Need Book suggestions!

[Soccer Princess]

I need book recommendations for an 8 yr old girl and a 13 yr old girl. Both are very smart and above grade-level reading. I will be going to the Scholastic warehouse sale to get the most book for the buck. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[luvmy2sams]

No suggestions for the 13-year-old, but I've got an almost 8-year-old DD who loves to read. What is your DD8 interested in lately? DD loves Judy Blume and CS Lewis. There's also a Disney Fairies series of books that DD zoomed through. She read Little House in the Big Woods at school and is now begging for the rest of the series.

Does your DD have a good teacher? Teachers are a great resource for things like this.

 

[Soccer Princess]

They are not for my children, they are for gifts, which makes it a bit more difficult. Thanks for the suggestions -- keep them coming!

 

[harleyquinn]

How about your local library? I'm a children's librarian and I do things like this all the time, especially at this time of the year.

I need A LOT more information about your DDs to give you good recommendations and nothing is a good substitute for me actually talking to your DDs face-to-face and showing them books.

I need to know what type of books they each like the best? What was the last book they read that they really really liked? Something they didn't like? Any genre they really don't like?

Scholastic has a ton of really good fantasy series out right now, because of Harry Potter.

You could also go to scholastic.com and browse the site with your girls. If they are interested in anything, you can PM me and I will tell you more. I've probably read about 75% of what they will be interested in.

For the 13 year old I will suggest Eragon, Princess Diaries (anything by Meg Cabot except her adult books), Sabriel...

I really need more info...

 

[rcraw45425]

The Nancy Drew books are good, there is a series for younger girls called the Nancy Drew Notebooks that feature Nancy as a younger girl. My 9 year old still likes the Magic Treehouse series, scholastic has those I know for sure.

 

[harleyquinn]

They are not for my children, they are for gifts, which makes it a bit more difficult. Thanks for the suggestions -- keep them coming!

That changes things a bit. Do you have any idea what they like to read?

Most girls will pretty much gobble up anything especially if they are good readers.

I honestly think you will be fine just browsing the sale and picking things YOU think look interesting that are about the right level.

 

[marciemi]

Marley and Me is an excellent (but sad) story about a dog if the 13 year old is at all into dogs.

Do they have any upcoming Disney trips? If so, besides the obvious Birnbaum's for kids for the younger one, there are a lot of Disney trivia books out that would be fun for the older one to read to the family.

Any of the books by Andrew Clements (Frindle, Room One) are excellent and could probably be read and enjoyed by both girls if they haven't read them yet. They're mostly about kids in the 4-6th grade so it would be "fun" reading for the older one, and a bit more challenging for the younger one.

The Peter and the Starcatchers/Peter and the Shadow Thieves series written by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry are really good. They tell the prequel to Peter Pan and are well written, but very long (think Harry Potter). Definitely for a 13 year old (again especially if Disney is in the future); probably a bit high for an 8 year old.

Magic Tree House - the entire series - for the younger one. All of my kids loved these series and we still get them as they come out, even though they're quite a bit too old for them now.

I'll try to think of more!

 

[Kae]

The new Tink Faries Series is a good one & I know they had the first 2 at our book fair. Treehouse Series is a good one. Junie B & Katie Kazoo. these would all be good for the 8 yr old I am not sure about the 13 yr old.

Kae

 

[gallaj0]

MY DD 9 has been through all the "Beacon Street Girls" series and loved them.

 

[harleyquinn]

8 year old:
Secrets of Droon
Disney Faires (worth repeating)
Jody Moody
Bailey School Kids
A to Z Mysteries
Katie Kazoo

13 year old:
Princess Diaries (series)
Mediator (series)
1-800-Where-r-u? (series)
Sabriel, Lireal, Abhorsen
Golden Compass Trilogy
Eragon, Eldest

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques. Full of adventure, questing, villains, brave heros, true loves with a little humor thrown in.

TOV

 

[marciemi]

My boys all loved Redwall and Eragon/Eldest as mentioned above, in addition to the Series of Unfortunate Events. However, I wasn't sure about their appeal to girls so didn't recommend them. I though Redwall was a good percentage about wars (between animals, granted) so might be too "boyish". I'd say all 3 of these series are definitely "adventure" types so I guess if the 13 year old enjoys more of those types. You could get the first book (most of these are available through Scholastic) in a couple different series and see which the girls like for future reading/gifts!

 

[Crankyshank]

The Secret Garden
A Little Princess
and The Anne of Avonlea books are good for the 8yr old as well.