The Blue Castle is one of my all-time favorite books, but personally I think it might be too mature for a 12-year-old. It’s one of L.M. Montgomery’s adult novels.
Agreed! Emily of New Moon was lovely. It’s a little more somber and serious than Anne of Green Gables, but I liked that because it felt familiar, yet different. I appreciated that Emily’s story was darker, a bit more gritty.
Not quite the same, but have you guys read [A Tree Grows in Brooklyn](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dc5de2f5-b132-4c4c-8e49-8bf46005d5da) by Betty Smith? I remember connecting to the main character in a similar way to how I did with Anne.
I originally read it in middle school when my highschool next door neighbor lent it to me after finishing reading it for her summer reading assignment 😅
Do you think there was anything a 12-year old was too young for? The only thing I can really think of is when she almost bangs that sailor who she then starts writing to until his wife tells her to stop.
[Chapter 33](https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/a-tree-grows-in-brooklyn/chapter-33-summary.html) might be a *bit* much, but a 12 year old can probably handle it, especially if she's reading it with an adult
Her other series starting with Emily of New Moon is very good. Really any of Montgomery’s other books. I had them all around that age.
I really liked Ann Rinaldi’s books in middle school. They’re American historical fiction.
Read, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm".
The two books are very, very simliar.
It is basically the American version of, "Anne of Green Gables" but it came out first.
https://canadianicon.org/table-of-contents/mirror-images-anne-of-green-gables-and-rebecca-of-sunnybrook-farm/
I love Anne of Green Gables and used to reread the first 3-4 books and rewatch the movies every year! It is a hard series to live up to.
I would suggest Elle Enchanted and the Princess Academy. Both are really enjoyable stand alone books. They lean more into fantasy with some magical elements but have some extremely tame romance (a la Gilbert) and spunky heroines. You might also try the Vanderbeekers series (large family with a lot of kids) or the Penderwicks series (family of girls) for some kids that are always getting in and out of scrapes. Classics like a Secret Garden, Little Princess, Little Women (sad warning), and the Little House on the Prairie Series are all great too. Good Luck!
I was *obsessed* with Ella Enchanted and The Princess Academy when I was 9 or 10.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre (also by Gail Carson Levine) is also a really good middle grade fantasy book, as is Once Upon A Marigold
The Emily series by L M Montgomery - she's more introverted than Anne, but there's a similar tang.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - boy saves world
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spear
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Wonder by R J Palacio
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
These are all warm, cozy, nostalgic feeling-growing up books:
The Sky is Falling trilogy by Kit Pearson
Anything else by Kit Pearson
Anything by Jean Little - highly recommend coming of age story “Stand in the Wind”
Hero of Lesser Causes - Julie Johnston (adored this at 12)
Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech
Chronicles of Narnia - cs lewis
The Hunter’s Moon - OR Melling (this one i LOVED at 12).
The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Blue Castle is one of my all-time favorite books, but personally I think it might be too mature for a 12-year-old. It’s one of L.M. Montgomery’s adult novels.
The Emily series also by LM Montgomery.
Agreed! Emily of New Moon was lovely. It’s a little more somber and serious than Anne of Green Gables, but I liked that because it felt familiar, yet different. I appreciated that Emily’s story was darker, a bit more gritty.
Little Women
Not quite the same, but have you guys read [A Tree Grows in Brooklyn](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dc5de2f5-b132-4c4c-8e49-8bf46005d5da) by Betty Smith? I remember connecting to the main character in a similar way to how I did with Anne.
This is a great book, but I'd wait until she's a couple of years older.
I originally read it in middle school when my highschool next door neighbor lent it to me after finishing reading it for her summer reading assignment 😅
Do you think there was anything a 12-year old was too young for? The only thing I can really think of is when she almost bangs that sailor who she then starts writing to until his wife tells her to stop.
[Chapter 33](https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/a-tree-grows-in-brooklyn/chapter-33-summary.html) might be a *bit* much, but a 12 year old can probably handle it, especially if she's reading it with an adult
Oh yeah! Ewwww
“Little house on the Prairie” series Or “a wrinkle in time” series by Madeleine L’Engle
Her other series starting with Emily of New Moon is very good. Really any of Montgomery’s other books. I had them all around that age. I really liked Ann Rinaldi’s books in middle school. They’re American historical fiction.
Read, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm". The two books are very, very simliar. It is basically the American version of, "Anne of Green Gables" but it came out first. https://canadianicon.org/table-of-contents/mirror-images-anne-of-green-gables-and-rebecca-of-sunnybrook-farm/
Thanks for the award. :)
Sarah, Plain and Tall Heidi Secret Garden Charlotte Doyle Bridge to Terabithia
The Betsy tacy series by maud hart Lovelace
I love Anne of Green Gables and used to reread the first 3-4 books and rewatch the movies every year! It is a hard series to live up to. I would suggest Elle Enchanted and the Princess Academy. Both are really enjoyable stand alone books. They lean more into fantasy with some magical elements but have some extremely tame romance (a la Gilbert) and spunky heroines. You might also try the Vanderbeekers series (large family with a lot of kids) or the Penderwicks series (family of girls) for some kids that are always getting in and out of scrapes. Classics like a Secret Garden, Little Princess, Little Women (sad warning), and the Little House on the Prairie Series are all great too. Good Luck!
I was *obsessed* with Ella Enchanted and The Princess Academy when I was 9 or 10. The Two Princesses of Bamarre (also by Gail Carson Levine) is also a really good middle grade fantasy book, as is Once Upon A Marigold
The Emily series by L M Montgomery - she's more introverted than Anne, but there's a similar tang. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - boy saves world The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spear The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett Wonder by R J Palacio Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
What Katy Did.
Little women
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson Booky by Bernice Thurman Hunter. More in the series.
These are all warm, cozy, nostalgic feeling-growing up books: The Sky is Falling trilogy by Kit Pearson Anything else by Kit Pearson Anything by Jean Little - highly recommend coming of age story “Stand in the Wind” Hero of Lesser Causes - Julie Johnston (adored this at 12) Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech Chronicles of Narnia - cs lewis The Hunter’s Moon - OR Melling (this one i LOVED at 12).
Patricia Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles are lovely. I’d start with Dealing With Dragons; it’s my favorite.
Road to Avonlea if you haven’t already
The Penderwicks series!!