My daughter is 11 1/2 years old and loves reading books. She will read anything except books that are gruesome or scary. She won't read Harry Potter, Hunger Games etc. Her last book she really enjoyed was The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Does anyone have any good books to recommend that are appropriate for this age? She really needs some books for the summer!
Thanks!
What about books by Michael Morpurgo, or possibly Golden Compass or Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, Tale of Despereaux by Kate de Caprio (authors name?), Charlotte's Web is an absolute gem for themes of friendship. I would also suggest the books by Astrid Lindgren targeted toward an older reader, eg Ronja Röversdotter or Brothers Lionheart. In the UK, Jacqueline Wilson is largely marketed for the 10+ reader but I find them a bit rough, though it depends on a girl's own background. Her latest book, Four Children and It, has had positive reviews.
Other authors/titles come to mind, but will need to check for exactness - sort of like asking for a book by the cover in reverse.
Has she read Holes? Also very good.
When I was that age I loved all of the Judy Blume books.
Here are some books that are similar maybe to the series she liked, I haven't read any so can't recommend.
If she likes teen romance types I have one my sister-in-law wrote - it's actually pretty good (I was skeptical at first.) It's called The Summer of No Regrets. Google it and if it sounds like something she'd like to read I could meet you somewhere and give it a new home. If she likes it she could pass it on to her friends. If not, don't tell anyone.
Hope this helps!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Seven
Still love those books after so many years of reading them
I'm not sure where you live, but have you found and joined your local library ?
These have German books of course, but many have an English book section as well. Then you can borrow any 'interesting looking' books, and just return them if Daughter doesn't like them.
Good reading
Diana Wynne-Jones is always a good read, especially the Chrestomanci series. She might also like Terry Pratchett's Bromeliad series, or his Tiffany Aching books.
I completely agree with Tasebo, I find this is a very difficult age to find books to read. It is hard to find the books that are well written(not a thin series books) and have themes that are appropriate yet interesting for this early teen ages.
From the books that were mentioned here she read most of Dahl books, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew series, Charlotte's web.
My daughter is not into romance books, not into scary, gory books, nothing bloody... She likes books about friendships, animals, fantasy and she also enjoys detective stories.
Keep the recommendation coming! Thank you so much.
They were written in german but translated-my daughter loved them.
Now at 18 she is reading Game of thrones....
http://www.sspl.org/children/booklists/grade6/
Here, too:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Incredible-J...edible+journey
And another favorite of mine around that age, ‘From The Mixed Up Files Of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler’:
Another choice might be The Apothecary by Maile Meloy. It is set in the 1920's, a bit of suspense, friendship, etc.
At that age I also enjoyed "real life" stories - biographies, etc about famous females like Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Anne Frank. The Boys/Girls in History series might be fun, not too long so easily finished in one or a few days depending on how voraciously she reads. This is a nice anthology by Susan Casey Women Invent: Two Centuries of Discoveries That Have Shaped Our World .
Sophies World by Jostein Gaardner - he is not as often heard of lately, but his books are still as good as ever.
CS Lewis might also be worth looking at - (I know I should have read them but always struggled, and still do, with anything that I feel is fantasy)
Oh, and +1 for Meloncollies suggestion of From the Mixed Up Files...of Mrs F
Has she read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - if she is a good reader the length shouldn't put her off, then there is the pleasure of seeing film adaptation.
My daughter has been waiting for months to go see the film version of her latest "go-to" book by John Green The Fault In Our Stars , even more because she is in awe of Birdy's contribution to the soundtrack. She's going today after school(-: I'd save his books until she is a tad older.
In fact i still love it and read the book again every time i go home to my mums.
In our family we have recently been enjoying some novels by Louis Sacher who is a great American author for children this age. My son's just finished reading "Holes" and then watched the film of the same name - he was utterly blown away! There's a Boy in the Girl's Toilets by the same author was also a hit. They are easy to read but quite complex in their themes and movement sometimes through time.
There's a lot out there.... you are sure to find something she likes and the suggestions here seem pretty solid.