My 7.5 yo loves to read but, she's particular about what she reads. She's read every Rainbow Magic book and most every Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew and Nancy Drew Notebook series books.

The problem is that these books are way too easy for her. She wants to be challenged but, it's hard for her to try new things.

She doesn't like Hannah Montana or High School Musical stuff. She's pretty non commercial and on the innocent side so she doesn't enjoy Junie B. Jones because of the language.

So, I need suggestions on where to help her find books that will interest her. Her reading level is probably around the 3rd grade.

She loves mysteries and is partial to female characters. But, what she really enjoys are series books - she loves books that build on each other like the Rainbow Magic books.

I'd greatly appreciate any book suggestions you could think of. TIA :thumb

When I finished reading all the Nancy Drew books, I read The Boxcar ChildrenTrixie Belden series. The reading level is pretty on par with Nancy Drew though, so they may be too easy still.

When I was 8, my dad introduced me to A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, which is my favorite book to this day. Maybe you could try the Time Quartet which starts with A Wrinkle in Time and then has several more books, including one that's not officially part of the quartet(An Acceptable Time) but has characters from the same family.

Sort of fun, but again maybe to easy for your DD, is The Sisters Grimm series.

When I was 8, my dad introduced me to A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, which is my favorite book to this day.

Yes!

What about 'normal' Nancy Drew Books (Mystery Series)? Harry Potter, Narnia, Ramona (anything by Beverly Cleary, really - Henry, Ribsy, Ralph), ALL Roald Dahl books (James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda to name a few), anything by Judy Blume.

All of Madeline L'Engle's books are awesome, some may get a little heavy but they are some of my faves to this day.

there are lots and lots of mystery series for younger readers!

My daughter (almost exactly the same age as yours) likes A to Z mysteries, and there's also Cam Jansen (she's a girl detective). Both series are definitely on the easy side. She also might like Utterly Me, Clarice Bean -- Clarice isn't a detective, she's regalar little girl, but she does love a series of books about a girl detective called Ruby Redfort, and wishes she could have awesome adventures like Ruby.

I agree that she might be ready for the actual Nancy Drew books -- they aren't particularly hard reads, if I remember correctly. She also might like The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and its many sequels. And there are the oldies but goodies, like the Bobbsey Twins and the Happy Hollisters. I think they even solve mysteries in some of those.

No detectives, but some other series books my daughter likes:

Dragon Slayers Academy (protagonist is a boy, but his best friend is a feisty girl in disguise who is training to become a knight)
Fran K. Stein
Puppy Place (Animal Ark is similar and a little more challenging reading level)
Katie Kazoo (girl protagonist, positive messages)
The American Girls books of historical fiction. Also, there are tie-in "American Girls mysteries," with the same characters.

My 7 y.o. dd (whom has already read and loved all the Rainbow Magic series) also likes Cam Jansen, Nate the Great, Captain Underpants (but if your dd doesn't like Junie B. Jones, then I'd guess this series is a no), a couple of series about horses (Bella Sara, Jessie Haas's books, Breyer Stablemates), and The Magic Treehouse.

Oh, and she loved the "My Father's Dragon" trilogy. I plan on handing her "The Phantom Tollbooth" next time she says she's bored. :D

Oh, and she loved the "My Father's Dragon" trilogy. :D

I was coming on here just to suggest this book.

Also - these aren't series books, for the most part, but they are so very good I can't help recommending them.

The Five Best Newbery-Winning Books for Kids Younger than 10 (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/665975/the_five_best_newberywinning_books.html?cat=38)

I think Sarah, Plain and Tall is my favorite. :) The language is utterly poetic.

All of Madeline L'Engle's books are awesome, some may get a little heavy but they are some of my faves to this day.

Mine too - my dd's name is Madelyn! So I second these books.

Some of these may be a little bit of a stretch either content or reading level, but here are some you might want to take a look at:

Anne of Green Gables books
Emily of New Moon books, both by LM Montgomery

The Little Prince
Harriet the Spy
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler
Bridge to Terebithia as well as other Katherine Paterson books
The Westing Game - one of my favorite mysteries for kids
The Yearling
The Egypt Game
The Littles
The Borrowers
Little Women & other Louisa May Alcott books
Cheaper by the Dozen
Strawberry Girl & other Lois Lenski books
Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry and sequels

I also second the Boxcar Children books (probably easy reading, but fun), The Phantom Tollbooth and Sarah Plain & Tall.

Newer books that I've read as an adult - there are two in each of these so far, that I think my kids will like sometime soon:

The Penderwick books by Jeanne Birdsall
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stuart

You ladies are awesome! Thank you :D

My 8 yo loved all the Katie Kazoo books.
She also likes Boxcar Children and Sisters Grimm, and Goosebumps (though she won't read those after dark:wink).

magic Treehouse?

The Soup series by Robert Newton Peck?

Some good suggestions, already! What about the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series? The main character is male, but the female characters are still strong characters. My 6.5 ds and 4.5 dd love this series. We've had all sorts of discussions concerning Greek mythology because of it.

Oh, are those books suitable for kids that young? I thought they were for teenagers and the plot would be too complex or too disturbing, so I haven't even looked at them! My kid loves Greek mythology, and you've got me thinking I should try them for her.