Non scary books for 10-12 DD?

[BraveGoldie]

Hi folks,

My DD (almost 10, fast advanced reader) is looking for book series that she can devour at night time - fun or not too dark, but advanced, rich language level.

We seem to have ended up with loads of scary books (Alex Rider, Percy Jackson's and Murder most unladylike, to give you a few examples), which she loves, but freak her out when she reads at night time.

Hopefully we can find some good series, as she goes through things so quickly.....

Thank you for any ideas!

I've seen these recommended on another thread but Eva Ibbotson's books are great - Journey to the River Sea etc. Good adventures but not too much (any?) gore or too dark. I've read another one but can't remember which but think JTTRS is about a girl going to South America and it's a great, engaging read.

Would she go for classics like Anne of Green Gables?

the what katy did series is good, as is the 'jill's gymkhana' series x

Also, have a look on goodreads website - you can see similar books, or lists that people have read so quite easy to find several that would suit

Michael Morpurgo
Diana Wynne Jones
Malory Towers

The phantom horse books (Christine Pullein-Thompson) are great adventures if she likes horses. (They are more adventures/light thrillers so you don't have to be really knowledgeable about horses to enjoy them.

I think books aimed at this age group now tend to be quite scary/grizzly/tense. My kids love that said but thinking about your DD, how about all the old KM Peyton books? A bit dated now but great books with gentle introduction to more grown up themes. I loved "who sir, me sir?" And all the flambards at her age.

Laura Ingles wilder? You'll need to talk to her about how they're old so have different standards about eg racism and sexism, but they're definitely not scary and beautifully written.

There was an American author called Paula Danziger who wrote good ya fiction (riding the divorce express etc) that are about everyday preteen life (no superheroes or spies) And 10/12 is prime reading age for Judy Bloom. I think they've been updated/rereleased recently. Steer clear of Forever, but she should be fine with any/all of the others.

Thank you so much for the suggestions! There are several authors and series here that I wasn't aware of and look spot on! I have ordered a sample to try. Fingers crossed they will appeal! Any more ideas very welcome!

The Indian in the Cupboard series
Mary Poppins series
Ruby Redfort
The Polar Bear Explorers series
The Cogheart Adventures
The Train to Impossible Places series
Little Women
Warrior Cats series

DD2 was like that and did a lot of classics reading.
Little Women
Anne of Green Gables
What Katie Did
Secret Garden
Green Knowe
Swallows and Amazons
Treasure Seekers/5 children and it etc
Railway Children
Black Beauty

And a lot of older books like Chalet School:
Books by:
Gwendoline Courtney
Monica Edwards
Violet Needham etc

Been reading Just William to DS2 and the language is quite rich.