"Edgy" books for nearly 12 year old dd

[Hilda41]

Hi,
I'm looking for some gripping fantasy books for my nearly 12 year old dd. She has always loved listening to audio books and enjoyed reading, but has become a lot pickier since starting secondary!
She particularly likes the fantasy /dystopia type genre. They need to be gripping to compete with screens and she's looking for edgier, more grown up books. I'm keen to encourage reading, but want to keep reasonably age appropriate. The books she's enjoyed most recently are Hunger Games series, Divergent series and Skulduggery. She's read or listened to a lot of popular fantasy which is aimed at the 8-12 year old age group, so I'm looking for recommendations for good young adult fantasy which isn't too grown up. She also love graphic novels / and manga, so any recommendations for that v welcome too. Thanks in advance : )

Presume she's done the Percy Jackson books? My 12 year old loved them. The noughts and crosses series by Mallory Blackman is great. DD is saying a book called 'Girl, Missing' by Sophie Mackenzie was brilliant.

Look at Robert Muchmore - he's done several series.

Also Earthsea (Ursula Le Guin) is v popular here

Has she done Mortal Engines?
Terry Pratchett - subtly edgy but funny

Alan Garner - The Owl Service

Has she read His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman yet?

Thanks all! @BlueChampagne - Terry Pratchett could be a good call - any particular recommendations for starting off?
@ThePlantsitter Yes, she's listened to Percy Jackson and enjoyed. will try Noughts and Crosses, think that will interest her.
@TheMooch Robert Muchamore looks right up her street! Would you recommend cherub series?

Life as we know it - the Last Survivors series. Moon gets knocked off course and has huge impact on earth.
Qualify - the Atlantis Grail series. Asteroid is going to hit earth and a spaceship from Atlantis has come to save some people but they have to compete to win a place (not as well written as Hunger Games though).
My DS likes very similar books to your dd.

Less Dystopian books but still fantasy - has she read His Dark Materials series? Very good. Also the Sabriel books - 'Old Kingdom' series.

@Hilda41

Thanks all! *@BlueChampagne* - Terry Pratchett could be a good call - any particular recommendations for starting off? *@ThePlantsitter* Yes, she's listened to Percy Jackson and enjoyed. will try Noughts and Crosses, think that will interest her. *@TheMooch* Robert Muchamore looks right up her street! Would you recommend cherub series?

My son likes what she has read and i know he enjoyed the cherub series.

Noughts and Crosses series is very good... however, you may not want a 12yo reading the sex scenes in the later books.

Again, Cherub series may be a little grittier than what you're wanting her to read just yet

Chris D'Lacey's Last Dragon Chronicles is a good meaty series.

Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother series is great too.

And definitely everything Philip Reeve has ever written, particularly Mortal Engines series, and Rail Head series.

For graphic novels Amulet (8 books) is good.
Also Ben Hatke's Zita Space Girl series and Mighty Jack series.

Its probably a good idea to check over what manga you give her, as some can be pretty misogynistic/overtly sexual.

DS12 enjoyed the cirque du freak series although not sure if it’s entirely what you’re after? DD 14 really enjoyed the face on the milk carton books.

The Cherub series is gritty but my DS1 who is not into reading loved it. Robert Muchamore gets a bit overlooked is done excellent books.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Gone - Michael Grant
The Maze Runner - James Dashner
Illuminae - Kathmandu & Kristoff
Louis Sachs books

My DD loved books by Frances Hardinge.

His Dark Materials series, and also the Ruby in the Smoke series also by Pullman

Oh yeah, Frances Hardinge is a great call @Seeline. Have you read her stuff yourself? It is mad! But brilliant.

Scott Westerfield 'Uglies' is a good distopian series.
Not distopian but edgy in the sense of real and often quite gruesome danger is the Edge Chromicals by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.
For manga Fullmetal Alchemist is flawless.

@ThePlantsitter no I haven't - not really my bag. Frances Hardinge gave a talk at my DDs school just after the Lie Tree came out, did readings and stuff. DD came home hooked 😁

Wee Free Men is a good place to start. Has a young female protagonist as well.

@ThePlantsitter

Oh yeah, Frances Hardinge is a great call *@Seeline. Have you read her stuff yourself? It is mad*! But brilliant.

Ah I love her myself! She's so original... But yeah... Mad!

If your dd is a mature reader why not look at the Margaret Atwood dystopia trilogy MaddAddam, Oryx and Crake, Year of the Flood. No sex scenes etc but a look at a group of people managing in a post apocalyptic world.

What about the wardstone chronicles by Joseph Delaney? They follow the adventures of a "spook" and his young apprentice. They protect The County from The Dark (witches, boggarts etc).

Also, what about the hobbit?

I agree Malorie Blackman is great.
Cherub is good
Hive Mind series is good (nothing to do with me. User name pure coincidence!)
Not futuristic but Holes by Louis Sachar and then Small Steps - a sequel are good.
Has she read the classics - the Hobbit, Narnia etc?

Cornelia Funke's novels are also brilliant - she's done loads of series: Mirror World, Ghosthunters etc.

The demon king by cinda Williams Chimaera - amazing series I think she would enjoy those.

Eragon by Christopher paolini

Northern lights by Philip Pullman

Always pratchett - start at the beginning (Color of magic) you can read them individually but I think it’s better to start at the beginning - if not, my favourite of his is mort

@Grumpsy

The demon king by cinda Williams Chimaera - amazing series I think she would enjoy those.

Eragon by Christopher paolini

Northern lights by Philip Pullman

Always pratchett - start at the beginning (Color of magic) you can read them individually but I think it’s better to start at the beginning - if not, my favourite of his is mort

Cinda Williams chima- stupid auto correct (fantastic book though - picked it up for my husband on happenstance years ago and it’s worked it’s way into both of our favourites list)

The Savage by David Almond. Graphic novel.