Book recommendations for 12 year old

[Novelhelp]

I'm stuck and hope people here might be able to help.

I'm trying to find books for an avid reader (12). Current favourite books are Wonder, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The boy at the back of the class, novels based on WW2, Goodnight Mr Tom. Does not enjoy reading Michael Murpurgo, Artemis Fowl. Read but didn't fully comprehend The Diary of Anne Frank. Likes humour too and loved David Baddiel.

I'm trying to find books that will challenge a little too but not enough that will reduce the joy of reading. I'm also trying to increase vocabulary and strengthen writing skills so am looking for well written books.

I found The 1000 year old boy and Once although think may have read Once.

I'd be really grateful for more suggestions.

As far as l know Once is part of a series so maybe look at the follow up books.
I am David is also based on WW2

Thank you.

I bought 'I am David' and "Pony" earlier today after trawling through websites. I am finding it hard to find similar style books and I'm sure I must be missing really great books...

I asked some 11-13 year olds in the US their favourite books and they said "out of my mind" and "the war that saved my life" imo these two books are little along the wonder and boy in the striped pyjamas respectively and I never hear them mentioned over here so much. My daughter also liked the book "fish in a tree" which is also along the wonder lines. I call it the "school kid achieves against the odds" genre 🤣
Has she read the sequel to boy in the striped pyjamas?
My now 13 year old went from these to the dystopia type books next if she might get into a different genre. So hunger games, divergent, Neal shusterman, uglies, etc. and some adult stuff like Andy weir and wool.
Also what about Phil Earle? My kids not read but gets good reviews.

He may already have read The Hobbit, but if not I would recommend it.

Also Charlie Higson books such as Silverfin & Blood Fever, which are the first 2 in the young Bond series.

The Book Thief
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
The Goldfish Boy
The Bubble Wrap Boy
When The Sky Falls

The hunger games series?

My 11 year old loved Boy in The Tower when they read it at school. So much so that they wanted to read it again at home. I ended up reading it too and really enjoyed it.

Also, what about Goodnight Mr Tom?

Ignore my Goodnight Mr Tom suggestion. My reading comprehension clearly requires improvement!

The gone series by Michael grant

When Hitler stole pink rabbit
journey to joburg
coming to england

also, slightly different genre but the ranger’s apprentice series by John Flanagan are brilliant.

They might be slightly young, but the Kid Normal series are great fun and well written.

Thank you all so much for all these suggestions. Some we have but there are lots we don’t.

Yesterday/last night I spent a lot of time buying books. (Our local library always has long waiting lists and DC re-reads books anyway).

Keep the suggestions coming please! We never have enough books!

l

He may already have read The Hobbit, but if not I would recommend it.

Strangely DC has somehow decided they don’t like this book. The number of times I’ve ‘casually’ passed it over for DC to read the blurb when we’re browsing in bookshops and it’s always been a flat refusal.

Has she read Pig Heart Boy? My child is loving this at the minute

The button war by Avi is a great one for historical fiction, as are his other books. Watership Down if you want a challenge.

Have a look here:

https://www.searchgoodbooks.com/ages/twelve

the light on Dumyat series is great if they like bushcraft adventures. All the books here are particularly good actually.

The Dreamsnatcher trilogy by Abi Elphinstone

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk, Natasha Farrant

The Ice Whisperers, Helena Stachera

anything by Diana Wynne Jones
anything by Joan Aiken
anything by Nina Bawden

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Alan Garner

The Wind on Fire Trilogy by William Nicholson, the first one is called The Wind Singer.
Charlotte Sometimes
Skellig David Almond
My Name is Mina David Almond
Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Silver Sword Ian Serralier (WW2)

Have you tried any graphic novels? The "Squirrel Girl" series is excellent and very funny, and 12 is the perfect age - I highly recommend it! (I also loved it as an adult).

The first one is called "Squirrel Power".

They might also like:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman