Relevant reader, 8 year old girl

[EATmum]

Can anyone suggest something to inspire my middle daughter, aged 8? Reading, for her, is a chore, not a pleasure despite lots of interest, support and opportunity. I feel that she's close to "getting it" and that I just need to find the story that will blow her mind and make her want to turn the page. But books she can read easily are too 'young' and books that might excite her are written with words that she'll need to spend effort decoding and thus lose interest. Any suggestions?

Aargh. Reluctant. Blame the auto-correct!

My 7 year old reluctant reading dd is pretty keen on anything by Jeremy Strong.

My DD isnt a reluctant reader, but is a similar age and devours Jane Blond books. Horrible Histories books are great too and most of the words are ok.

What sort of things does she like in 'real life'? Dance/drama, animals, shinning up trees, sports? then I'll have a think for you...

My 8 year old is loving the Mr Gum series by Andy Stanton, also the st clares series by enid blyton and the horrible history books are a hit as well.

do you think she just might prefer non fiction?

what about some poetry

My DD (8) absolutely loves Michael Morpurgo (sp?) books. But before that she was very into Roald Dahl - which are wonderful books to get DCs into reading. Also Mr Gum books and early Harry Potter ones.

Also reading alternate sections worked well with my DS - who was somewhat reluctant at that age (but now reads for hours) I would read a bit and he would read the next bit. Gave lots of opportunity for me to make sure he was following the story and understood the words.

The Judy Moody and Daisy and the Trouble With...series, Pippi Longstocking and Jacqueline Wilson are favourites of my dd.

Thanks all. We read to her a lot, but nothing has ever completely captured her imagination. She does enjoy being read to, but is never clamouring for the next bit. She likes books with female characters (many of the 'reluctant reader' books seem more geared to boys) and a good sprinkling of magic and fairies works for her. But she doesn't love it - for example she doesn't want to read at the weekend because it's "like school". Breaks my heart! How to encourage without switching her off completely?

My DD2 aged 8 loves the Jaqueline Wilson books for younger readers / Diary of a wimpy kid / Horrid Henry.

Michael Murpurgo books are fab.

I'm assuming you've tried the Rainbow Fairy books (we have many but I think they are enough to put anyone off reading!)

The David Walliams books are great fun too - but might be a bit old for her.

DD2 only fell in love with reading recently - so there is hope!

Darcy Bussell 'Magic ballerina' series is wonderful..DD, also 8, who has always been 'OK' with reading really took off with these and would hole herself up in her bedroom to read them from cover to cover.

Also the Sophie and the Shadow Woods series..a feisty heroine on a quest to rescue powerful gems from an assortment of evil woodland sprites etc. with intuition, a bit of ju-jitsu and a sprinkling of magic power - awesome!

Also a series which includes the Rain Princess and the Snow Princess, and many others...where a heroine is magically whisked off around the world to save a variety of non soppy princesses from a variety of fates. Really good for geography, different cultures etc as well as ripping good yarns!

Thanks for the suggestions - will visit/revisit them all. Sure she'll crack it soon!
Thank you.