Paris and London with a 12 year old girl

My kids were really interested in poets corner at Westminster abbey. This is the burial site or memorial site of some of the greatest English writers. So just reading Alice in Wonderland, Kipling, the Brontes, Jane Austen, some Tennyson-all that would be great. Also of course, any shakespeare-for Westminster and the replica of the old globe. Charles dickens is buried there and what could be more English than any of his books. Basically all the great children's literature -besides Alice, read Peter Pan, and of course Harry potter. There are tons of books on WWII-I know many for that age focus more on what happened in Europe but I remember at least one book that was about living in London during the bombings, sorry cant remember, but with such a big topic there must be lots. If you get a chance watch Hope & Glory, England at war from a childs perspective. I'm not as good with Paris and France-I never actually read Hugo or Dumas but I know kids her age who read the books (I'd settle for the movies, musical). Too young, but have her look through her Madeline books (assuming she had those as a child), just for the drawings of what she will see. Same with Linnea in Monet's Garden. Though my kids didn't really read as much about French history (compared to English literature), they did know quite a bit about it and loved Paris and Versailles.

Lonely Planet has a book geared towards Tweens called "Not for Parents Paris". They also have "Not for Parents London". They are not guidebooks. They feature stories about different famous residents, buildings, haunted places, artists, etc. The stories naturally peak the Tweens interest in learning more about the cities. In addition to books, if you can get your hands on a copy of the old classic board game "Masterpiece: The Art Auction Game" (it's out of print now so you'd need to look on eBay), it's a fun way to get a kid interested in art and able to recognize famous paintings and know immediately who painted it when they see it hanging on the wall at a place like Musee D'Orsay or the Louvre. I've played my old board game with my nieces & nephews and when they see the originals hanging in American or European museums they get really psyched.

Well they are fiction , but with a little history thrown in,, they are called the Princess Diaries, and there is a series of them, written as if they are diaries of famous ladies ,, when they are young girls, Marie Antionette, Cleopatra, etc etc,,
Also, have dd watch the movie Marie Antionette with Kirsten Dunst in it,, its a good remake, modern, but filmed actually at the grounds and palace of Versailles, my 12 yr old loved it. My daughter also read Sarahs Key,, very moving, about a jewish familys experience during the war in Paris.

Have her help plan the itinerary. That's what I did with my daughter since she was about that age when we traveled anywhere. It's great to do the research together and good for the bonding experience. I was surprised how many things my daughter wanted to do were the same as I did. Shopping time has to be included in the trip. Portobello & Camden markets plus Harrod's were part of my daughter's picks - along with Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Stonehendge, changing of the guards at Buck House, Greenwich observatory, and both a movie and live theater night. Harry Potter just came out the week we were first there and we saw it in London at the Odeon. She thought it was pretty cool to see it there and the movie house was an experience in itself with assigned seating and animal skin print on the seats. Cats was still running that first time so we saw that & she loved it. Now everytime we are in London we always go to the theater & try to fit in a movie as well.

The first book that came to my mind was "Made Tussaud: Waxwork Queen of the French Revolution." You can get a peek inside on the UK Amazon site. Fascinating history that reads like fiction that works for both Paris and London. My 12yo enjoyed it. Other recommendations would depend on what you are going to do/see in either city. For example, if you were going to the Imperial War Museu in London, there's lot of books on WWII, and the picture-filled DK book on WWII has information on things you would see at that museum. If you are visiting the Orangerie, you could get a book on Monet. There are abridged versions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame that tie in well with climbing the towers at Notre Dame. And you could even study Marie Curie and visit her tomb at the Pantheon. (And I would not recommend the Pantheon for a 12yo unless you are going to see the tombs of people she is interested in. And you have a museum pass and plan only 1/2 hour there. If you're familiar with the major players in the start of the French Revolution, the layout of statues and tombs is interesting. Otherwise, skip it.)

I'm assuming you're looking for nonfiction. When we first took our son to Paris, we read the Hunchback of Notre Dame together. It made visiting Notre Dame really special. Depending on her reading level, the Philippa Gregory books (about Anne Bolyen, her sister, etc.) are pretty accurate and definitely entertaining. Sherlock Holmes. Agatha Christie; some are set in London. We're going to Paris and London this Spring, with our 13yo daughter - she just chose to read The Tale of Two Cities for a school project.

My 12 year old son like the movie Midnight in Paris.