It doesn't have a female protagonist, and it's a completely cliched suggestion from me, but how about Something Wicked This Way Comes ?

Mara of the Nile?

Actually, that's not a bad idea. What about some of Zilpha Keatley Snyder's stuff? I was reading her in 7th grade.

I loved the depressing books! Except The Red Pony, which I hated. It was boring and bleak. All the books I hated reading in high school were either two terse (Steinbeck and Hemingway) or too wordy (Hawthorne). I seriously hated both The Red Pony and The Old Man and the Sea more than any other books I had ever read. And I was not too fond of The Scarlet Letter.

I did LOVE Silas Marner and all Thomas Hardy, though.

Speaking of The Night Circus: art cards inspired by it. [link]

I may be purchasing them when I get home.

I can't remember what I read in 7th grade. I'm pretty sure I couldn't gauge age appropriateness for anyone save my own kids, and only because I have a good sense of their interests and their limits. I would trust Kat, what with the teaching middle school for decades and whatnot.

Speaking of age inappropriate reading, Franny wanted to read The Hunger Games so badly she snagged my copy and devoured it. Until chapter 6, right before the games start. Now she's put it aside for other books. So interesting to watch her negotiate her limits in that way.

Jilli, I want those cards! They are awesome, including the one that has the bit of the quote I adore.

I think 7th grade is a fun age -- lots of sophistication and innocence. I think Little Women, especially if they do US history is perfect.

I read a lot of John Jakes in 7th grade. Not appropriate but it wasn't assigned either.

I'd second other folks' recommendations of Something Wicked and A Little Princess, and, having looked at the Wikipedia plot summary for Mister Pip, have to frantically reiterate that it's way, way, way too dark for 7th graders. But, still, so very astonishingly good.

Oh, those are gorgeous, Jilli.

I'm wearing reveur appropriate clothing today. Black & white pinstriped pants, black t-shirt with red northern tribes dancer.

Yeah, I never had any idea of age appropriateness and once I worked out they wouldn't physically keep me out of the adult section of the library it was all over. But I don't think I ever read anything terribly scarring. There were some things that were confusing, but I suspect I just glossed over what I didn't understand. It was mostly biographies when I was that young anyway, because the whole library was so BIG! And full of books! How could I decide!

So yeah, Night Circus. If you guys play the game, which is lovely as well, you should do so by clicking through my link before you make your account, and then I can get credit for you and move up the ranks. [link]

I'm wearing reveur appropriate clothing today. Black & white pinstriped pants, black t-shirt with red northern tribes dancer.

Yay! I think tomorrow will be a circus-striped skirt and blouse. And then Friday will be different circus-striped skirt and blouse combo, with the new black velvet waistcoat that has red piping.

So yeah, Night Circus. If you guys play the game, which is lovely as well, you should do so by clicking through my link before you make your account, and then I can get credit for you and move up the ranks.

I have stayed far away from the Night Circus game, because I'm afraid I'll lose all of my time to it.

Jilli, I just bought the cards without realizing it was the only set. Send me your email and I'll mail them to you.

If I were to do a Night Circus party I would have a cake with dark chocolate and white icing stripes and strawberry or raspberry filling in the center.

Bags of caramel corn.

Chocolate mice with almond ears.

What else?