Two SciFi multiple volume epics come to mind both with very strong female leads; Anne McCaffery’s “Dragonriders of Pern” series and Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children / “Clan of the Cave Bear” series. The latter may be a bit to sexually explicit for that age (I don’t have any 12-13 females to ask about it) but its depiction of the Ice Age and primitive Eurasia still resonates with me.
“Clan of the Cave Bear”
I’ve read it. Way too explicit for a 12 y/o, but a good role-model book for a teenager nonetheless. I’ll check out “Earth’s Children.” I appreciate the mention.