Text present for a 12 yr. old girl, that awkward tween age . . .

2 years ago

I'm getting all the grands presents that involve reading and are not digital for Christmas. I have a book for the 11 yr. old boy, (Paul McCartney lyrics as poetry, he's into Beatles and reads far above his grade level), a collection of Kazoo magazine back issues for the 9 yr. old girl, and a wonderful picture book for the 2 yr. old. But the 12 year old girl is really giving me a hard time as far as what to get. I want something magazine-ish or mixture-ish and I wish I could find her a collection of magazines but it's so difficult. It's all either boys, fashion, makeup, consumerism and gossip, which she is not into yet and I don't want to necessarily encourage, or so doggedly "girl empowerment" and virtuous that it seems a tad dull. And unfortunately, I'm thinking that a 12 year old is not going to want to pick up anything that has younger kids in the art or pictures, even 10 year olds. She likes video games and is a bit of a goth.

I thought about this collection of "New Moon Girls" magazines, but kind of repetitive of what I got her sister. https://simplecirc.com/new-moon-girls/item/4250/special-deal-50-off-back-issue-4-pack

This 2022 Almanac and calendar really appeals to me, but I'm afraid the format reads too young. The reviews mention younger kids liking it. https://shop.highlights.com/2022-almanac-of-fun-2022-almanac-of-fun-calendar-m

I'm just looking for something that is a variety of topics, for a non "girly girl" who is not exactly a nerd about any particular thing either . . . Last year I got her a vampire novel but that's kind of tricky and hubs got her a Barnes and Noble gift card so I think she can pick out her own novels better than me guessing.

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Comments (24)

Bookwoman
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
How about a subscription to Muse, which is for ages 9-14? https://shop.cricketmedia.com/muse-magazine-for-kids.

Or, if she's more interested in history/culture, Cobblestone: https://shop.cricketmedia.com/cobblestone-magazine-for-kids.html or Faces: https://shop.cricketmedia.com/faces-magazine-for-kids.html
bpath
2 years ago
Does she read? Perhaps a book diary, for recording her books read and thoughts on them, and some nifty colored pens and pencils, perhaps a calligraphy-tip felt tip pen. B&N or your local indy bookseller would have all that. And, try visiting an indy bookseller, they probably have good ideas.
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Like several here, especially stephanie and daisy (both in GA, as am I), this has been of deep concern to me since my own dd was young. She is now 17, so she's on the verge of adulthood. These are the things I've been vigilant about: clothes - I've adamantly refused to buy trashy stuff, period. I like pretty clothes, and a lot of trendy stuff is not even pretty to me. Thankfully, dd agrees. She also developed early, and I've always emphasized modesty. Swimsuits have been a challenge; she's either worn tankinis or one-piece suits. And she herself wanted to get exercise shorts which actually look like tankini bottoms and are the same material to go over the bottom of the one-piece suit she has now. music - We are very conservative about this. No rap music which is derogatory of girls/women, period. She leans toward classical music and also likes some contemporary Christian music. TV and movies - We have been very vigilant about TV programs and movies from the time our dc were little. For some time they really didn't watch much TV - mainly things like Mister Rogers Neighborhood (it was boring to me, but they loved it, LOL), Reading Rainbow, and Between the Lions (though, to be honest, I didn't quite get why Dr. Ruth was on a kids' show). The main things they watched were kids' shows and classic movie videos. They LOVED the classic Pooh videos, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, and Thomas the Tank Engine when they were young. As they've grown older, we've continued to emphasize wholesome programs/movies which would not tear down what we had worked so hard to build in them. One big help in this area was getting a VCR/DVD player (when vidoes were giving way to DVDs) which has the TV Guardian that bleeps out offensive language. books - She is a voracious reader, has been reading since the age of 4. I was like this as a kid, too, and I read a lot of books I really shouldn't have. Because of this, I was very careful when she was young to major on books that were wholesome and would emphasize good character, not glorify rebels. This has really paid off. Today she not only loves to read, but is a creative writer and heads a writing club for teens. friends - We have emphasized from the beginning that we wanted to know her friends, who they were, and we wanted to know their families. So we've made it a point to befriend her friends' parents. This way we parents are all on the same page, we know what the kids are doing, we know they are safe. I am very grateful that our dd has been very willing and happy to do this. I know we are blessed. When I was her age, I was okay - was considered a really good kid by adults - but my parents weren't vigilant about these things and my life was definitely affected by it. Above all, I have always tried to keep a balance between being an authoritative parent (not mean, just mean what I say) and being a friendly parent. I do think both are very important. I've wanted her to know that I am not against her, I don't want to cramp her style, that I genuinely want her to love her life, to enjoy her family, to enjoy her friends, to get all out of life she can. I think she knows that is true, that it's real, and I think that's helped her to accept the rules of the house. From the time she was a baby, I made it a point to show affection, as I didn't grow up with affection. Though it didn't come naturally for me, I knew it was vital that she feel loved and so I told her (and the other dc) EVERY DAY that I loved them. Sometimes I've had to say I didn't like what they were DOING right that moment, but I loved THEM. I have also worked to keep the atmosphere in the home light, with lots of humor and fun. She and I have done 'girl' things together. She was helping me in the kitchen from the time she was little - one unexpected result of this is that her younger brother is now a great cook too, LOL. She is very creative (much more so than I, truth be told) and I've always encouraged her in crafts even when I was all thumbs with them. As she's grown older, she's become more interested in painting fingernails and toenails than I, and since she doesn't sport the Goth look, I encourage her to look pretty. She wears a minimum of makeup (also like me). On her 16th birthday I splurged and let her get her hair highlighted, but not with garish colors. She's a honey blonde and wanted lighter streaks. It turned out gorgeous. Believe me, I haven't always done everything right, I've made stupid mistakes from time to time, but my dc KNOW I love them, they know I care, they know we're not on opposite sides but are on the same side. If kids know that, it will make all the difference. They honestly don't mind rules and discipline as long as they know we truly care about them. Please forgive the "book". One of my flaws is being too wordy. :-)
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hhireno
2 years ago
Nat Geo has a yearly almanac that my 12 yo nephew still enjoys.
l pinkmountain
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
She's a voracious reader. I did look into Muse and Cobblestone. I want something that mixes that kind of content with articles like "When your best friend becomes a bully" and "101 ways to spice up your fall wardrobe" and "Christmas gifts to can make yourself" kind of stuff . . .

