Mumsnet Talk

My 10yr old DD is a very prolific reader & reads above her age, now loving young adult books & I'm finding keeping up with her & often getting "safe" book recomendations for her a bit of a nightmare, especially as I need lots of books to keep her busy,

I've posted on the chat section before, but have only really had recommendations that were more aimed at her age, or not far ahead, or old classics that really dont interest her at all - so I'm hoping posting here will be better (she is G&T) & I also thought I'm probably not the only one dealing with this, do starting a "Book Recommendations" thread might be useful to us all, or does a site or something exist that rates books as you would films ?? & if not, why not it would make my life so much easier

I naturally want to avoid anything with sexual content, the odd nod to it is fine, but however grown up she seems, she is only 10 - but horror, science fiction, etc etc - she is fine with, she has a very analytical mind & isn't bothered by even more disturbing stuff, if anything she really enjoys it & sees it for what it is, rather than be frightened by it - I know she would love James Herbert books, but every time I pick one up to re-read - odd bits of heavy sexual content make it no good & though I'm sure I remember some being okay, I can't remember which ones

So I will start off with recommendations of books she's read recently & loved & hopefully you could add yours too & we can share

*Maximum Ride series - James Patterson*- 8 Books in the series & she was very upset to finish them.

Shift - Em Bailey DD reckons this is one of the best stories ever - sadly no more by this author yet

Eve & Adam, Michael Grant & Katherine Apple Gate

I think these books appeal to both girls & boys, DDs taste isn't particularly girly, but she did also enjoy Mean Girls & others by the same author, which helped her though bullying at school

Please add your suggestions

TIA

Oh & she's now enjoying old Pan Book Of Horror stories which is the first time I've managed to eat her interested in any old classics, she won't read any vampire, werewolf or similar horror though, so I think this is because the stories are short & varied & quite disturbing variations on real life possibilities - if that makes sense

When my mother was teaching (secondary school), James Herbert visited and was absolutely HORRIFIED to discover that some of the girls had read his books. He told them that he was not writing for children or even teenagers and really did not think they were suitable.

There's a thread here or on primary education (can't remember which) about books for 11-year-old boys. It had some really interesting recommendations, so you might want to take a look.

Thanks - Really?, very bizarre that he's visiting a secondary school expecting no one to have read his work -

though that said, from the odd bit of sometimes hardcore smut that he adds to his tales, most, if not all aren't suitable from that POV, though I can't remember if its in them all - the rest of it I know DD would be fine with, especially as they will challenge her vocabulary, which is what she misses in the younger books, - something to challenge her - I think I saw the thread you mean, but unfortunately there was just nothing that she hadnt already read, that interested her - I'm really looking for adult/YA books

The hunger games
Boy in the striped pyjamas
Michael morpurgo (lots are meant for older kids & read by adults too - war horse, kensukis kingdom etc)
The hitch hikers guide to the galaxy
The phantom toll booth
Artemis fowl
Terry pratchett
The edge chronicles
Alex rider

If she really is a good reader, what about James Herriot, Laurie Lee, Gerald Durrell. For more modern stuff, my daughter has just devoured the "Uglies" series. She also loved all the Eva Ibbotsen books. What about books by Robert Swindells (Abomination is brilliant).

Carnegie Award!
Short list announced today. (See website.) I downloaded "Wonder" today onto my kindle and am very impressed so far. (Boy is born with problems including facial disfigurement. Book so far deals with him moving from mother schooling at home to going to school.)

Would she be interested in (carefully vetted) classic detective novels? I'm thinking Dorothy Sayers

Life of Pi
Curious incident of dog in the night time
Arthur c Clarke if she likes sci if, also earth sea trilogy?

He was related to one of the girls, I think, and was doing a careers session on 'being a writer'. He didn't expect to be discussing his books.

If she wants to be challenged, I would push her more towards the classics tbh. I don't think much of James Patterson as a writer and Herbert's not exactly literary. How about Dickens? Her tastes seem quite sinister -- she might like him! I'd suggest Dracula, but that really did terrify me when I first read it.

Alternatively, I enjoyed the Alex Rider books, and Young Bond, and I'm a grown up with very advanced literary tastes. My DS has loved The Hunger Games (I haven't read them yet).

My dd is 11 and reads adult books.
She has read, and loved The Chosen by Chaim Potok, Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy series, Tolkein, Dracula, Terry Pratchett, Adrian Mole books, Cider with Rosie, and she loves, loves, loves science books so reads a lot of stuff like 'E=MC2 and why it matters' (or something like that!)

Agree about James Herriot for something "gentle". I was similar at that age and remember being really frustrated that the stories aimed at me were boring/too girly but I wasn't interested in the plot lines of the "grown up" books in our house.

I loved Michelle Magorian (she of Goodnight Mr Tom fame). She has written several that are good for young/teen girls.

I also found a series called "The Mennyms" by Sylvia Waugh which I can remember enjoying.

I read pan Horror stories and James Herbert at that age , but agree they are scintillating but pretty rubbish and not v suitable!
Historical novels such as by Terry Dear or, My Story series are quite good, John Wyndham books, if she is advanced in her comprehension as well as reading she would enjoy Dickens, Chekhov plays, Anne of Green Gables, agree classics are more wholesome. The modern books are annoying because they are a bit over dramatic and content a bit unsuitable.

