My pre-teen is planning on reading some Jane Austen soon, especially because she's heard other girls say they like those books. Probably will be starting with Pride and Prejudice.

Anne of Green Gables
Peter Pan
Jane Eyre

This is the Rachel Bloom youtube video on Ray Bradbury:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1IxOS4VzKM&list=PL8E5372C35B5B1CBC

Anonymous wrote:The Giver, Bridge to teribithia, The Princess Bride

Haven't read The Giver, but just as a heads up Bridge To Terabithia deals with death.

But who knows, keep feeding that sci-fi interest, and your daughter could end up a break out star with her own tv show, and it all began with a love of Ray Bradbury...



I apologize for the swearing, but this is funny as hell.

The Giver, Bridge to teribithia, The Princess Bride

Anonymous wrote:Betsy-Tacy Series

Yes! There are two groupings of these books- the first few introduce the girls as five year olds and follow them through elementary school. These are appropriate for younger kids and the difficulty and maturity levels increase as the kids get older. Then, there's a little break and then the books start with the girls beginning high school, with a book for each year. Then there are, I think, two or three more following Betsy after she graduates, goes to college, travels to Europe, and eventually marries.

The Betsy-Tacy series is so, so good! Twelve is a great age to start the older series because it's like a view into growing up, albeit in a different time. I would suggest reading the younger series first, even though they are childish, just to get the background on the girls and their families and friends.

Betsy-Tacy Series

Anonymous wrote:Mine loved To Kill a Mockingbird, the Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye (she was in 7th grade).

+1. These are great suggestions. I assume she's burned through Judy Blume books (too young?), what about old school 80s authors: Christopher Pike (mystery), Norma Klein (mature coming of age stories, probably too sexy), I used to like Richard Peck ("close enough to touch")...

I'm of the opinion that junky books are great! If she's into classics, wonderful! But curling up with junky books is one of life's great pleasures. That said it's great to pass along other books to broader horizons! Maybe go to the library and get a big stash and see what she likes?

The Little Prince.
The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The Lord of the Rings.
Journey to the Center of the Earth.

I loved Sci Fi growing up. Especially Ray Bradbury. The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, the Illustrated Man. Short stories. Just amazing.

Might be a little old for it, but Anne of Green Gables or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Mine loved To Kill a Mockingbird, the Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye (she was in 7th grade).

Where the Red Fern Grows. Old Yeller. A Wrinkle in Time.

My friend, a child psychologist, wrote her thesis on why it's good for kids to read sci-fi. Just saying.

No, to answer your question. My 13 yr old reads whatever she's into, and I'm fine with that. I had her read a Holocaust book, and that's it (not the Anne Frank one - that one is boring).

I'm trying to expand my 12 year old daughter's horizons beyond that of Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and all of the other Fantasy/Sci Fi Lit. that's so popular now. Are there any classic books that your pre-teen child has read that they really enjoyed?