That Nat'l Geo. Almanac looks really cool for grandson. Haven't completed the order for the McCartney book, now I'm starting to think maybe the Nat'l Geo one for him (he's 11) and the Highlights one for her . . .
olychick
2 years ago
Take a look at The Week Junior.
Oakley
2 years ago
Easy to figure out, Pink. Ask her mom. :) My 11 year old DGD reads a lot, but she is picky. I can't recall any book I've bought for her that she read unless she didn't tell me. OTOH, kids read a great deal in school and for homework at night. You also don't want to get her a book she's already read.

DGD loves to draw and paint, and loves adult coloring books that I turned her on to. When she was visiting a few weeks ago she told me she likes the Victorian era, and the dresses women wore. So I bought her a few Victorian coloring books for adults, full of fashion & Victorian houses. A few years ago I bought really nice colored pencils, colored gel pens, and sparkly pens for her to use at my house. She saw the coloring books I still had and I asked if she wanted to take them all home. She was excited.

When I saw her loading them in a bag, she was also packing all the pens and pencils too. Now who can get mad at that? lol
Oakley
2 years ago
Pink, this is the book I got for 13 y.o. DGS for Christmas. And a model of a German U-boat. And other stuff. I kind of spoil them since I only have two grandchildren.
lakeaffect_gw
2 years ago
What about a book on astrology? It’s making a comeback with Gen Z, and can be fun to explore the signs of friends and family. Our local, small indie bookstore had several options when I was there a few weeks ago.
Lars
2 years ago
When will she turn 13? Personally, I would recommend Seventeen Magazine, although I haven't read it since I was a teenager. I used to read it when I was about 14-15 years old, and its target audience is 13-19. I entered one of their contests and won a third prize. Of course I have no idea what the magazine is like today, and so you could buy a copy and see if you think it might be appropriate.

BTW, I would consider Paul McCartney lyrics as kindergarten level, but if he likes the Beatles, then he might enjoy that. John Lennon wrote much more sophisticated lyrics. At age 11-12, I much preferred William Blake, but I also liked Keats and memorized some of his poems when I was 12.
l pinkmountain
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Her Mom is hard to track down, hubs family isn't big on effective communication. I already got both girls a huge art supplies box and they have art supplies out the wazoo.

I think the McCartney book also had commentary and photos, which is why I thought it might be interesting. But yes, that was one of my concerns, not necessarily great poetry especially without the music going along with it. Pop genius though . . .

I had originally stated but edited for brevity, the irony of when I was 13, I just adored "Seventeen" magazine but by the time I was actually seventeen, I found it too fluffy and boring. I don't know what it's like now, but it really became mostly ads when I last perused it.

This magazine, "Girls World" sounds good but you can't order back issues in real paper, and it's just a tad too young, like some of the others. That's why it's such and awkward age. She's in 6th grade. https://www.amazon.com/American-Media-Inc-Girls-World/dp/B00VQTC94E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
2 years ago
Have you considered something that is more literary? When I was 13, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien was one of our required summer reading selections. We only had to read Books 1 and 2 which comprise The Fellowship of the Ring, but I was hooked and read the entire book. It is a wonderful book to start her on her way to reading different genres. Of coure, I am a bit biased as I have now read it more than 50 times.
Sara
2 years ago
This book was a hit with my daughter around that age: Strong is the New Pretty. https://www.workman.com/products/strong-is-the-new-pretty/paperback
legomom23
2 years ago
Is she into Anime at all? Those books seems popular with girls I know in the 14-15 range.
Jen K (7b, 8a)
2 years ago
Our 14-year-old niece receives 'The Week Junior'. She loves to cook so she receives a monthly box from Raddish but they're starting to repeat so we're going to end that. She's aged out of the magazines Muse and Cobblestone.

