Tween-appropriate books for an advanced reader?

[robinsmommy]

I would especially recommend the Lloyd Alexander books that have female protagonists. I loved Tamora Pierce at that age - it does have some romance and some implied sex, though, esp the YA ones. I also really loved Robin Mckinley - the Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown, Beauty - they all have some romance, but also have strong female characters. And yep, I loved the girls/swords theme at that age.

The books I mentioned do have some "adult theme" stuff in romance or violence - but way, way less than there would be in a YA book nowadays. DD1 who is shoulder surfing likes Toby's choices. Ooh, John Bellairs is kinda creepy, but I liked those too - though some are dark. I liked "Crunch", too - it's not a fantasy one, but it is a post-apocalyptic in a much kinder way than Hunger Games. I loved it. Highly, highly recommend that one.

And DD1 has chipped in again with the author Kate Saunders. And the "Savvy" series has magic/realism - we listened to it on CD in the car and all loved it.

[kwc]

12 y/o DD loves:
Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger
Princess Academy
Escape from Mr. Limoncello's Library
The Apothecary
Rebecca Stead's books Liar & Spy or When You Reach Me
The Penderwicks (not challenging but sweet)

9y/o DS loves:

Mysterious Benedict Society
Puzzling World of Winston Breen
Wonder
Original Sherlock Holmes stories on my Kindle

[ilfaith]

How about some of the older classics...Little Women, Black Beauty, Tom Sawyer (or any Twain), perhaps Dickens? Or some of the 20th century classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders.

Has she read the Percy Jackson books, or any of Rick Riordan's series?