A Required Reading List

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't recommend 1984 or Animal Farm for a 12-year old girl; these two are dated, politically biassed, simplistic polemics against a now-defunct ideology. I found them pretty boring at 17.

Each to their own. I read Animal Farm at the age of 10, by choice, and 1984 as a required book in English Literature at school at 13. I loved both of them. Many books are politically biased!

[Ermedin]

I suggest you to keep him reading this title:

Visible Ink Press :: The Handy Answer Book for Kids

[Tdol]

Each to their own. I read Animal Farm at the age of 10, by choice, and 1984 as a required book in English Literature at school at 13. I loved both of them. Many books are politically biased!

Another each to- I read Animal Farm when I was a child and enjoyed it greatly- the scenes with Boxer's end were very moving, and I probably had very little idea about the political element.

[Jazz_4]

My daughter is 12, and she does not have a required reading list for the summer from school. So, her mom is going to provide her with one.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. I am not quite sure those books are good enough for twelve-year-old girls, but at least they are interesting and about children, sorcerers and djinn... And I have the nerve to offer them for your daughter's summer reading list, because they make a reader think .

The Amulet of Samarkand: The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1
The Golem's Eye: The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2
Ptolemy's Gate: The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 3

[virus99]

It might be a little late for another recommendation but I have noticed that one of my favourite books (as a child) is available in English too. It is not a well known one so the chances that your daughter has already read it are not too high.

Title: The Museum of Stolen Memories

Short description:
Stone figures suddenly come to life and prowl round the dark museum. Memories disappear from the heads of people. Strange things are going on in Berlin.
When the twins Oliver and Jessica return home from their holidays, they have forgotten all
about their father. All that remains is an unsettling feeling of emptiness. There is absolutely no trace of their father. The police appear on the scene - they, too, are looking for Thomas Pollock, claiming that the twins' father has stolen an ancient golden statue from the Pergamon Museum.

Maybe an idea

[shroob]

How about Roald Dahl books? Danny the Champion of the World is my favourite.

[Barb_D]

I had wandered away from this thread and was delighted to find more suggestions posted here today. Thanks again to all of you for sharing the books you've enjoyed.

Some sound perfect!

I appreciate hearing all your ideas. (Even if she doesn't read that trilogy, I think I may!)

[Hedwig]

What about The Railway Children, since you wrote oldies are OK? I actually never read it, but I loved the movie when I was about your daughter's age.

I find Terry Pratchett's Discworld books absolutely hilarious. If you like them too, there are some especially for younger readers.

[5jj]

I'll second posts #16 and #18; I can't think why I, or somebody else did not come up with Dahl and Pratchett before this. They are great fun, and very popular with young people - and with the not-so-young.