If you read every word - recommend some books please

[SausageinaBun]

My approach to reading is quite different to my DD's. I skim bits if the pace is a bit slow or a book has more description that I am interested in. DD is 12 and reads every word. She starts lots of books that I suggest, but I think our reading styles mean that my taste in books doesn't necessarily make good reading for her. Can anyone suggest books where every word counts and would suit her reading style please? She's quite a mature 12 year old and isn't into fantasy/magic.

My daughter is a similar age and has really loved The summer I turned pretty series, Heartstoppers and stranger things books

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
If you have any doubt about how difficult life was before the Equality Act then remind yourself what women fought for and think twice before giving it all away again!

I think 12 was when I started to get into Agatha Christie? Accessible, pacy and sharp prose.

My dn was reading under the hawthorn tree and wildflower girl when she was 12, my son 12 has started reading Enid blyton-famous five books. I work in a book shop and A murder most unladylike series is very popular! it’s such a tough age depending on whether they want teenagery stuff and romance or something different.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith. Very, very funny and clever.

Great - thanks, I will sound her out on these.

I think 12 is too young for this with the sexual violence. I would recommend you read it yourself first. It is a fabulous book.

New Wave authors from the 60s generally benefit from reading every word carefully but the subject matter can be more challenging for a 12 year old.

Dr. Rat by William Kotzwinkle is a wonderfully written book and a scathing attack on animal experimentation, I'd be inclined to consider it suitable for a mature child

Concrete Island by J.G. Ballard. Again a challenging book but nothing particularly awful.

Then moving away you've got The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver which might appear more to a teen

What kind of books has she enjoyed so far? Some of the adult ones recommended here would have been beyond my scope at 12, and I was an excellent reader.

Has she read The Outsiders, Something Wicked this was Comes, Marianne Dreams, all the Judy Blumes, Twilight, that sort of thing? Also the Karen McManus books are very big among the girls I know who are that age (One of Us is Lying etc).

Oh cancel Twilight and Ray Bradbury if she dislikes magic.

I was going to suggest I Capture the Castle, such a great book

Also maybe:
We were liars - E Lockhart
Shopaholic series
The Book of Dust/Northern Lights series - Philip Pullman
The Thousandth Floor - Katherine McGee
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley - Hannah Tinti
We are all completely beside ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler
Our endless numbered days - Clare Fuller
Anything by Philippa Gregory (if she likes history)
Where'd you go Bernadette - Maria Semple

I’m a skim reader, but reread my favourite books to absorb the detail. My suggestions:
My Family and Other Animals - I was a massive Durrell fan at that age.
The Cadfael books - more gentle than other detective fiction, and always has a romantic sub-plot which can get a bit samey, but the historical setting makes it atmospheric
Agatha Christie (maybe one of the short story collections to start with?) and Sherlock Holmes