Gentle easygoing for a 12 yr old

[scrappydappydoo]

DD is struggling with lockdown and needs some easygoing books that she can escape into. She likes to read but isn’t at a particular high level. She’s just finished the little house on the prairie series, loves E Nesbit, Anne of green gables, what Katy did, Hetty Feather etc Any suggestions for what she could read next? Maybe something a bit more modern?

I loved The Babysitters Club series at that age. Might be a bit dated now though (I'm 40)?

Anything by Joan Aiken
www.joanaiken.com

And for an overlooked classic try The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett. It's gentle witty and wise with lovely characters and absolutely nothing dreadful happens.

Karen McCombie: Allys World series - about a 13 year old life, really fun and funny series, loads of books

Emma Barnes: Jessica Hatherwaite Media Star - fun book

King Arthur trilogy - bit heavy going but good books to really get into when you've loads of time

Meg Cabot:
Princess Diaries books - long series, easy read, funny. Great if you've seen the films too

Narnia series

Judy Blume books

Classics
Lorna Doone
Treasure Island
The Railway Children
Charlotte's Web
Little Women
To kill a Mockingbird
Alice in Wonderland

The Girl with the Silver Eyes, by Willo Davis Roberts

The Holly Webb books are lovely. Try The Chocolate Dog and The Snow Bear.

Charlotte's Web
Little Women
Varjak Paw
The Secret Garden
Carrie's War
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe

Oh and I forgot the Pony Detectives Club series by Belinda Rapley. My daughter adored these at about the same age.

My Friend Flicka series
The Hobbit (much better than the film)

MarieQueenofScotts
I wouldn’t recommend the little house seiries as at some point in the first book it tells of the father hitting the main character with his belt

I wouldn’t recommend the little house seiries as at some point in the first book it tells of the father hitting the main character with his belt

Don’t we think children can cope with that in context?! Certainly no more stressful that the first AOGG book which the OP’s daughter enjoyed.

She’s 12 @Bluesponge !
If she can’t handle a story with someone being hit with a belt then should she be reading anything above The Rainbow Fairies?

It's in Little House in the Big Woods that Laura is punished by being hit with a 'switch' . She was punished because she slapped her older sister Mary. It's the only reference in the whole book series of any physical punishment from Pa or Ma. It's hardly a misery memoir style story.

Onlyjudycanjudgeme
It’s not that I don’t think a 12 year old could handle a book about someone being hit it’s that the book doesn’t show that it’s wrong it sort of shown as just something that happens and that the father was right for hitting 7 year old daughter

Which overall makes the book a rather uncomfortable read

Charlotte's web and the Giant under the Snow oldies but goodies, I still read the giant under the snow now I'm 58, I love it for a bit of escapism.

It’s not that I don’t think a 12 year old could handle a book about someone being hit it’s that the book doesn’t show that it’s wrong it sort of shown as just something that happens and that the father was right for hitting 7 year old daughter

I mean Little House in Big Woods was set when? Counting back from when they got to Pepin probably early 1870s. I think its worth discussing the difference in parenting styles. It is certainly on a par with AOGG (I keep mentioning this as the OP's daughter liked it) especially when Anne whips Anthony Pye for disobedience in class!

I may be imagining the scene more vividly in my head. I read the book when I was about 12 and I remember it highly disturbing me, I think it made me uncomfortable as it wasn’t portrayed as wrong but I haven’t read the book since then and whenever someone brings it up it’s the first thing I think Of

Toms midnight garden is a lovely book quite similar in feel to the secret garden but more modern. Eva ibbotson as well. Francis hardinge books are beautiful but not sure if they might be a bit more suited to 14+ ... If she's a confident reader she'd be ok.

The Casson Family series. The first is Saffys Angel. (I lent mine and it was never returned).

The Binny for Short books. I think there are three.

The Time of Green Magic.

All by Hilary McKay.
All funny, clever, charming, realistic but safe for the timid. With the additional pleasure of describing what everyone has to eat.