Craft kits were always my go-to gift for girls this age.

Check out all the great lists on www.amightlygirl.com and their FB page is awesome, too!

3rd the snap circuits, microscope, and lego-building things. Mindware and also Hearthsong have some good stuff. My 8-year old (ballet dancer but NOT a girly-girl -- talk about a PITA) loves science and craft stuff. Also the following games were either on her list or purchased based on recommendations:

Battleship
Clue
Mastermind
Square Up
Suspend

Magazine subscription? National Geographic does one for kids (although my kids are younger; not sure how old is too old for this or if there's one for older kids).

DD loves logic games. Here are some of her favorites:

Blockus:

http://www.target.com/p/blokus-classics-game/-/A-11182071

Perplexus:

http://www.target.com/p/perplexus-maze-puzzle-game/-/A-11869983#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=perplexus

and

http://www.target.com/p/spin-master-perplexus-epic-game/-/A-16485282#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=perplexus

Laser Maze:

http://www.target.com/p/thinkfun-laser-maze/-/A-15194861#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=think+fun

Gravity Maze:

http://www.target.com/p/thinkfun-gravity-maze-falling-marble-logic-game/-/A-15632681#prodSlot=medium_1_5&term=think+fun

What about doodling books with cool gel ink pens

http://www.amazon.com/Doodle-Diary-Art-Journaling-Girls/dp/1423605292


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1780671067/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1780671067&linkCode=as2&tag=snuggleexpres-20



http://www.amazon.com/Outside-Lines-Artists-Coloring-Imaginations/dp/0399162089/ref=pd_sim_b_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PEA10DTT1APS2WM9TKQ


You could also get her magazine subscriptions for Cricket or Muse

http://www.cricketmag.com/ProductList.aspx?type=M