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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:
Secretsquirrelsunite · 01/05/2024 01:13

TerriPie · 01/05/2024 00:53

It's a while ago but at that age I was reading Josephine Cox and Virginia Andrews. Both will have the odd sex scene but nothing really graphic like more modern books.

(I also used to sneak a read of Mills and Boon but kept that to myself 😂).

Nothing like a bit of incest! Not sure Virginia Andrews is at all suitable😅. Although I was reading them at 12, along with Jackie Collins and Shirly Conran. The difference being there wasn't much for for YA in those days, kids went from jolly japes with ginger beer, straight into a world of pool party orgies and worse.
Today we have YA fiction as a buffer and the OP has said her daughter isn't ready for YA books yet.

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

TerriPie · 01/05/2024 00:53

It's a while ago but at that age I was reading Josephine Cox and Virginia Andrews. Both will have the odd sex scene but nothing really graphic like more modern books.

(I also used to sneak a read of Mills and Boon but kept that to myself 😂).

I'll save the Mills and Boon until later!

OP posts:
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!

TerriPie · 01/05/2024 00:53

It's a while ago but at that age I was reading Josephine Cox and Virginia Andrews. Both will have the odd sex scene but nothing really graphic like more modern books.

(I also used to sneak a read of Mills and Boon but kept that to myself 😂).

Original poster
motherofonegirl · 01/05/2024 00:52

Thank you for your suggestions. She isn't into horses and isn't an overly girly girl so Baby sitters club might not be her thing but I'll get her some Jane Eyre, My family and other animals and Helen Forrester and see what she makes of them.

OP posts:
Benjaminsniddlegrass · 01/05/2024 00:48

If she likes character driven novels what about some classics like Dickens - Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Tale of Two Cities. Also To Kill a Mockingbird would be good one for her age / reading age. I'd consider some Austen, I was 12/13 when I started reading them. I think I was about that age when I read some Mark Twain too. Also Anne Franks diary. Ooh and Jack London, Call of the Wild etc.

SnowFrogJelly · 01/05/2024 00:37

Tom's Midnight Garden
Secret Garden
Ballet Shoes

PrettyPrettyPrettyyGood · 01/05/2024 00:34

The Babysitters Club series.

Secretsquirrelsunite · 01/05/2024 00:31

Does she like horses? What about vintage pony books like Jinny at Finmory? Or maybe classics like Jane Eyre or The Children of Green Knowe.

thinkfast · 01/05/2024 00:28

I think I enjoyed the little house on the prairie series, Jane eyre and My family and other animals around that age.