To ask if these books are too old for DD?

[ladyjadey]

DD1 has read every book in the house three times. She has read everything in the local library. She has read everything I read at her age - almost 11, all the st Clare's and Malory towers books, all the David Walliams, Jacqueline Wilsons, Andy stantons.

She needs some new books and Louise Rennison has popped up in my searches, of Angus thongs and perfect snogging fame. Are these books too old for my DD? Does anyone have any experience of her novels? I don't want to buy something that I won't let her read but we've just run out of everything (any other suggestions gratefully accepted)

Thanks in advance

How about hunger games trilogy, malaria blackman, maze runner. These are exciting books with adult concepts, but not too "sexual".

Just place marking until I can get to my Amazon wish list.

Amazon delivered some of these suggestions to me earlier today

I read my Mum's Mary Stewart novels at that age and loved them because the heroines were all women. I don't recall them being racy (written in the 50s) but they seemed a bit grown up and glamorous - there was romance in them but they were mainly thrillers - a bit like Agatha Christie. She also wrote a series about Merlin and Arthur which were good.

Malcolm Saville wrote a series of novels about the adventures of a group of children - a bit like Enid Blyton but a bit more grown up (Set in the war, and in and around real locations in Shropshire and Rye.)

What about the Earthsea books by Ursula K LeGuin - I only recently discovered them and wished I'd found them back when I was an early teen.

Also Alison Uttley - she of Grey Rabbit fame. She wrote a semi-autobiographical book of her childhood on a farm in Derbyshire pre-mechanisation called "A Country Child" and I was fascinated by it. She also wrote "A Traveller in Time" about a girl who travels back in time and gets involved with Mary Queen of Scots during her imprisonment in Derbyshire.

Also, I read Jane Eyre at that age - my mum bought me a copy because it was on the telly (1973 - so I was exactly 11). I still re-read that copy every year or so because it has been my favourite book since then (40+ years) I couldn't stand Jane Austen then, or Dickens, but I've since come to love the former, but not Dickens.

I second Rumer Godden and Gerald Durrell - I still have my childhood copy of The Donkey Rustlers, one of GD's fiction stories for children, and I avidly read all the animal expedition books (The Bafut Beagles reduced me to tears of laughter, although I have a suspicion that it's actually a bit post-colonial racist).

Can you tell I loved reading as a child...

My friend Flicka series by Mary O'Hara if she likes horses.
Warrior cats is good but goes on forever! The first six main books are the best.
Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann. He also wrote many other books which I read over and over as a child.

The set of books which start I am number four.
Agent 21
Hitch Hickers guide trilogy (of 5 books)
Diary of the wimpy kids books
Maze runner set

How about some Sci fi to broaden the range. Jo Halledman, Asimov, Ben bova

I read these but I was older than your daughter - not sure I'd want my daughter reading them as young as yours.

Safe bet is to read the first one yourself and see whether you'd want her reading it.
They're not brilliant writing style though in terms of developing her as a reader - Majorie Blackman is very good, or as others have said Malory Towers etc ?

Sounds like she is an avid reader and so it would be good to branch out and push her on with her reading. I also think give her a go at some classics - 'Oliver Twist', ' Little Women' etc. Elizabeth Laird is a good choice as is Joan Lingard particularly the Sadie and Kevin series. You could even try her with something like 'The Diary of Anne Frank'. 'Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' or 'Boy in the Striped pyjamas' etc are accessible but thought-provoking and will introduce her to some more mature themes. Enjoy your book search.

My D's is nine but loved the whole Rick Riordan collections, Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase and his books on the Greek Gods and Greek Heroes. They should keep your dd going for a good while!

After finishing reading Rick Riordan's books we moved onto Peter Lerangis Seven Wonders series. They were fun and similar to the Rick Riordan books.

We have also read the whole Harry Potter collection, including the hogwarts library editions which were a fun quick read.

Our new favourite author is Cornelia Funke, we are currently reading the Ink Heart trilogy which is like a song to a literary lovers heart! Both of my DC are loving me reading this series aloud. On this years reading list we have added Funke's Fearless, Reckless, Ghost Knight and Dragon Rider books.

After that we will be moving onto Neil Gamain's Stardust (yay!!) and Never Where books.

Another vote for Sophie's World, it was my favourite book as a teenager (philosophy based and no sex/ violence).

Definitely don't let her read flowers in the attic!

Judy Blame Are you there God was one of my favourites at your daughters age. I also read the whole Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High collections. I was a few years younger that your DD when I read Little Women and Secret Garden although I loved them both! I also loved Jane Austin books although I was fifteen when I read most of them! I loved the James Herriot books too, which reminds me to add them to our reading list for this year!

I'm almost jealous of the choice of books available to kids these days! I lived my youth with my head thoroughly engrossed in series after series of books!

When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit and the sequels are good.

Does she like fantasy? David Eddings for a bit of magic and knights, sort of GOT without the death and sex.

John Windham for a bit of Sci Fi - start with Chocky.

Joan Lingard - Kevin and Sadie Stories, they were written in the 1970s and are about teenagers growing up, one protestant, one catholic.

I would also advise against Louise Rennison in favour of the books/authors stated by others here already. Distinctly remember something in one of the Angus, Thongs series about her new boyfriend's latest finger trick I wouldn't want an 11yo reading that. The suggestions on this thread are much better.

Oh, and to those encouraging independent reading...it's true that this is important, but kids this age still need some guidance. I stumbled on some VERY inappropriate sexual content in our local library when let loose with no guidance at age 12...couched in chick lit style things meant for adult women.