What is a really good book for an almost eleven year old girl...?

Question

I've got some ideas, but I'm not really good at picking stuff that's appropriate for ages. I was thinking of something like "A Walk to Remember" by Nicholas Sparks (I think that's who it's by). Anyway, this girl loves to read, and it would be good if it is morally acceptable.

Thanks allie 2299. I thought that A Walk to Remember would be too old for her. I'll look into that other writer. Thanks everyone.

Hey Ash. It's not for me, it's for my little cousin. I'm older than her and I'm a boy, that's why I'm having trouble picking the right book, but thanks for your answer.

Answer 1

Here are a few books I may be able to recommend. What about Harry Potter? Don't you think it's also worth the try?


Garden of the Purple Dragon
by Carole Wilkinson
From the Publisher
In the time of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, Ping, the young Dragon Keeper, struggles with her newfound responsibility. Now that the wise old dragon Danzi is gone, it is up to Ping to take care of the baby dragon, Kai. When fate leads her back to the Imperial Palace, to the Garden of the Purple Dragon, she hopes that they will be safe. But even within the walls of the palace they cannot escape their enemies. Kai needs Ping to protect him, but the pressure is becoming difficult for Ping to handle. In a test of loyalty and bravery, the young Dragon Keeper must prove her merit.
In Garden of the Purple Dragon, Carole Wilkinson reintroduces readers to the endearing themes of friendship and courage that made Dragon Keeper such a hit.

Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
From the Publisher
All summer, Jess pushed himself to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade, and when the year's first school-yard race was run, he was going to win.But his victory was stolen by a newcomer, by a girl, one who didn't even know enough to stay on the girls' side of the playground. Then, unexpectedly, Jess finds himself sticking up for Leslie, for the girl who breaks rules and wins races. The friendship between the two grows as Jess guides the city girl through the pitfalls of life in their small, rural town, and Leslie draws him into the world of imaginations world of magic and ceremony called Terabithia. Here, Leslie and Jess rule supreme among the oaks and evergreens, safe from the bullies and ridicule of the mundane world. Safe until an unforeseen tragedy forces Jess to reign in Terabithia alone, and both worlds are forever changed.
In this poignant, beautifully rendered novel, Katherine Paterson weaves a powerful story of friendship and courage.

Tar Beach
by Faith Ringgold
From the Publisher
Illus. in full color. "Ringgold recounts the dream adventure of eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, who flies above her apartment-building rooftop, the 'tar beach' of the title, looking down on 1939 Harlem. Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture. The spectacular artwork resonates with color and texture. Children will delight in the universal dream of mastering one's world by flying over it.

Answer 2

Try the Shadow Children Series by Margaret Haddix it starts with Among the Hidden I believe. There are like 5 or 6 books in the series. My 11 yr old loves those and she has written another couple books she liked as well.
Another great book is Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor it is the first in a series about the Logan family in the south during the era of sharecropping and the discrimination they face as African Americans.

Answer 3

"Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson. This classic was one of my favorites at this age.

My own daughter is 9 and reads at a very advanced level. One of her favorite series (besides Harry Potter of course!) is Warriors by Erin Hunter. The series, about feral cats, is geared toward kids 9-12, and so far there are about 15 books. If your cousin likes animals, this may be a good choice. You can find details of the series at Amazon.com (linked below).

She's also enjoyed Cornelia Funke's non-ghosthunter books: Dragonrider, Inkspell, Inkheart, and the Thief Lord.

Oh! Also, Madeleine L'Engle's time travel trilogy: A Wrinkle in Time, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and A Wind in the Door.

Answer 4

Eleven-year-old girls want to be like 16-year-old girls! Play cool music and let them dance! Or get one of those teen music/dance videos that teach them how to do some cool dance moves. Either book them at a local nail salon or have a few adults come over to give them manicures and pedicures. Buy cheap flip flops for them to decorate (glue on foam flowers, etc.) That is their take-home gift. Take photos of all of their pretty feet lined up! Serve pizza or let everyone make their own ice cream sundaes. This will fit into a fairly short amount of time for a three or four hour party. It is tons of fun for 11-year-old girls without having a sleepover (and all the extra work, energy and liabilty risk that goes into that!) Happy birthday to your lucky girl!

Answer 5

The Susan Cooper books are quite good. (Set in GB and deal with King Arthur's legend.) Anything by Madeleine L'Engle is outstanding from the "Time" series to her books about the various family members and their adventures with marine biology and mysteries. The books "Holes", "The Giver", and "A Day No Pigs Would Die" are also excellent books. Actually, if you get a list of all Newberry Award winning books you will find them to all be quite good and cover a variety of types and subjects.

Answer 6

Has she read any of Eleanor Estes' books? Estes has written some very good, sweet and funny books for kids around that age. Some of her titles are:

The Moffats
The Middle Moffat
Rufus M.
Ginger Pye

Here's a link to the author's Wikipedia page, so you can read more about her and her books, and see if you think they're appropriate for your cousin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Estes

Good luck and happy reading! :-)

Answer 7

When I was that age (which was not so long ago) I would read the babysitter club series and the sweet valley high school series. The point is that they were always series because then I would get hooked on it and wanted to read more and more :) I still have some of those books

Answer 8

Anything by Jacqueline Wilson, as she writes books for kids of around that age group. I think "A Walk to Remember" will be a tad too much for her, it is great book, but I'm not sure if it's suitable for an 11 year old

Answer 9

Book descriptions and reviews of fantasy literature for kids at:

http://fantasyliterature.net/index_Kids.htm

Perhaps Kristen Britain's Green Rider, anything by Cornelia Funke, Christopher Paolini.

Answer 10

ooh i love that movie a walk to remember!!!! i have the book too!!!! well some of my fave books when i wuz ur age are: pish posh, the Gregor series (the first one is Gregor the overlander, second is Gregor and the prophecy os bane,third is gregor and the curse of the warmbloods, fourth is gregor and the marks of secret, and i forget the fifth one), Harry Potter series, the notebook (which i think is also by nicholas sparks, a romantic book), i think you might like flipped, the series of unfortunate events, escaping the giant wave... and thats all i can remember. i like to read too!!!