AIBU to want a spy/action/adventure book with female/girl leads for my daughter to enjoy?

[staveleymum]

My DS (9) has been reading Alex Ryder, Young Bond, Johnny Maxwell as well as Roald Dahl, David Walliams etc. These are all great books and I am sure that when it's time for my DS (6) to start on books some of these will appeal to her too. However, I've been looking around and trying to find books with strong female lead characters is rather thin on the ground in comparison to 'boys books' (FYI I dont advocate that there are books for boys or girls - just books) - but I would love for my daughter to have the choice to read books with strong girl characters that can also save the world!

We are on Worst Witch and have Naughty Little Sister for now but other than fairies, princesses, animal themed books I am struggling to find anything in the 7-9 age group that are more adventure based. I am going to try and find some Nancy Drew (I read those as a girl) but can anyone recommend any alternatives?

Ally Carter - Cross my heart and hope to spy. I loved it when I read it. About a group of spy trainee's at boarding school. Really really good!

Eva ibbotson and Frances hardinge are great but some of Hardinge books can be a bit odd.

Maximum Ride books by James Patterson might be worth a look, the main character is a girl called Max who is totally kick ass. Might be for slightly older children though so maybe have a flick through first and see what you think

Nancy Drew?

I agree with Ruby Redfort for older children (9yo DD loves them). 6yo DD2 currently loves Operation Bunny which has a female lead - they are based around a fairy detective agency. Much better then bloody Rainbow fairies!

My girls loved the rainbow fairies series when they were around age 5. Ok they're not exactly Shakespeare, but they inspired a love of reading and that's what counts.

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste is good, but might be a little scary if she doesn't like monsters

I personally think Jaqueline Wilson is great but you asked for adventure/spy novels and she doesn't really write those.

Kirsten Miller's Kiki Strike books are wonderful. Not often to be found on the shelves in UK bookshops, but I have seen them in my local library, and you can get them on Amazon.

It's an old book but brilliant and funny with 2 girls having many adventures. I loved it when I was a child as I hated it when boys had all the fun in books.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/49048.The_Wind_on_the_Moon

I have in the last few years read it with 9 year old boys and girls and it stands the test of time.

JW books have some very strong female characters,my dad loved the historical ones. Not sure what is to dislike about her books.

There are masses of books with strong female lead characters. I'm surprised you find them thin on the ground.Along with those mentioned detective and adventure books my dd has loved are:- Wells and Wong series,Ottoline series,Flavia de Luce series,Madam Pamplemousse,Katherine Rundell books particularly the Sinclair mysteries,Ivy Pocket,Connie Carrew mysteries,Shadow Keepers series,Uncommoners,One Wish series........

the list is endless.

Fablehaven,Harry Potter.....

Joan Aiken's 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase' is excellent. (Historical/fantasy adventure.)

I started devouring Little House on the prairie books around that age. Sure they aren't exactly adventure books, but Laura and her sisters got up to all sorts of exciting things.

Haven't read the full thread but my son is obsessed by the Secret Series and insisted on going to school for World Book Day as the main character, a girls called Cassandra. The first one is called The Name Of The Book Is Secret and it is by an anonymous author called Pseudonymous Bosh. There are five of them and they seem to be gripping and hilariously funny (judging by the giggles and the refusal to put the books down)

A Wrinkle In Time!

Another recent favourite was Cogheart by Peter Bunzl. Again, female lead. He reads a lot of stuff recommended by Waterstones in their books of the month. Another good one was The Accidental Pirates.

Haven't read the full thread but glad to see Tamora Pierce books mentioned. My son actually read them when younger and I did too, thought they were v good'

Look for "A Mighty Girl" on FB. Also www.amightygirl.com/ website. American but a good resource to research appropriate books/films etc

Worrals books by W E Johns. She's the female equivalent of Biggles, set in World War 2. Quite good for discussions about how women had to fight for equality at that time.

Flambards series is great, although probably more suitable for 10+.

Not a book but this show is great.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Mc2

Take a little care with Cherub books for younger readers. They're not TOO inappropriate for a while, but as the characters get older - about book 6 if I remember correctly - some of the content is more explicit.

And as the film classification says 'some strong language from the start'

For when she's older, the Land of Elyon series by Patrick Carman, is excellent.

JW books are great, I loved them growing up, but they don't fit the genres you asked for which will be why she wasn't suggested.

Too young for Philip Pullman His Dark Materials trilogy?

The Exiles and The Exiles at Home by Hilary McKay

I second the Lucy Evans books by Millie Slavidou. My DS loved them. Particularly the one set in Wales (Dragons Rock?)