[dogmac]

Yes, this is quite a shock.

Adara is quite an advanced reader, she's reading at year 6 level. But getting books for her is really hard.

They are either

a) About fairies
b) Too scary for her (given she has anxiety issues, this is a really tricky one. She scares easily)
c) About getting a boyfriend
d) About makeup and fashion (aka Hannah Montana ones)
e) Having a male protaganist, which she likes, but still... a girl one would be nice sometimes

I was at the bookshop the other day and was staring at the shelves of kids books thinking "I would really like a book about a normal kid dealing with normal things, who might have some kind of cool thing, but not a pop band, for goodness sake"

And... I found one!!!!!!

EJ12- Girl Hero.

Which is about a 10 year old who is a spy, in the under 12 division. Yes, that isn't all that realistic, but the one I got also had her dealing with changing friendships at school and "mean girls" and "talks with Mum" and stuff like that.

I am so excited! I have found some books that are affirming for girls, and not all about their role in life looking good and getting a boy.

I just hope the rest as as good as the first.

[aims79]

thanks for posting this. my 8year old goddaughter is an avid reader and I'm always on the hunt for xmas pressies etc. hope I can check this out at my local bookshop.

[freddo75]

my 8y.o daughter is enjoying the dairy of a whimpy kid, just bought her the second in the series.

But we enjoyed reading Harry Potter, the first book might be ok, but my daughter found Goblet of fire was too scary and that was with me editing the scary parts.

[dogmac]

We started harry potter, but it is too scary for her. Yup, even the first.

[dogmac]

You can read the first chapter of the book we just read here

http://www.ej12girlhero.com/HotAndColdBook/

[freddo75]

have you tried Roald Dahl - Matilda, The Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox, The stork the pelly and me,

We found matilda brilliant and the Twits very funny.

[dogmac]

Yes, we read Roald Dahl.
And lots of the classics.

I'm just excited to have found a new, australian, appropriate book for girls.

[mokeydoke]

I loved the Anastasia Krupnik series when I was young. I think she starts out at 10, and gets older throughout the series.
Obviously, they might be outdated now

[SmallDarkHandsom...]

How about anything by Joan Aiken, E. Nesbit or Nina Bawden?
Also Ursula Moray Williams - the Gobbolino books and the Bogwoppit. These are just a few that come to mind from when I was a youngster. I was also an advanced reader. Don't know if they are all still available though.

[WonkieTonkie]

What about babysitter club books?

... are they even around still?