Book recommendations for a keen 12-year-old wanting longer challenging reads

[GreenMarigold]

My daughter is turning 12 soon and I’d love some book recommendations for her.

She has been a keen reader for years and has loved the Warrior Cats, Lottie Brooks, Skulduggery Pleasant and Artemis Fowl books. She also enjoys poetry and classic literature like Poe and Shakespeare.

However it’s been a year or two since she has found a modern author to get stuck into. She likes a decent length book that’s a challenging read.

I want to get her some proper books rather than anime style books, as she loves those but finishes them in minutes!

In terms of genre she is quite open minded but has expressed an interest in some romantasy - but I would welcome any ideas at all!

The Wolf Brother Books by Michelle Paver

Inkheart books (can't remember the author)

Earthsea series Ursula Le Guin

When I was 12 (very late 1960’s!) I began reading John Wyndham & devoured them!!
I also read Catch 22 at that age
My friends brother had a copy of Virgin Soldiers and Lady Chatterleys Lover…that’s where I gained most of my sex education
Id recommend John Wyndham but maybe not the others!

Stephen king? I read quite a few of his as a teenager. My teen book worm loved ‘The Institute’.

@GreenMarigold

Patrick Ness is worth a look

A Court of Thorns and Roses for romantasy but even though I have read it, I’m not sure how explicit it is for 12

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is a really great YA crossover novel

Michelle Magorian - Back Home.

Catherine Storr - Marianne Dreams

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi - this was my favourite book at her age

Amazing recommendations, thank you so much everyone! 🙏

When I was her age my favourite author was Tamora Pierce. I remember borrowing the series The Song Of The Lionness from the library constantly. I still reread it as an adult.
Another series I loved was the Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody - I had to wait 30 years for her to finish the series but she finally did.

Phoenix by SF Said.

Inkheart series by Cordelia Funke.

The Various trilogy by Steve Augarde.

Everything written by Geraldine McCaughrean.

Has she read all of the Carnegie winners? They are 13+ in the last 20 years but fine before that.

Discworld, Terry Pratchett. Maybe start with the Tiffany Aching books which are aimed at teenagers and older children.

Wonder, by RJ Palaccio.
The London Eye Mystery.
Not modern, but I used to devour the Agatha Christie books at that age.

Thanks for even more suggestions - lots for me to look up!

She’s read quite a few Terry Pratchett already - DH and I love his work and I think we’ve got every one of his books.

I used to love Point Horror and Goosebumps books growing up but I can’t quite remember what age I read them. Are they suitable for 12 year olds?

Does it have to be only modern authors? She is the perfect age for Jane Austen.
I also loved PG Wodehouse and Agatha Christie at that age, although I accept that they are a bit more "frothy".

No, it could be any authors really! Not sure why I specific modern. Jane Austen is a good thought, thank you.

Phillipa Pearce: Tom's Midnight Garden
Any of Rosemary Sutcliff's children's books if she likes history. Sadly, I think many are out of print but you can find them secondhand online. A friend who is an author of teen fiction says they are considered too long and require too much concentration these days. I loved them when I was your daughter's age and they brought the different periods to life (mainly Roman and Middle Ages in Britain) and made me realise people in the past were just that - people with feelings just like today. I did go on to study Mediaeval History at University!
Captain Marryat: Children of the New Forest
Louisa M Alcott: Little Women and sequels
L M Montgomery: Anne of Green Gables
Elizabeth Goudge: Linnets and Valerians
I read all Gerald Durrell's books, from My Family and Other Animals onwards and wanted to be a zoologist. I went back to university and did a second degree in Environmental Conservation when I was in my 40s and changed career to manage nature reserves. Never underestimate the influence of childhood reading!!!!n😁

I read them at that sort of age, but don't know if they're slightly too old, but I loved a few books by Margaret Mahy - the changeover, tricksters and the haunting.

@GreenMarigold I was definitely reading Point Horror at 12

One of the first "big solid books" that I read as a teen was "Goodnight Mr Tom" by Michelle Magorian. I also loved her book called "Back Home".