Books with a sword fighting heroine

[LivingChess]

Looking for something for or my 10 year old DD. She's currently reading Percy Jackson. Absolutely not into romance, fashion, cute fairy stuff or friendship troubles.

Ideally I'd like to get her something with a sword fighting heroine. Detective type or adventure would also be a possibility, as would historical fiction.

Has she read the Skullduggery pleasant series by Derek Landy? More magic than swords, although swords do feature. And they're detectives.

I've not read it recently so it might not hold up but there's the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. Set in a medieval/fantasy world where girls learn magic and boys learn to be Knights. Twin siblings switch identities as he wants to learn magic and she wants to be a knight. Long series.

Katherine Rundell is a great writer, Good Thieves has the feel of an Enid Blyton type adventure for an older age group.

Found this
www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=9960

Look up tamora Peirce her alana the lioness and wild magic books are ace!
Also, in a related vein, the Redwall books were life changing for me as a child

Alanna series by Tamora Pierce
Those are my favourite childhood books, she has them already!

Skullduggery pleasant, Redwall, Katherine Rundell
will take a look, not sure she has any of these.

@creideamhdóchasgrá thanks, that's the only list I found!

The dragonsbane series by Patricia c wrede.

Apparently now called the enchanted forest chronicles.

Thanks for the link @creideamhdóchasgrá , there are several books there that my adventure loving 11 year old dgd will enjoy.
Can I add Ronia the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren to the list of suggestions.

Hooray for Tamora Pearce!

There is Robin McKinley too (I still read the blue sword every now and again!)

DD loved Helen Moss books at that age. No sword fighting, but basically the famous five without the sexism and racism...

Far too young for her, but anyone with a younger child: The Paper Bag Princess.

@HuntingoftheSnark oh DD hated that one! She liked the Princess Florizella ones though.

@froginawell @creideamhdóchasgrá Blue sword is in the basket!

@Quinque Ronja is a favourite, I think it was the first proper book DH read to her. Followed my LOTR

You might find some of the Dido Twite set by Joan Aiken work well. i don't recall her sword fighting, but she's a feisty character!

Garth Nix . Old Kingdom Series.

Morrigan Crow? Excellent female characters.
Polar Bear explorers club

I second garth nix abhorsen series.

Also Jonathan Stroud: Scarlett and Browne outlaws (think there's 2 books). The girl kicks ass.

Plus the lockwood series - both boys and girls are the heroes/ghost fighters

Another vote for the a mighty girl blog

Artemis Fowl? (Stay away from the film though - they changed everything) Protagonist is an elf, Holly Short - first female officer in their specialist police force, up against a 13 year old criminal mastermind. Modern fantasy with high tech elves, goblins, centaurs, etc.

Theresa Tomlinson writes historical fiction for young adults with bow or sword wielding female protagonists. I remember enjoying the Moon Riders (Ancient Troy) and the Forest Wife (Robin Hood) when I was younger.

I enjoyed 'the true confessions of Charlotte doyle' at around that age which isn't exactly what you're describing but does have a 13 year old girl as the heroine and is historical fiction from what I remember anyway!

Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud

@bogoblin That sounds far too scary for her! I'll keep it for later, maybe try it on my goddaughter first!

Grimmalkin from the spooks series but it might be too scary? My daughter loved it at her age though still has the books now and dips in and out

Yes I totally double the recommendation for Robin McKinley! The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown both have absolutely top notch sword wielding heroines. There is a bit of romance in both, but the main focus is on the protagonists' growth and struggles, as it should be. Also there is a fair amount of horsey stuff in both if your daughter's a fan. :)

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M Valente.

My 10-year-old loves these books. Amazon says age 12 onwards, so might be worth checking.

On a different (non magical) note Sister to a star by Eloise Smith is written by an Olympic fencer and one of the characters is into fencing. Haven't read it but might fit the bill?

@GrouchyKiwi do you think it's the language/construction or content which makes it a 12? (English is not DD's native language, she only speaks it at home with me so won't have the vocab or exposure a 10 year old in a UK school would.)

@lucysnowe2 she's not really into horses but her two best friends are so she feigns an interest every now and again!