Be warned: many of these books come in trilogies or longer series. Your 12-year-old might disappear into a reading cave for weeks. This is good. It means she’s invested, she’s thinking, and she’s hooked on something that won’t give her a screen headache.
The “Wings of Fire” series by Tui T. Sutherland is a perfect example. It’s dragons, sure, but it’s also about politics, war, and chosen family. Each book is from a different dragon’s perspective. Some are pacifists, some are fighters. It teaches empathy without being preachy.
And if she wants a lighter investment, “Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch” is a standalone-ish story about a girl who only has a tiny bit of magic. She has to earn her witch license anyway. It’s cozy, quirky, and full of “you can do it” energy.
