Anonymous wrote:My 11 year old good reader has been reading His Dark Materials and likes it a lot. She’s also really enjoying The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and liked two books I suggested - The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. She’s into animals and really liked “Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance” and, at the recommendation of her teacher, recently read and enjoyed “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus” which, I believe, is about a girl with no arms.

Calpurnia Tate (2 books) and His Dark Materials and Blackbird Pond were all hits in my house, so I'm going to look for your other recommendations.

The cactus recommendation reminded me of a few books dd liked and helped her understand different perspectives:
- Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper, book about a fun feisty character with cerebral palsy. Really touching.
- Tornado Brain - mystery book where the main character is autistic (I think, not sure if it's ever named).
- Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, great main character with some special abilities and quirks after getting hit by lightning and fun story.

Anonymous wrote:My 13 year old non reader is suddenly asking for Percy Jackson books.

My kids have also loved these.

10yo is devouring anything by Brandon Mull, who has several series.

Any of the books by Lindsey Stoddard. Randomly picked one up at the library because the main character was adopted. Have loved every single one.

Ally Carter
Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Fairest - Gail Carson Levine
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Keeper of the Isis Light
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
InterWorld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reeves
Trixie Belden
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
E. D. Baker
Agatha Christie
Tuck Everlasting
The Westing Game
Phyllis Whitney
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson
I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella


Wildcard suggestion - Not a typical teen pick, but I love the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman about a grandmother during the cold war who decides to become a spy and thought I’d read one to my girls. While they’re definitely dated, my girls got hooked and wanted to keep going.

Here are some Goodreads lists you might find helpful:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/30295.Awesome_Books_for_Tween_Girls

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/22035.Best_Tween_Teen_YA_Books

https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/tween

Pp here. At the risk of judgement, at 13 or 14 I couldn’t put down The Mists of Avalon. It’s racy / perhaps not appropriate.

My 13 year old non reader is suddenly asking for Percy Jackson books.

My 11 year old good reader has been reading His Dark Materials and likes it a lot. She’s also really enjoying The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and liked two books I suggested - The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. She’s into animals and really liked “Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance” and, at the recommendation of her teacher, recently read and enjoyed “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus” which, I believe, is about a girl with no arms.

The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy
The Lara jean books by the same author

Ok, I’m sure all kinds of judgement is coming my way but since you said you have a low bar (I do too)…my tween tore through “It ends with us” by Colleen Hoover and “Glossy” about the Glossier founder. There is a lot of commentary on this site about the Hoover books and what trash they are, which is true but it my kid was really into reading it. We had some good conversations about domestic violence and the cycle of abuse.

Anonymous wrote:Do they like animals?
Watership Down, Nop's Trials, Ruffian, The Promise of the Wolves, Arnie the Darling Starling, The Incredible Journey, The Black Stallion, White Fang

DP but don’t forget Julie of the Wolves!

Madeleine L’Engle

Do they like animals?
Watership Down, Nop's Trials, Ruffian, The Promise of the Wolves, Arnie the Darling Starling, The Incredible Journey, The Black Stallion, White Fang

Agreed-Hunger Games completely restarted my tween’s love of reading. Followed by Divergent and Maze Runner, etc.

Have they done Hunger Games yet?

Not my cup of tea, but huge hit with my daughter and niece.

I'm looking for book recommendations for my 11 and 13 year-old daughters in an attempt to lure them away from screens. They are both pretty advanced readers and I set a fairly low bar for mature content. Between the two of them, they're interested in a wide ranges of genres.

Would love to hear what all of your kids enjoyed. I searched and unless I am missing something, it's been a while since there was a similar thread. Thanks in advance!