I agree that a lot of the teen magazines are too focused on looks and boys which we don't even talk about at the request of her parents which we agree with.

She's allowed of shop online so we get her a Barnes and Noble gift card.

I find subscriptions to be helpful; something that changes every month.

She's also in the theater so I think we're going to get season tickets to a local theater, but we always consult with her mom.
l pinkmountain
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I want something text, that's the theme for my gifts this year. Hubs is getting her a Barnes and Noble gift certificate so I'm not looking for a novel, she can get one of her own taste for that. I'd like to have something like that "Strong is the New Pretty" book, a compilation of chapters on things a pre-teen might be interested in, so that she can pick and choose. Like an almanac or those old Seventeen beauty guides, except I don't want it to be focused strictly on personal appearance and how to deal with boys. There's so much more to tween life than that, particularly these days. Like dealing with step families, stress, bullies, health, finding your joy and passions outside of just being in a social clique, taking care of yourself, managing your life and personal stuff, manners and social niceties, etc. These kids spend a lot of time on their own while parents work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet, they don't have as much parental time and guidance as I did growing up. Also not everyone has the excess finances to get their kids into a lot of hobby classes or sports activities.
lyfia
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
My daughter who also likes gaming has enjoyed all the Minecraft books. She is in 7th grade now though, but still seems to like when a new one comes out.

ETA: Might also want to check out a Mighty Girl blog for some suggestions on various topics. Tends to cover things by age range too.
Olychick
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Did you look at The Week, Junior that several of us have suggested? https://theweekjunior.com/in-the-magazine
just_terrilynn
2 years ago
If you can’t find an interesting magazine…

I thought this looked pretty good.
Fori
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Nat Geo and Smithsonian are good for everyone. No need to get junior versions.

Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and Chronicles of Prydain are good classics.

If she likes animals, nature, and humor, try Farley Mowat. "Never Cry Wolf" is kid-appropriate.

And as always, if she hasn't read "What if?" (Randall Munroe), she's ready. https://www.amazon.com/What-Scientific-Hypothetical-Questions-International/dp/0544456866

(My kids loved "Guns, Germs, and Steel" at that age but they're weird.)
nini804
2 years ago
Well, American Girl has a magazine which has all of those types of articles you mentioned. It’s a very well-done, wholesome magazine, and IIRC it doesn’t really have features about the dolls. Dd got it for a while. It’s perfectly fine for a 12 year old…but she will outgrow it fairly quickly. Like it’s probably meant for 10-13 year olds.
nini804
2 years ago
And was just thinking…there are low cost rec sports and activities…you could give a season of say, rec basketball or something. Registration through local parks and rec is usually under $100 (that’s probably more than you want to spend, but idk.) It just makes me sad to think that some kids might not get to experience sports bc of the costs. My children ADORED sports and besides the physical activity and comraderie…they learned a lot of life skills about hard work and preserverance.
robo (z6a)
2 years ago
Burn after writing - teen edition?

Cricket magazine - Faces

https://shop.cricketmedia.com/faces-magazine-for-kids

Illustoria also looks kinda funky!
l pinkmountain
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Cricket is all short story writing pieces, (fiction and non-fiction) and not particularly compelling, IMHO. (As a teacher I subscribed for a year but since it was "meh" I quit.) Cobblestone was more interesting to me, but I don't think for my granddaughter. My grandson loves history, but he's getting something else . . . )

I loved a lot of the books on the "Mighty Girl" list, but they were so specific, like "How to Deal With Teen Anxiety." Great topic but who wants to get that for Christmas! I really liked the "American Girl" series, but again, so specific. I wish there was a compendium of "best of" for that. I liked the Teen survival guide, but it is really text-dense, like a visit with a therapist. I'd rather get a book that covers other topics too, not just emotions and drama. Some of the reviews mentioned how intense it was. Not that it wouldn't be wonderful help for my granddaughter, but just not Christmas present material, IMHO. Maybe I should just pick three of these small American Girl Guides. I love all the topics, but each one is so specific . . . https://www.amightygirl.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result?series_name=American+Girl+Library

And yes, I did look at "The Week Junior." I would love it. My granddaughter, not so much. She's not into politics and world affairs. She has enough drama just in her personal life to deal with . . . she needs escapism and relaxation. She does well in school, gets a lot of current events there . . .

Anyone have any experience with "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul." I like the idea behind the title, not sure if the essays are appealing or not to a teen.

Edited to add what do y'all think of this? I wonder if it could be colored in too . . . Hey Girl Empowering Journal for Girls

Edited again to add that "Illustoria" has back issue available, https://www.illustoria.com/store maybe a set of three of those since I got her sister a set of three back issues of "Kazoo" magazine . . . they are definitely a family of "makers" and storytellers/story readers.
Funkyart
2 years ago
I think Illustoria looks great-- but geared to a younger age group.

The journal may be a better idea but the one you linked sstill leans young to me. This is Me in the same line may be more age appropriate. One of my nieces loved those kinds of books-- the other three wouldn't have touched one. I love that it encourages writing, creative thinking and self exploration. Self awareness is great tool to develop as a young girl!

Text present for a 12 yr. old girl, that awkward tween age . . .

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