What to Buy: Books for Teen Girls

I don’t know about you, but my weekend agenda includes more than a little holiday shopping.  If your list includes any teen girls, I have just what you’re looking for: some of my favorites, complete with links so that you can check out their full reviews as well as links to Amazon so you can get that shopping out of the way.  Whether you’re buying for your own daughter or another lucky girl, the content reviews will help you pick a book you can feel comfortable giving. Disclosure:  If you do decide to buy a book based on my recommendation and click through to Amazon directly from here, I will make an itsy bitsy bit of money.  Most likely less than a dollar.  I promise not to spend it all in one place.

For an old-fashioned girl: If your gift recipient dreams of pinning up her hair, wearing long dresses and a boy to go steady, the classic Betsy-Tacy series might be just the thing.
Packaged together, the first two high school books Heaven to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself are filled with old-fashioned fun. You could round out the high school set with just one more book Betsy was a Junior and Betsy and Joe.  Need to know what these turn of the century teens are up to?  Check out the full reviews here, here, here and here.

For the girl who likes her romance to be star-crossed:
Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

When Asha’s father goes to America to seek work, her family must go to Calcutta to live with relatives.  With her circumstances changed, Asha must find a new normal, but when things change again, nothing could have prepared her for what happens next.  This book is relatively inoffensive, details here.

For the girl who likes a) baseball or b) Glee! or c) books where the boy has to do the longing, pining and chasing.

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park by Steve Kluger

Check out the details on this wonderful book about love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park. The book is so good I even recommend it to adults.

For the girl who knows her own mind :
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
This is the perfect book for a girl when you want to make sure she doesn’t lose her backbone. Frankie is beautiful, smart, a touch wicked and she’s certainly not going to let the boys win. Read more about Frankie (and check out the content here).

For the girl who’s desperate to go abroad – also, my top romance pick!
This book was enough to make me wish I were back in high school, and believe me, that’s no easy feat. Of course, it would have helped if the high school were in Paris and came with a super cute guy.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is not pleased to be sent away to boarding school in Paris, but things change when she realized just how great her new friends are.   Need to know how racy it gets?  Check it out here.

For the grown-up romance girl:
Shopping for a girl who’s grown-up enough to read just about anything? Get her hooked on a series that will give her all the mature content she craves without sacrificing a strong female lead or real teenage issues. Bonus: No vampires, werewolves or crazy super accelerated pregnancies.
Sloppy Firsts: A Jessica Darling Novel by Megan McCafferty
Check out the full review, including content of Sloppy Firsts.

For the girl going Greek:
Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline Cooney

Whether she’s into Greek tragedy or Greek myths this is the perfect novel to tie it all together. Most objectionable content is in the area of violence, because really, what Greek myth or tragedy would be complete without it. More details here.

For the hipster girl – also a big win for an Open Before Christmas gift
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

A New York holiday scavenger hunt to spark a romance will be perfect reading for getting in the mood this holiday season.  Best for teens who’d probably drop the f-bomb anyway.