good books for bright 12/13 year olds

[sphil]

I am about to start a short English intervention programme with a group of Yr 8s who are on the G&T register for reading. Any ideas for a good text? I should avoid novels they're likely to study for GCSE.
TIA

Haven't read the whole thead so don't know whether this has already been mentioned, but I'd suggest Michele Paver's 'Chronicles of Ancient Darkness' series.

Exciting stuff, and well written. Have just read the whole lot myself :) I think there are 6, starting with Wolf Brother.

Also, and I mention this because it's a long-standing favourite of mine, I'd suggest 'My Side of the Mountain' by Jane Craighead George. It's one of my all-time favourite books: I re-read it every few years.

I was lucky enough to be taught by a truly inspirational English teacher at this age we read
Cider with Rosie
Catcher in the Rye
Of mice and men
A kind of loving
Jane Eyre

My publisher friend suggested suggested Monkey Island by Paula Fox and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen for this age group.

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

What about some extra Shakespeare? "Othello", or "Macbeth", perhaps?

Walk Two Moons is a beautiful book that my DDs loved. If they're deep thinkers, maybe Sophie's Choice?

The Kite Runner and Brick Lane are both great books, but maybe a little old.

Otherwise maybe some of the classics - Jane Eyre, Emma, Great Expectations, Of Mice and Men?

Refugee Boy- Benjamin Zepheniah

I would second Walk Two Moons and there is a study guide on it here which may have some useful ideas in it.

Suggestions from my dd:

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
The Alchemist by Michael Scott
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Wildwood by Colin Meloy

My DD is very much into sci-fi - Hunger Games etc etc, so I have suggested some "older" sci-fi. She is currently devouring The Chrysalids, having just finished The Midwich Cuckoos.

She has also read and enjoyed The Curious Incident, The Book Thief, Anne Frank's Diary.