Romantic books for 11-year-old girl

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

DD told me she wants to read some romantic books! So I gave her the Flambards trilogy which she is enthralled with. Can anyone think of anything else along similar lines she could read. I thought of I Capture the Castle but she might be a bit young for that. Should I just let her loose on my Georgette Heyer collection or has anyone got any better ideas? I remember reading Gone with the Wind at a similar age, and my mother being horrified when she realised.

There's a 4th Flambards book as well. She might enjoy some of KM Peyton's other books if you can get hold of them, I gave my then teenage sister one to read called Snowfall (I think) which was a great hit, I had to wait in a long queue to borrow it off her after all her friends at school did and stuff.

I Capture the Castle sounds worth a try too.

How about Daphne Du Maurier? (A bit darker, perhaps).

I reckon historical fiction is the way to go - little bit of romance, no actual sex. I'd hang fire on the Georgette Heyer for a little bit if you can, though I'd rather that than modern 'chick lit'
Jean Plaidy? Children of the New Forest? Even Jane Austen

Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr (maybe she's already had that) but NOT the sequel which is horrible dated and snobby.

All KM Peyton books are romantic. Fly By Night is great IMO.

The Princess and the Goblin? George Macdonald and lots of sequels to go on to.

I read Narnia at 11 but probably a late developer? If she hasn't had these then definitely.

Oh, Antonia Fraser? I always find them quite romantic, although now that I am older I can no longer cope with Patrick who is actually an unpleasant character. But a romantic sort at that age.

Yes, she asked if she could read Persuasion, Mrs B, as she enjoyed the TV version. However, she tried to read Sense and Sensibility a few months ago after watching the film of that and gave up after struggling through a few chapters. I then gave her an abridged version which she found to simplified - so you can't win! Jean Plaidy is a good idea. Or maybe her alter ego Victoria Holt, I remember really liking those as a teenager.

Anne of Green Gables?

I loved Flambards too - and think if she likes that then I Capture the Castle would be fine. I loved Wuthering Heights at that age too - completely into Heathcliff and thought Mr Darcy was a twat. These days I'd probably think the opposite. Jane Austen good though. Also The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy about American girl in Paris - she dyes her hair pink. I loved her. But can't remember if that is more a 14ish year old one...

Oh Choosy, she loved Marianne Dreams. Do you mean Antonia Fraser's Jemima whatsit books. I think I have a couple of those lurking somewhere. I've never read any Peyton apart from Flambards, I must find more. It's a whole new stage we are getting into here!

except Anne only turns into a romance about book 6? I thought I would die waiting for her to work out how great Gilbert was!

S&S the book is one of the harder Jane Austens in my view though the film livened it up lots without changing its essence - Pride and Prejudice and Emma are the most obvious for younger readers, I think Northanger Abbey's really fun and Mansfield Park is accessible but a bit prissy compared to P&P and Emma.

oh and the later ones in the Little Women series

I think there is often a yearning for the romance of another place/time at this age as well as actual swooning over men, iyswim.

KM Peyton's best are the Pennington series. Gorgeous, moody, sexy, supertalented but very delinquent pianist. My very first crush.

OK, so the romance is fairly late on for Anne (in the 2nd or 3rd book if I remember rightly, she already has several kids in book 6), but doesn't Diana fall in love early on.

Anyway IMO every girl should read Anne of GG even if it's not strictly a romantic novel!

Oh blimey no not Antonia Fraser, I meant Antonia Forrest! you prob know them already

Othersideofthechannel. Yes, I agree, everyone should read it. I even wanted red hair for the longest time after Anne!

Little House on the prairie too!

Ah, but something good from Antonia Fraser was her take on the Arthurian legend - how about Arthur, and some Greek/Roman myths?

arthur

robert graves' greek myths

God, I would still loves Anne's red hair!

Louisa May Alcott : Jo's Boys etc

Anne of Green Gables

An author called Eva Ibbottson: A company of Swans, A Countess Below Stairs etc

Jean Ure wrote quite a few teenage romances. There was one about a sixth former who fell in love with the blind piano teacher who was lodging at her house. He sounded sooo dreamy (70s emoticon).

If she likes historical, then Elizabeth Goodge, Margaret Irwin, Norah Lofts?
No idea if any of the above are in print though!

I liked Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

Little Women/ Good Wives etc.
Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea/The Island etc.
Goergette Heyer - yes! Why not? I was reading my mum's few at that age.
I don't know if they are still easily available but a writer called Malcolm Saville (Lone Pine Club adventures) introduced a modicum of romance into his "Secret Seven-alike" stories - far more fun than Enid Blyton.

I read Jane Eyre around that age but didn't get the romance side of it, ditto with Villette. But Pride and Prejudice was ok.

I second elkiedee's choice of Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel are my all time faves.

the Sadlers Wells books (Veronica of the Wells etc) sadly can't remember the author offhand.