I need recommendations again - books for an 11 year old who is reading above her age

[Miaou]

Dd1 has just been to the library this morning but was a bit disappointed by what was on offer - we have a very small teenage section! She enjoys Malorie Blackman and Meg Rosoff, has read the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. She is not really into Alex Rider or LOTR and has outgrown Jacqueline Wilson and Harry Potter.

Any suggestions of what we can order in would be most welcome!

His Dark Materials is wonderful and if she is a mature 11 she's certainly ready. I had wonderful discussions with the super bright 11 year old in my class last year about the series (sorry, teacher head on ) as it was both his and my favourite, on different levels I'm sure. (Still, he was also better than me at maths so maybe not on different levels...)

Just thought of another one...has she read 'I Coriander' - can't remember the author but think it won the Smarties prize a couple of years ago.

my family and other animals
all john wyndham
great expectations
oliver twist

ds 11 has read all these in last few months and enjoyed them

The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird.
She writes some other good stuff too.

Sorry, I've got brainache - will come back to this later I promise.

In our county (don't know about Scotland) children can request library books from anywhere in the County free-of-charge, and all the databases are available online.

My DD will be 11 by the time I finish this post She is a little innocent and I wouldn't mind keeping her that way for a little longer. She has just read all the Princess Diaries which are not juvenile and very teenagerish. The early books Mia is 13 and by the last book she has boyfriend and debating how far she will go with him. She did ask one or two questions but hasn't seemed to make her grow up too much. She also read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli which is about first love and adored it.

She has just finished Dolphin Song and can't wait to read the rest in the series

I Coriander is by Sally Gardner - my DD loved it. She also really enjoyed the Ingo series by Helen Dunmore, recommended to us on here by Ellbell I think.

Your county is a beacon of excellence in terms of public library provision though Roisin

Lucky Roisin! Ours certainly isn't.

Several of Jane Gardam's earlier novels are about young girls growing up, including one about an avid reader, and they have been reprinted - some were once published in teen imprints but have since been done for adults. A Long Way from Verona is about a bookworm, others are Bilgewater and The Summer After the Funeral. And perhaps you could help her find titles which would appeal in the adult library, some I read and liked quite young, often with young central characters, or parts of them included:

George Eliot, The MIll on the Floss
Laura Thompson, Lark Rise to Candleford
Antonia White, Frost in May
Some books by Molly Keane aka M J Farrell

There are lots of crime writers who tell a good story with strong characters and it's not necessarily all gore, I read Agatha Christie avidly starting at 12 but she might enjoy some others: Marcia Muller and Linda Barnes are less well known than Sara Paretsky but all write cracking tales about female PIs.

Is it Marina? I didn't know!

You had the fabulous Joe Hendry in charge for a number of years

Summer of My German Soldier
The Endless Steppe
One More River
I Am David
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
The Other Way Round

Can't believe no one has suggested Diana Wynne Jones yet. Far and away best writer for older children/young adults - if your daughter is relatively sophisticated you could try fire and hemlock, although I'd probably save it up a bit, and start with the Homeward Bounders, howl's moving castle, the merlin conspiracy, the pinhoe egg, the lives of christopher chant

Gerald Durrel: My Family and Other Animals; Beasts in my Belfry etc

I mentioned Diana Wynne Jones near the beginning of the thread thalia

Theatre Shoes and Circus Shoes by Noel Streatfield--less well-known than some of her books.

E. Nesbitt?

I would second the Michelle Magorian suggestion. Goodnight Mr Tom is the most well known but there are 5 others. I think all of them are set during or around the time of WW2. Dd2, 12 last week, read them recently and really enjoyed them. I remember dd1 loved them at the same age.

Our library is also not great for teenage fiction, however dd2 has just started secondary school and is very impressed with the selection in the school library.

These are on my dd 12's bookshelf:

Eva Ibbotson - Journey to River Sea is brilliant, also written others but this is dd's fave

She's really into Michael Morpurgo - age range he writes for varies and tend to have themes of animals, or war, or both. I'd recommend 'Private Peaceful'

She's into fantasy and there are a series of dragon books - ice fire, fire eternal etc by Chris d'Lacey which can be more adult than they first appear

Dianna Wynne Jones deffo

She's also reading a book atm called "The Breadwinner" about life of a 12yo girl under the Taliban. She's taken it to school - I just can't remember the author I'm afraid

DD1 is enjoying Girl Missing by Sophie McKenzie at the moment.

I Coriander, Mortal Englines, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. I second christywhisty's Windsinger suggestion.

Am late to this thread as it came up when it did a search for Louise Rennison. DD is just 10 and really wanted to g o and see 'Angus thongs...' at pictures. I quite fancied it myself but thought it might be a bit 'too rude' (I think it was a 15). She is quite sensible, has heard a bit of swearing when watching Jamie Oliver & Secret Millionaire and realises that other people say it vut she doesnt! Anyway we were too busy and never got to see the film. I see in the latest 'book people' catalogue they have a set of her books aimed at 10 yrs and above. Are they ok for a 10 year old or a bit too rude?

please??

Just looked and they are aimed at 12 yrs and above. However DD read the Princess Diaries when she was 10 and they have the same age grouping and it was really only the later books I felt were a bit too old for her.

You could always buy them read one yourself,(reading the reviews they look quite funny and older people will appreciate them). If you think they are too old then just put them by until she is older.

I've just read the first one and decided it was suitable for DD1 who is 11. They are defintely aimed at 12-13 year olds and deal with the concerns of that age group - boyfriends, kissing etc, but in a fairly responsible way - and they are really funny. But I would read it first if I were you - it doesn't breach my tolerance levels at all, but I suspect some parents might have reservations.

thanks folks, book people catalogue definitely says aimed at 10 plus. think i will take your advice and get them and have a sneaky read first