To think there must be a good book out there...

[Luckything50]

I've just spent an hour or so trawling the lists of good books for (reluctant) 12 year old girl readers... she won't be interested in fairies, fantasy or witches and is too young for much of the YA fiction that seems to centre around 16/17 year olds. I'm looking for a book about being 12 in the U.K today, friendship, sleepovers, boys, celebrity, periods, homework, netball... preferably inspirational and uplifting. Is there one out there?

Jacqueline Wilson or Judy Blume? Then you have books like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Mockingbird, Orbiting Jupiter, Wonder. Only one of my daughters regulalry read books like that though about romance, friendship, growing up etc. The other was and still is into sci fi, fantasy, horror (goosebumps/fear street etc) and wildlife/nature (odd combo but she takes after me). Please don't dismiss other genres such as fantasy that may seem childish entirely though without at least talking to your daughter as you have wonderful books that my girls loved like Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series, Philip Pullman's Dark Materials and Derek Landy's Skullduggery books.. Both my girls really enjoyed the John Greens books too but think 12 is a tad young for books like Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns tbh.

I use the website Love Reading 4 Kids really useful when looking for age suitable books, use it for both my daughters and my neices as it covers all kids ages inc YA books.

Judy Blume

Jean Ure
Susie Day Secrets books

Sita Brahmachari's books are wonderful for that age group. Hilary McKay's too (especially the Carson family series)

I always enjoyed the “Angus, Thongs and full frontal snogging” series.

I also recommend “Gone” by Michael Grant. It’s a male protagonist and is US based, but it’s about a group of kids (aged around 11/12) who live in a town and all the adults vanish suddenly one day. It’s a bit sci-fi but a very good read.