Well, I did say it was dark. But my daughter started raving about them when she was 12
Let me second Louis Sachar’s Holes. I haven’t met a person who doesn’t like this book–my mother, myself (I am 18), my brother (16), my sister (13), and a friend’s sister who doesn’t like to read (11). You really can’t compare it to his Wayside School series; this one isn’t goofy like the others. It’s a great story and incredibly well-written.
Holy Cannoli, people, I can’t believe a single one of you has mentioned The Black Stallion by Walter Farley or Black Beauty by Anna Sewell or Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry or even King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry.
The Black Stallion can also be a inspiration to young writers as Walter Farley began writing it when he was still in High School.
For non-horse books, I say The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster. The great thing about this book is it has a lot of puns, so its a good adventure story on one level, and then keeps getting better the older you get.
Definitely some Gordon Korman - I’m 21 now, and I still love the Bruno and Boots books! The first one in the series was written as a high school english assignment.
Watership Down. I first read it when I was 11, and I still reread it once in a while. Its a big book, but easy to read, and interesting. And it’s not JUST “about rabbits”.
The Little Prince. I’m doubting your niece reads in French, or i’d recommend the original French version, but from what I know, the English translation is good, too. “Le Petit Prince” is my absolute all-time favourite book. I have read it more times than I can count. In fact, I keep a copy in my schoolbag, and reread sections of the book if I’m stuck waiting for a class to start, or if I just have nothing else to do! I was once told the “read it at the ages of 10, 20, 40 and on your deathbead, as it is a different story every time”. I totally agree.
The Black Stallion series is good, as is Black Beauty (I still cry when I read parts of it!). Or you might consider some Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books - I know Drew is more geared towards girls, but I always thought the Hardy boys had more interesting adventures! There are crossover books where Frank and Joe Hardy team up with Nancy - that might be a good start if your niece is new to the series.
I am SURE she’s old enough to tackle The Hobbit, and if her parents are letting her see the LoTR movies, then she might be interested.
I remember when I was about that age, I read “The Prophet” by kalihl Gibran (sp?) for the first time…It has some very nice passages in it.
Anne McCaffrey is a good suggestion too. I can image an 11 year old tacking the Dragonriders of Pern - I don’t remember it as being too tough for that age, though I read it when I was older.
I’m sure there are more, but they aren’t coming back to me. With a name like mnemosyne, you’d think my memory would be better!
Such good recommendations here! And for what it’s worth, I’m throwing in with The Prydain Chronicles, The Dark is Rising series, the A Wrinkle in Time series, and the Anne of Green Gables series, too.
If a series is too much of a commitment, here are some stand-alones that are very good:
The Thief of Always, by Clive Barker
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster
Kedrigern in Wanderland, by John Morressy
The House Without a Christmas Tree, by Gail Rock
Another vote for the Anastasia books. I enjoyed these greatly as a “tween” - one of the reasons being that the character isn’t perfect. Also her parents respect her as a person, instead of talking down to her. Always impressed me because in many children’s books it seems like grownups simultaniously are idiots and treat the kids like idiots.
Twiddle
Somewhere around 11 or 12, I discovered Edgar Allen Poe. I recommend some sort of anthology that includes many of his writings.
The CIA World Fact Book would probably be more helpfull than anything, but I suspect she, like most little girls of 11, is probably caught up with why she can’t be a boy, or why boys find her so interesting. If neither are the case, you could try finding out whats “cool” to her right now and find something on that subject.
If she seems to be going through the whole “boys” thing, might I suggest Chuck Yeagers’ Autobiography? She might gain enough insight about men to actually, one day, marry a good one, rather than sit around wondering what the hell is wrong with them and why they don’t seem to like her.
Thats just my opinion. That book changed my life (although I’m not a girl, but sure seemed to act like one at times), but that doesn’t mean she’ll get much out of it, if you’ve already prepared her for such things.
Beadalin, while I absolute love Morressy and Kedrigern, I don’t think you’ll easily find any of the novels. Last time I looked, they were all out of print and anyone looking to get anything about Kedrigern will probably either have to look in used book stores or buy the only released omnibus (so far, hopefully there’ll be a couple more in the next two years) Kedrigern Chronicles vol. 1: The Domesticated Wizard. The publisher is Meisha Merlin and you’ll probably have to either special order from a bookstore or order direct from the publisher–which is what I did; it was cheaper than giving Borders a cut.
In any case, I second anything by Morressy, especially Kedrigern. Great stuff if she likes fantasy, and in my opinion Morressy’s a lot better at it than some other fantasy writers.
Arden,
yeah, sorry, I wasn’t having a potshot at you :). I read Sabriel and had precisely zero reservations about it as suitable for kids and it came up on one of my lists yesterday and people were expressing their reservations about it. I was surprised. But then I seem to lack the worry gene WRT my kids’s reading so there you go.
Anne Fine is wonderful and her adult books, esp the one about the exhusband who is living in the linen cupboard are also wonderful. Is Rumer Godden in print in the US? Lovely stuff.
Wow, asterion, I hadn’t realized it was out of print. That stinks. I just checked on Amazon, and they have some copies available through independent sellers. Bummer, though.
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Even if not that doesn’t necessarily mean a person in the US/Canada can’t get them if they’re in print elsewhere. I’ve ordered Sue Townsend (Adrian Mole series) books that were out of print in the US from Amazon.UK without any problems- they seem to be back in print now, go figure. However, I’m not exactly sure how much I paid for them. (somewhere in the neighborhood of $23 for 3 incl. shipping, but the change part of the conversion threw me.)
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Speaking of Adrian Mole I want to add that series to my recommendations 
I didn’t know about the series until I was a senior in college, but they’re meant to be read by pre-teens on up.