OT: Books for 12 year old girl

[maux]

At work, we have adopted a family for Christmas. The request I picked was for a 12 year old girl who wants pre-teen books (series). Can anyone tell me what series their 12 old girl enjoyed? I am probably going to get about 5 books, so any suggestions would be extremely helpful! TIA!


maux

 

[MELSMICE]

Is there any way you can get more information regarding her interests?

I have 3 DD's & they each enjoy different kinds of books. Your best bet would probably be to go with Judy Blume books for a young girl. You know, "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret", etc.

 

[daisyduck123]

My DD12 is standing right here....her suggestion is:

The Uglies, Pretties, and Specials series by Scott Westfield (we think that's his name)

* Please be aware though, that my DD is a little "old" for her age. She's in the 8th grade & all of her friends are 14. I really don't know anything about the series mentioned above. Perhaps another poster does. I did ask her if the books have anything "not nice" in them, & she said, "No".


Sorry I can't list any other...she says she's having a "brainfreeze" right now.

 

[DKx3]

My daughter (12 in 1 month) likes the "The Clique" series (5 books in all), Chicken soup for the pre-teen soul, "A Series of Unfortunate Events" books,
Bethany Hamilton "Soul Surfer"..can't think of the rest she loves.

 

[j_lehr]

My DD is 13...right now she is into the Chicken Soup books, TTYL series (there are only two out) and I just started buying her The Clique series.

Last year she was really into the Abbey Hayes series.

When I was a pre-teen/young teen I was into the Babysitter's Club. I loved those books!! I even saved them but my daughter never got into them.

The Judy Blume books are a little young for my daughter now. My neice is 10 and is reading those now...but every kid is different.

 

[swillis]

My daughter is an avid reader, and she is 12 years old. She has enjoyed the Series of Unfortunate Events, Little House on the Praire, Judy Blume and the American Girl Books.

She also loves the classics like Black Beauty, Ol' Yeller, Anne of Green Gables etc.

She also like books that are a little different from the norm, such as Diary of Anne Frank, the Outsiders, Animal Encyclopedias, Marley and Me and books about history (like fashion through the years, or women's rights, or the cival right movement)

And don't forget the Harry Potter series (always a winner!)

I would warn you (just a little) that since this is a gift for someone other than your own child, to stay away from some of the series that deal with life as a teen (preteen). I flipped through some of these while trying to see if my daughter would be interested, and was a little shocked to see some of the situations, and scenarios that these characters were in. I just wouldn't want to offend anyone.

 

[LaraK]

If you want to get about 5 books, the Anne of Green Gables series is about perfect. I absolutely loved the Trixie Belden series at 12. Nancy Drew is a classic and is a gift you can continue to give for a long time. I would also vote for the Little House on the Prairre series (but remember that Little House in the Big Woods came first if you want to do it in order).

 

[Whosemom]

I highly recomend A series of unfortunate events, if you can find out wether she's read them. They have ENORMOUSLY rich language.

I guess the other question is how girly is she? My girl enjoyed the Artimous Foul (sp?) series, and is currently reading some series that is "warrior this" and "warrior that" and have cats on the front. She likes adventure books.

 

[disneygirl1971]

I would highly recommend the "Series of Unfortunate Events" series. There are 13 in the series but they only come in hardback (unless you have access to order through Scholastic book order.. Walmart has the best price at about $8.34 each. My 13DD loves these books as do many of her friends. Good luck. I'm just glad to see other kids still like to read a good book these days

 

[bopper]

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (there are three) are also good. My 13 year old likes those, the Clique books, the Series of Unfortunate Events, Harry Potter

 

[lizally]

As a girl, I really enjoyed books by Richard Peck: Ghosts I Have Been, The Ghost Belongs to Me, and The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp.

Also very good were the Lois Duncan books Locked in Time and A Gift of Magic.

These are all spooky mystery type books.

I was a huge Trixie Belden fan at that age also....I read my mom's old copies, which I have saved for my girls.

 

[MNdisneymom]

I didn't discover these until working for B and N a few years ago, but...Anything by Tamora Pierce. It is fantasy, with strong female characters. I especially liked the series that starts (appropriately) with Alanna the First Adventure. And there are a few other series set in that world that come after that, too!

 

[MELSMICE]

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (there are three) are also good. My 13 year old likes those, the Clique books, the Series of Unfortunate Events, Harry Potter

All of 3 of my DD's really enjoyed these books, so I would say that it would be a safe bet.

Only 1 of my girls liked the Unfortunate Events series, they all enjoyed the Clique books but as another poster said, they may not be appropriate for everyone, they all enjoyed the Little House Books. Only 1 enjoyed Nancy Drew & none of them got into the Babysitter Club books.

I would say if you can include a gift receipt with your purchase you'll be good regardless of what you purchase.

 

[solgent]

I have 12 yo twin DDs.

Good series books:

Harry Potter, Unfortunate Events, Artemis Fowl, Tamora Pierce, Traveling Pants were already mentioned

Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda
Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
City of Ember, People of Sparks, Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne duPrau
Molly Moon by Georgia Byng
Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence
Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
Narnia by C.S. Lewis

 

[Hannathy]

While good the Little House books are very young for a 12 yr old. I would stick with the Unfortunate Events books or Harry Potter. or The Dear America books are good, my DD loved those the are Historical fiction books written as though the girl who is living in that time period is writing them and is around 12-14 herself. There are around 20-25 of them and in the Series of Unfortunate events price range, and there is no specific sequence you need to follow.

 

[S.Poppins]

My daughter is almost 12 and she is addicted to a series of books by Melody Carlson. They all have colors in their names. Right now she is reading Faded Denim. The great thing about the books is they all have a message. They are Christian and they deal with topics like dating, suicide, peer pressure, even cutting yourself (this is a teen thing). My daughter never finished books. She reads one of these in 2 or 3 days. They are timely and kind of edgy. When she started describing them to me, I was like are you sure these are Christian books? Then she told me the messages and they sound great.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I just have to say, reading this thread reminded me so much of all that I loved to read as a girl that age. I wish I had good advice for you. I remember reading all the Trixie Beldon books, the entire Nancy Drew collection and the Little house on the Prarie books. What fond memories.

 

[Vivsmom]

I have an 11 year old and she will read just about anything. I agree with everyone on the Little House on the Praire books. By the way, there are three other series of books tied to Little House. One is Laura's grandmother, one her mother and the third is Laura's daughter. Each of these series has at least 6 books. We own them all. Another good series is Trixie Belden, again these are great. I believe maybe 1-10 is available in bookstores but from there I have gotten through book 30 on ebay. These are great.

This year I purchased the Beacon Street Girls series for her. Hopefully she will like it.

Good luck!

 

[smi727]

My youngest sister is 13. She loves Harry Potter, Unfortunate Events, and Artemis Fowl. She also reads The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini (the books are called Eragon and Eldest). Eragon is now a movie that's going to be released on 12/15. I pulled her name for Christmas and got her Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson, and Peter and the Starcatchers and Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry/Ridley Pearson. These last three would be great if your girl is a Disney fan like my sister!

 

[RainbowsMist]

Not sure if your DD is a horse lover...but my daughter LOVED the Heartland Series and she's now reading the Chestnut Hill series, all by the same author.