good books for middle school girls? - Page 2

[Thalia the Muse]

Does she have any particular interests/obsessions? If she likes horses, for instance, I have a list as long as your arm ... same for fantasy. Or is there a particular historical period she's into, or does she like those chick-lit type books?

[doublesnap]

I think she's more the chick lit type which is why I thought the Alice series might work. I think she'd like the fantasy genre also.

I don't think she's got any particular interest in horses or anything else that specific.

I know she doesn't want anything too cerebral thus no Tolstoy and I don't want to give her anything too graphic or mature.

Everyone's suggestions have been wonderful, I really appreciate the help

[Thalia the Muse]

Hmmm ... how about Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister?

Also, i bet she'd like Alice Hoffman.

[aparent]

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

"Shabanu is an unforgettable heroine set like a fine jewel in a wonderfully wrought book." Kirkus Reviews

[Traci mom23boys]

Two of my favorite books are actually Young Adult- Wise Child & Juniper by Monica Furlong. I second Stargirl. The Dragon Cronicles are a fave too. They revolve around a 15 year old young woman who can communicate with Dragons written by Susan Fletcher. There are so many amazing books out there for young adults, check out the selection at www.chinaberry.com

Blessings,
Traci
mom to 3 homebirthed boys 16,13 &11

[zinemama]

Oh yes, Shabanu is great, as is the sequel, Haveli.

[St. Margaret]

confessions is pretty cerebral, that author is pretty intense.

How about the sisterhood of the traveling pants, Speak, Pretties/Uglies (etc-- it's a trilogy I think), the gossip girl books, Fearless series, a Great and Terrible Beauty and its sequel Rebel Angels, Joyce Carol Oates has great YA books like Freaky Green Eyes (actually I think everyone at MDC would love it!). I teach high school and I hear about the hot YA books. There are lots of the chick lit ones out there that are "real" and edgy.

[teacup]

I Capture the Castle is a great recommendation; I just read that the first time as an adult and love it.

I wonder if she'd consider Judy Blume too young for herself? She spans a wide age range, obviously, but titles from Are You There God to Forever (and, uh, Wifey, but I wouldn't buy that for her) to Tiger Eyes to Deenie are really good young adult novels.

[swimswamswum]

Dar Williams (my absolute favorite singer/songwriter) wrote a book called Amalee about a junior high girl kind of coming of age. DH got it for me for christmas and it was really wonderful.

http://www.amazon.com/Amalee-Dar-Wil...e=UTF8&s=books

There's another one that just came out called Lights, Camera Amalee that I haven't yet read.
http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Camera-...139059?ie=UTF8