What books do you recomend for a 12 yr old Girl??

Question

I have a 12 yr old friend, and she LOVES to read, but she's running out of books and her bday is coming up, i would like to get her some books but i don't know what ones.. what do you suggest?

Answer 1

A lot depends on her taste...which books she's enjoyed in the past...and what her interests are. (So I'd second the idea of a giftcard.)

When I was twelve my favorite books were Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell and any book by L.M. Montgomery. I'd already read all of the Anne series by that point...and loved them!

Books I've discovered since then that would be appropriate...

Legend of the Wandering King by Laura Gallego Garcia
Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Pepperland by Mark DeLaney
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
Crooked River by Shelley Pearsall

Or you can try Notable Books for Children lists by ALA

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/notablecbooklist/currentnotable.htm

Answer 2

If she's into science fiction, try the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate. There's about 50-ish books in the series, but each are only about a cm thick, so they should keep moving along at a steady pace.

If she's into some heavy-duty fantasy or sci-fi reading (and by that I mean the books that can get to be over an inch thick even in the paperback version), have her check out the Ender's Game series (this I can guarantee she'll love, even if she's not a huge sci-fi fan) by Orson Scott Card, and the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (fantasy -- but let me warn you, while the first four or five books of this series are great adventure-filled tales, the series loses its luster until the 11th book -- the first four are worth reading though).

Answer 3

Christopher Pike wrote some cool books for about this age group, she might also be ready to move on to some more adult stuff. I know by age 12, I had read a lot, and kids books just weren't cutting it. She might like to try some of the classics: Mark Twain is great, also To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, Ordinary People. At her age, Judy Blume is always good; just find out what she really enjoys, then go to amazon.com and they can give you some recommedations that she might enjoy.

Answer 4

Ella Enchanted (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)
Gail Carson Levine

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Freedman, Russell. Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery

The Secret Life of Amanda K. Woods, by Ann Cameron

If You Only Knew, by Rachel Vail

Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, by Judy Blume

Answer 5

When I was 12, I read Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams, and Watership Down by Richard Adams. They remain 2 of the best books I've ever read and among my all time favorites. Also, check out Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series. They are excellent, and a real mind bender at times!
Enjoy

Answer 6

Reilly's Luck by Louis L'Amour.Its a western.A young boy is abandoned by his own mother(she tells her boyfriend to kill him)The boy ends up with a gambler and he brings him up.Turns out to be the best gamble he ever made.The boy grows up and later kills the people who murdered the gambler.The Daybreakers,Fair blows the wind,Galloway are also good books by the same author.

Mercedes Lackey's Take a Thief is the tale of Skif, a young orphan reminiscent of Oliver Twist, making his way in the knock-and-tumble neighborhood between two of Haven's outermost walls. Skif is intelligent, good-hearted and creative enough to forage up three meals a day in a place where food is scarce and kindness almost unheard of. After a chain of events leave him homeless, Skif lands in the lair of Bazie, an Faginish ex-mercenary who trains thieves...until he is "Chosen" by one of Valdemar's magical horses and becomes a Herald serving the Queen.

The Cop and the Anthem by O.henry.Its about a young tramp Soapy who tries desperately to get arrested so that he can spend the winter in jail.He eats in expensive restaurents,steals,insults women,cause general mayham.But to no avail.he just doesn't get arrested until...
The Gift of the Magi,From the cabby's seat,Last leaf all by the same author are terrific stories.Another great writer is Anton Chekov.

The best among the Tarzan novels is 'Son of Tarzen.' Jack,the son of Tarzan shared his father's love for apes.He was only trying to help an ape escape to Africa from his cruel trainer.However he got involved in a murder and couldn't return home.He chose to live in the jungle with the apes.Its a fascinating book.The social system among the intelligent giant apes,Korak's relationship with Miriam are all interesting stuff.Its a great coming of age book.

Diana wynne jones writes some books based on a character called Chrestomanci.He is a nine-life enchanter.Read the books in the correct order.The best of the lot is magicians of caprona.

Also try the Famous Five book series,R-mysterty series beginning with Rockingdown mystery,Malory Tower series,Secret Island by Enid Blyton.Its about kids have adventures and solve mysteries.

Also try the Artemis Fowl book series by Eoin Colfer about teen-age criminal genius Artemis.

Answer 7

Judy Bloom has some great books for teenage girls:

Deenie
It's Not the End of the World
Just as Long as We're Together
Forever
Here's to You, Rachel Robinson

Answer 8

My absolute favorites were Hardy Boys and Trixi Beldin. ALso, if she like scifi, the Star Trek books are fun and there isn't anything in them that should have an age limit. Degrassi High has a nice series, too. If all else fails, get her a gift certificate to a book store.

Answer 9

if she likes goosebumps u could get her the reader beware u choose the scare version or u could get her these other books: The Outsiders by S.E.HInton, That Was Then This Is Now the sequal to The Outsiders, Out of The Dark, or The Girl In The Window.

Answer 10

Check out the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz