What to read in year 7?

[NorwegianJumper]

DD is an avid reader but her high school library is uninspiring. We're looking for engaging books to read aged12-13 that also stretch her a bit, any recommendations? TIA

I have a son but some books like he likes,
Hunger games
Boy in striped pyjamas
Maze runner
Order of darkness series

At that age we all read Stephen Kjng and James Herbert, also well read copies of Lace and Riders 😂 probably not suitable now...

Could you maybe list a few examples of what she's read & enjoyed?

Impossible creatures by Katherine Russell

Has she read the classics: Anne of Green Gables? Little Women?

Dystopia books are usually a big hit, as are the heartstopper series

This is a list of 13 books to read before you're 13 from the Librarian at my DS's school. My DS is a bookworm, and he enjoyed most of them.

Ways to Live Forever - Sally Nicholls*
Summoner: The Novice - Taran Matharu
The Extinction Trials - S M Wilson
Viper - Bex Hogan*
River of Ink - Helen Dennis
Say Her Name - Juno Dawson*
Robin Hood - Robert Muchamore
S.T.A.G.S - M.A. Bennett*
Raven's Gate - Anthony Horowitz
Soul Hunters - Chris Bradford
Skulduggery Pleasant - Derek Landy
Life on the Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers
A Seven Letter Word - Kim Slater

Robin Stevens
Impossible Creatures
Rick Riordan
Fireborn series
Hawthorn Legacy series

The classics will stretch her by the nature of the vocab, Dracula, Frankenstein, Dorian Grey, Animal Farm, explore poetry books too and playscripts particularly if you can get to see the play being performed

A Single Stone vy Meg McKinley
Hunger Games
Loki by Mackenzi Lee
The House with Chicken Legs
Anything by Katherine Rundell

She read and loved:
The House with Chicken Legs
Any and all book by Katherine Rundell
Fireborn series

She's not into Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, doesn't engage well with classics at this point.

Likes adventure stories and also books like Wonder, When I See Blue and the
series by Libby Scott.

She read the first of Hunger Games but wasn't really into it nor into dystopian books or the heartstopper series.

The Hawthorn Legacy series sounds interesting.

My bookish 11yo bought today

Animal Farm (Orwell)
His Dark Materials (Pullman)
Tales From Shakespeare (Michael Morpungo)

Sounds like you’re after fantasy then. Try:
The Girl of Ink and Stars
A Pinch of Magic
Sky Song
His Dark Materials
Redwall
The Dark is Rising
The Weirdstone of Brasingamen
The Gilded Ones
Song of Silver

DC1 was in the school book club. They used to work through the shortlist of a young adult book prize. I don't know if this is the one, but here is an example:

www.thebookseller.com/awards/the-ya-book-prize?tab=shortlist

Yoto Carnegie's often good sources too!

Also, if you can, take her to your local library and see what she fancies from there. Such a shame her school library is uninspiring, it can make all the difference!

Thank you. She also loved What Stars Are Made Of
are made by Sarah Allen, probably one of her favourite reads.

The School for Good and Evil series is a big hit if you're specifically looking for fantasy. For something a bit more literary, I love all Frances Hardinge's books. She's a phenomenal writer.

Mysteries are big with this age group, Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series is fab, and most girls her age are also reading A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, and books by Karen McManus (start with One of Us is Lying). Sophie McKenzie is very good as well - try Girl, Missing.

You could also try her with some Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express maybe?

DS1 (Y7) is enjoying A Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens from his school library.

Oh and seconding the Rick Riordan suggestion - Percy Jackson (fun series based around Greek mythology) and lots more by him.

I'd say Karen McManus might be a bit too mature in content! I thought they were great fun, but I wouldn't want an 11 y.o reading them.

True, they're more teenage but not explicit. Very popular with Y7 in my school but depends on the individual probably.

A Good Girl's guide to Murder series
Murder most unladylike series
Skandar
Stephen Fry Mythos series
Percy Jackson
Natalie Haynes Greek myth series
Pat Barker Silence of the Girl's + Greek myth series
His Dark Materials

My y7 daughter has recently loved Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam, also the Murder Most Unladylike books by Robin Stevens. She also loves the Lottie Brooks novels by Katie Kirby.