While she reads at a 12th- grade level, I'm unsure of where her logic and reasoning skills fall. I suggest starting your 13 year old out with BTS Book 3 Verbal. This book is for an average 12 or 13 year old. The teachers manual for Book 2 BTS is not necessary, but is necessary for both Book 3 Figural and Verbal. I don't understand why people seem to think that it has to be two diametrically opposed systems . . .
Whole language uses phonics . . .
Further, not all phonics is real phonetic education. It simply depends on the program and its implementation, and which phonics you are talking about. This quote would be an accurate description of what is taught in the public schools in my corner of the planet. I don't know. I could apply her comments to the school district in my town.