13 girl - no romance

[Coffeeteacoffeetea]

Help please
My dd just turned 13 loves reading and I always get her some book series for Christmas. I have no ideas this time. She's currently reading Lord of Rings and enjoying it. Also loved Hunger Games, Dark Materials, Erogon dragon series....loads more can't think of right now. So sci fi type books probably her favourite but also loves Katherine Randall.

She read the first book of divergent series (Veronica Roth), but stopped the second one because of "romance", she's just not interested and obviously puts her off.

Anyone any ideas please?

Magician by Raymond E Feist (plus Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethanon if you want to gift a complete trilogy) - classic fantasy of the LOTR variety, one of my favourite fantasy books at her age and minimal romance.

Avoid anything by Sarah J Maas - she’s very popular and writes great teen fantasy but they’re definitely heavy on the romance!

Check out Rebecca Stead - not fantasy but really well written about that age. When you reach me has a time slip/time travel theme which might appeal if your daughter likes fantasy, but her other books are all great too and very age appropriate.

Thanks so much @Penville....never heard of Feist, will check it out. And extra thanks for who to avoid (well for the moment, she might want romance in a few years🤷‍♀️).

Ursula le Guin.

And has she read the Over Sea, Under Stone series?

Also His Dark Materials series.

Will try Rebecca Stead, she does like most genres so hopefully she will like them @thereplycamefromanchorage....its soooo nice to get recommendations

The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix, starts with Sabriel - was a big fan at that age. Fantasy, don’t remember much (if any) romance!

No to ursula le guin, they look great. Yes to dark Materials (and is loving the TV series too), think has read over sea, but will check. Thanks a mill@PaperTowels

Try some Josephine Tey, or what about things like Jeeves and Wooster?

That looks great too thanks @EduCated

@Witchend thanks for the recommendation. I had a look and don't think Jeeves&wooster would be her thing, but will try 1 from the library as you never know! Same with Tey

Also try the Sherlock Holmes stories, the short ones not the novels. My young teen loved them.

I'd recommend The Mortal Instruments series

My DD loves the Hunger Games too. Recently she’s read & really enjoyed the Morrigan Crow books by Jessica Townsend. The first one is called Nevermore.

A self-published author i would recommend to LITERALLY ANY GIRL aged over 10 is E. Jade Lomax. ejadelomax.com/leaguesandlegends/beanstalk/

The Leagues and Legends series in particular are fantastic. Very little romance, LOTS of cool shit.

Books I loved at that age included The Amazing Maurice by Terry Pratchett, all of David Almond's books, and one called Who Sir Me Sir? by KM Peyton (very 80s, but really funny).

Would she like Agatha Christie? Or how about the Master and Commander books?

I lived moved the books your daughter is reading at 13. My other favourite series at that age was The Magicians Guild.

I also liked the Bitten series - literally loads of books, that all link together but not necessarily in order. As in there may be a trilogy around 3 characters, then another 2 books about a character that featured in the first trilogy.

Thanks @PaperTowels meant to try sherlock Holmes for her (plus 11ds quite similar tastes)

@Kindredskillet will have to check if she read them, sound great

@Inmyownlittlecorner that looks like aimed at slightly younger children? What age is your dd?

@lekkerkroketje they all look interesting will check them out (although I never liked Terry pratcher so a bit biased against!)

@Ginfilledcats thanks for that - I really enjoyed magician's guild, you're right she might like that....can't remember if there is too much love interest in the 2nd/3rd book tho🤔
And just looked at Bitten series....the first line of summary mentions casual sex so don't think it'll be for her🤣

How about the Tricksters Choice series, that's probably more age appropriate. Main female protagonist through most of the books.

Yeah in fact bitten is very not suitable in hindsight haha.

I loved Magicians Guild though. Quite fancy rereading that

Thanks for another recommendation @Ginfilledcats an i really enjoyed magician's guild....going to see if I still have my copy!

@Ohalrightthen how do you know its a safe link to click on? I'm not the best with tech, don't want to pay 20 for a book I don't know if will like....but not sure about downloading.... thanks for recommendation tho

It's the same as downloading a book for kindle. Ive put her work onto multiple devices with no ill effects.

Maggie Stiefvater- Scorpio Races. Beautifully written.

Truddi cannavan magicians guild would be good i think

The Girl of Ink and Stars is wonderful. Also The Cogheart Adventures by Peter Bunzl. And if she likes action and girl heroes, try the Sinclair Mysteries by Katherine Woodfine.