<p>Island of the Blue Dolphin
Harry Potter series
Ann McCaffrey books about Pern (if she likes Sci Fi)
Dune series by Frank Herbert</p>
<p>Our kids liked reading the graphic novel versions of classics (which we read with them); it was the same vocabulary and plot line, but it was more interesting as there were illustrations and it was comic book form. Our kids love reading but especially enjoyed the classics in that different format.</p>
<p>Redwall series
Ella Enchanted
Freakonomics
The world is flat
Sherlock Holmes (if she likes mysteries)
Agatha Christie
Ender’s Game series
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series
Little House on the Prarie seies
J.R. Tolkien book series
Wizard of Oz series, including Wicked
Alice in Wonderland series
The mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The Giver
Julie & the Wolves (the the series)</p>
<p>I know the above are a bit eclectic, but that is part of the glory of literature.</p>
<p>At her age, I loved Jane Austen. Still do. It was fun comparing it to more modern romance novels.</p>
<p>My sons didn’t like most of the classics, but they all are avid readers. They tended to prefer nonfiction…they liked biography and history for the most part. When they wanted lighter reading, they liked Herman Wouk, Chaim Potok, Michael Crichton, Daniel Silva, John Gresham etc.</p>
<p>Also,at your daughter’s age, my youngest son liked Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear series, for some reason.</p>
<p>I 2nd Island of the Blue Dolphins. Scott O’Dell has quite a number of great books. The beauty of his books are that they are not very long. Some of Steinbecks books are also on the shorter side.
My younger D is an avid reader and she never enjoyed the classics. She did like To Kill a Mockingbird and One Flew over the Cuckoos nest.</p>
<p>I have no idea if Desiree is available, it just popped into my head as a book I loved as a teen. I read a huge amount of historical fiction at that age. Margaret Irwin, Anya Seton (remember Katherine?)…</p>
<p>Fr summer let her read what she wants.
My oldest read Island of the Blue Dolphins when she was 7, dont remember what she was reading at 13, probably Gwinna & Redwall?
Youngest was still reading Harry Potter, Sisterhood of the traveling pants & LOTR at 12.
I like Girl of the Limberlost along with Anne of Green Gables, and Enchantress from the Stars & Tuck Everlasting.</p>
<p>Anne of Green Gables, not only the first book which I agree feels more like a kids book, but the entire series (Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island and all the rest - wonderful stories and a great overview of the pre and post World War I history)
Emily of New Moon Series
Harry Potter Series
Witch of Blackbird Pond
The Dark is Rising Series (Over Sea Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, etc.)</p>
<p>When my son was reading the “Hatchet” series in ms, I did too. (The title sounds bad, but it’s really a neat story. A mother makes her son take this silly little belt hatchet to camp in the Canada woods, and when the small plane crashes he uses it to survive in the woods). </p>
<p>He also got me hooked on Ender’s Game series (Orson Scott Card)</p>
<p>I had a hard time keeping on top of what D was reading, but I remembered Island of the Blue Dolphins because her teacher made a special point to tell me what she was reading & I was pleased because I had remembered liking it in school. I was much older though when I read it I think.
I really liked the Dark is rising series but the kids didnt really for some reason although it is similar to a few other series.
The following are probably read by younger kids, but I think that doesnt matter as long as they are enjoyable.
Wren to the Rescue series and Crown Duel books by Sherwood Smith.
Quest for a Maid by Frances Mry Hendry
Juniper & Wise Child by Monica Furlong
Youngest also like Laurie Halse Anderson. Both the animal themed series and the grittier books like Speak.</p>
<p>Arabian Nights. A book I’d read over and over, as a kid.<br>
And, have we mentioned Huck Finn? As a kid, I loved a little good defiance.</p>
<p>Emeraldkity, for some reason, my kids read a lot of gritty books in school. I was always concerned about the impact. Though I realize how much we, too, read about real life. I loved Saroyan’s The Human Comedy.</p>
<p>Some of the books are so dark, but I think of it like this.
This age they are already thinking about death, loss, pain etc. Hopefully they dont have that much experience with those topics, but a book or movie that brings it up not only provides information about something that they may have been worried about and now have a little experience with, but it also gives you a great chance to discuss those things with them.</p>