It's We Recommend, in which we attempt to match kids up with their perfect book. Got a kid in your life who needs a recommendation (or do YOU need one)? Write us at thediamondinthewindow (at) gmail (dot) com with the age, reading tastes, favorite books, and any other relevant (or irrelevant) information, and we'll give it a shot. And really? All the good suggestions are in the comments, so be sure to look there.

My friends, we have arrived. No, I don't mean riches, public acclaim, or a fabulous future. It's better than that! I believe we have reached the point where we receive We Recommend requests from—gasp!—actual readers.

Witness this, I say:

Age: 12 (but very mature)
Interests: Fashion/clothing, drawing (anime, people, dresses/outfits), reading, fantasy books, photography, animation, acting, singing, dancing, horseback riding, magic, Legos
Past books/stories has liked: The Clique series, the Uglies series (Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras), The Mother-Daughter book club series, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson sereis, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series,  Black Cauldron series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life series, Princess Diaries series, Hunger Games series

That is, in full, the actual text of the email. Can I tell you how much "but very mature" absolutely kills me without being condescending? (Though no doubt, she is very mature.)

Anyway the real question is, of course, what should we tell this kid to read? Clearly, series are a thing. But the first-place position of "fashion/clothing" makes me think that clothes are what really matters. I wondered if Ballet Shoes might work, because I so much love the descriptions of the clothes in that, but I know it won't do for most 12 year olds. Too sweet and naive. A 12-year-old I know loved Philippa Gregory, but, I don't know, ick. Too soft porn, I think. So what? Well, as I do in times of need, I turned to Diana, who said with utter confidence, "Oh, tell her to read Cardcaptor Sakura." I won't trouble you with how many times I had to keep asking her to repeat the name so I could understand it, while I kept saying "Eh? What? I don't understand. What did you say?" like I was 90.

(Image Courtesy manga.about.com)

Diana says, "It's about a girl who has magic powers and her best friend is an amateur fashion designer, and the person who wrote in likes manga so…."

So there you go, that's what I got. But I feel like there must be some whole other genre of girl fashion designed fantasy books out there (maybe Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce? Isn't there a girl with fabric magic as her power?). 

At any rate, I'm fully willing to stand behind Diana's (admittedly insane-looking) pick. Anybody else have any suggestions? Put them in the comments.