 06:39

UnderGreenGrass · 01/05/2024 01:04

Is she ready for Sophie's World yet? God I can't wait until my DD is old enough to read Sophie's World.
It's an introduction to philosophy, in novel / fiction form and perfect for teenagers. If she reads it at the right time it will blow her mind!

I'd not heard of this, had a quick look online and it looks like something she might really enjoy, thank you!

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 01/05/2024 02:31

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
My Literature Loving daughter devoured them.

The Midnight Fox.
The Hatchett series
Tudor Roses and other history based books..
by Hilary Mantel and Margaret Campbell Barnes etc.
The Mary Rose - about the ship of Henry VIII.
The Bronte sister's books.
Take her to join a large library with a well read librarian.

SofiaAmes · 01/05/2024 02:27

The Doctor Doolittle books (there is a whole series) are fabulous and so much better than any movie ever done of them.

SofiaAmes · 01/05/2024 02:26

Joan Aiken - Wolves of Willoughby Chase series
Madeleine L'Engle - she has tons of books besides A Wrinkle in Time

Ostagazuzulum · 01/05/2024 02:20

The Lottie brooks series is great

NightPuffins · 01/05/2024 02:13

UnderGreenGrass · 01/05/2024 01:04

Is she ready for Sophie's World yet? God I can't wait until my DD is old enough to read Sophie's World.
It's an introduction to philosophy, in novel / fiction form and perfect for teenagers. If she reads it at the right time it will blow her mind!

I came on to suggest this one too! It's a brilliant book, I still love it.
Any other of Jostein Gaarder's books would also be great for a 12 year old.

merrymelodies · 01/05/2024 02:12

Remembering some of what I read and enjoyed at that age: To KIll a Mockingbird, The Phantom Tollbooth, Rebecca, Mary Stewart, Anya Seyton, Roald Dahl, Steinbeck...

Settlement22 · 01/05/2024 01:38

Little Women
Animal Farm
I'm struggling to remember what else mine read at that age. Will look on shelves tomorrow

TerriPie · 01/05/2024 01:20

We had Sweet Valley High and Goosebumps as an in-between transition from Enid Blyton to adult fiction in my day.

Thinking back to Enid Blyton they were full of misogyny, stereotypes, corporal punishment and child neglect!