Roald Dahl's - Tales of the Unexpected

John Wyndham - there are loads, most well known is Day of the Triffids horror but not OTT

On the same theme a brilliant book called Death of Grass (don't know author)

My ds and I have been reading some Gene Kemp books, start with Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler. Not very difficult, but level is ok, set in a school with 11/12 year olds and some thought provoking themes. There are several set in this school, hard to find though, I bought them second hand on Amazon (library couldn't get them)

Similar is a book What is wrong with Donovan Croft (can't remember author, and that title isn't quite right, search Donovan Croft) deals with racism 1970's schools and good story)
Joan Aitken - truly wonderful stories, quite scary, fantasy adventure, variety of levels as she writes for children and teens. Classic series begins with Wolves of Wilbury Chase

Agatha Christie? I read these at about 10 and loved them.

I would second Terry Pratchet, Hitch Hikers Guide, and James Herriott

Hmm this is giving me ideas for ds!

If she likes science and non-fiction, there is a funny series called 'why don't penguins feet freeze' - collection of questions and answers from New Scientist

At 11 I was reading George Orwell, but I probably shouldn't have been.

Has she read any David Eddings? The Belgariad is a set of 5 fantasy books. The nearest thing to sex is when one male character complains that a female character has a pet snake in her dress and is asked how he knew and he turns red.

After the Belgariad there is the Mallorian, another 5 books.

Some James Herbert, Fluke maybe, would be OK but not great literature.

For sci fi what about John Wyndam? I think I was reading them at junior school.

Some John Grisham would be suitable, but not all. The client, playing for pizza,the runaway jury, and the Pelican Brief. Not A time to kill - horrible rape of a small girl. Actually I don't know why I said horrible, it couldn't be anything else.

Do you have a good local library? There are some extremely complex books written for young people which will be much more interesting and relevant to her than adult fiction. Agree that Carnegie shortlist is a good place to start, last year's had a great book called Between Shades of Grey, which was incredibly thought-provoking.

I had a reading age of 15 at 8, but found plenty to read that was appropriate. I did also read my Mum's Danielle Steele, which was probably not so good.

Has she tried Adrian Mole? I loved them at that age. Although they are more like history books now!

Thank you everyone, there's lots of great suggestions here, so I think we will be okay for a while now

The hunger games was one she had recommended by an older DC she knows, she was very keen to read it as they said it was so good they cried when they'd read it all, but she couldn't remember the title, so thanks for mentioning that one & she loves the look & write ups of the Uglies series & lots more of the modern books you all suggest, including Wonder which sounds great

She really isn't interested in the classics at all, we do have plenty of them on our books shelves, but she says they are stuffy, boring & no-one talks like that any more - & I can see her point - she is 10 & its a modern world, so why would they interest her & she hates anything with vampires, werewolves etc etc - she says they are just too unbelievable & prefers stories that make her believe they could actually happen & she enjoys scaring herself, but isn't affected by it, so bar sexual content, which is okay in nods, but not explicit, I'm happy to take her lead as her comprehension is excellent & she's knows her own mind well

I was an avid Arthur C Clarke, Philip Dick, George Orwell etc at a similar age, but she just didn't like them much at all, again she found the language too dated for her - though we have just downloaded War of the Worlds which she expressed an interest in, so we'll see, but I don't believe in pushing her into anything, I want to feed her interest not put her off

We do luckily have a fantastic local library, but the YA section is full of vampire & werewolf books, though we have found a few that she liked there, I do think I need to try chatting to a librarian again too though, we have tried, but they were very keen on pushing all the got his type novels, which DD doesn't like

Thank you for taking the time & trouble & the great suggestions - think I can relax for a little while now - lol

I read all my Grandad's Dick Francis racing detective mysteries. . I really loved them. But I second James Herriot - they are good. And Gerald Durrell?

Oh, sorry she's not liking anything gentler at the moment, she pulled faces when I offered her Gerald Durrell & the likes a while back, she's mostly wanting sci fi, horror & the odd human interest story - I have tried & she read Adrian Mole a couple if years ago - bloody hard to please - lol

Library pushed Gothic type novels - damned autocorrect

Making my list & LOVE the Garnegie award short list idea

John Wyndham for sci fi like [sashh] says, definitely. Happy book hunting!

I was reading at a simular le el and stuff I really enjoyed included the James Herriot vet books, My Family and other Animals, Anne McCaffery fantasy novels (a little bit of sex, but not too much), Isaac Asimov, Georgette Heyer. If she hasn't read anything by Tamora Pierce, give her some asap- fantastic socially aware, age-appropriate fantasy novels with strong heroines.

Thank you - John Wyndham is definitely going on the list

but sadly she wont read Asimov etc - she didn't like them at all, again thought them dated - my favourites at that age too

& we tried her with Tamora Peirce a few years ago, she liked for a short while, but soon got bored as she's not really into fantasy any more, she thinks its for younger readers & as I said she has a thing at the moment, for only reading more believable books, even if they are SciFi or Horror - Angels, Spooks & anything that is the result of science are okay as she believes in them - everything else just isn't

I just wanted to add this link, I've just found this site & it looks fantastic, so it might be of use to others with similar problems…

Teen/PreTeen books with reviews HERE