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Christmas

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Books for 12-13 year olds

23 replies

HarryPotterFan436 · 12/09/2019 15:23

I'm looking for books for my daughter who is almost 13. She is quite young in terms of maturity. She tends to like books that have a fantasy/sci fi theme but I'm interested in other genres as well. I need to get 12 books so I'm open to suggestions.

OP posts:
sleepismysuperpower1 · 12/09/2019 16:04

A wrinkle in time by Madeline L'engle is good

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 12/09/2019 19:01

The Hobbit?
or The Hunger Games trilogy
from a totally different perspective, Laura Bates who did Everyday Sexism wrote a book for young adults on how to cope with teenage years- that might be good?

BringMoreCoffee · 13/09/2019 00:39

For Sci Fi, my 12 year old is currently into Victer Dixen's Phobos series. Also Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children and loads of Percy Jackson spinoffs. Last year she loved HL Dennis's secret breakers from Book People.

You could try Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy if she hasn't already read it, and Good Omens is fab.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 13/09/2019 01:18

Monica Hughes for scifi (i particularly remember Crisis on Conshelf 10 and Sandwriter, but there were loads.
Tamara Pearce - Lionness Quartet or Wolfspeaker Quartet (both fantasy).
Anne McAffrey for fantasy masquerading as scifi - Crystal Singer, The Rowan or Dragon Singer are good starting points.
Classics with a fantasy edge - Tom’s Midnight Garden, Charlotte Sometimes, Moondial.

DelurkingAJ · 13/09/2019 08:08

Diana Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle or Charmed Life are good places to start)
Terry Pratchett

She’s heading for adult reading in my book so what about a lighter ‘classic’ or two. Something like ‘Birds, Beasts and Relatives’ by Gerald Durrell or A Christmas Carol?

Herocomplex · 13/09/2019 08:25

What a lovely present, it would have thrilled me beyond belief at that age. I think The Owl Service by Alan Garner, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones.
And of course The Dark Is Rising (perfect for Christmas!).
I’m not sure what might be due to come out in the weeks leading up to Christmas, do you have a good indie bookshop near you?

HarryPotterFan436 · 13/09/2019 08:38

Literally all we have near is WHSmiths. Sadly our local bookshop closed down last year. My intention is to wrap up the books imdivisually so she can open one a month throughout next year with an extra one to open christmas day and present them all in a nice box. I already have one which is the next one in a series shes been reading and was released last week. I really hope she will enjoy the present. I would have thought it was amazing at her age and she does read a lot. Thank you for all these suggestions. I'm going to have a good look into them all later today.

OP posts:
Curious2468 · 13/09/2019 19:57

Wings of fire. Brilliant dragon series. My daughter is obsessed

LittleMousewithcloggson · 13/09/2019 20:51

My 11 year old daughter and my 13 year old niece are currently working through my own childhood books and are loving them.
Particular favourites were
Charlotte Sometimes
Ballet Shoes
White Boots
Anne of Green Gables
Pony Club Camp
Autumn Term
Obviously there are some great modern books too but some of the old ones are still great today

HarryPotterFan436 · 15/09/2019 09:02

Off the back of this thread I have just ordered The Owl Service, The Dark is Rising and the first book in the Wings of Fire series. I have also ordered a book called Plagueland and a book of science Q&As that I saw in WHSmiths and hope she might find interesting. I think the Tamara Pearse lioness series is one she will like and the phobos series looks great actually. I think I might like to read that.

OP posts:
shadesofwinter · 15/09/2019 09:50

My 12 year old DS has really enjoyed the Morrigan Crow books by Jessica Townsend recently. He was put off initially by the cover of the first book, which I think is quite young-girl-y looking, but they're very good.

HarryPotterFan436 · 15/09/2019 09:53

Oh I've just looked them up and I think shes actually read the first one. I'll have to ask her what she thought of it as maybe I could get the next one in the series for her x

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CroissantsAtDawn · 16/09/2019 16:14

Oooh I loved Diana Wynne Jones! I wanted her to carry on writing forever.

How about the
Bartimaeus series
Abhorsen series
Northern Lights series

Luckyleprechaun80 · 16/09/2019 18:32

My daughter (13) has been mad on the following:
Percy Jackson
Hunger games
Gone series - Michel Grant
Noughts and crosses series - Malorie Blackman

ScoobySnacker · 16/09/2019 19:07

DD loved some of the old Judy Blume books. Blubber, Dennie and Are you there God it's me Margaret went down a storm.

user1573354 · 18/09/2019 10:45

The Divergent series is really good, also Delerium and others by Lauren Oliver.

HarryPotterFan436 · 19/09/2019 12:22

The plagueland book I ordered is very graphic in places and I dont think suitable for my daughter yet. Those of you that have read divergent is that graphic as well? Is the first twilight book suitable for a 12 year old? Or maybe maze runner if that's not graphic?

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IDrinkFromTheKegOfGlory · 20/09/2019 10:43

My 11yr old is in the middle of The Eighth Day (sci fi / futuristic) by Dianne K Salerni and is LOVING it.

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 20/09/2019 17:26

My dd is 12 and loves The School For Good And Evil books. The next 2 are on her list.
Warriors/Warrior Cats are also a big hit in this house along with Malory Towers.
I love books and am very happy all 3 of mine love them too.

HarryPotterFan436 · 21/09/2019 16:20

I've just ordered a copy of The Eighth Day for her. That looks perfect.

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mamabluestar · 21/09/2019 21:04

My daughter read Mortal Engines, that's got a dystopian story line.

I've added a few of the books suggested onto my Amazon shopping list

MulberryPeony · 21/09/2019 21:18

My DD (12) has just bought Philip Pullman Northern Lights. She’s recently finished The Hobbit and Red Queen book 1.

IDrinkFromTheKegOfGlory · 24/09/2019 21:17

Dd has just brought home The Extinction Trials from the school library - billed as a cross between the Hunger Games and Jurassic Park. It looks really interesting (and is the first in a trilogy)!

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