Like hetty feather - with a love story too - and not so sad

[BYOSnowman]

So ds (9) has just read the first three hetty feather books. He enjoyed them (he loves history) but found them a bit sad.

He told me he wants a book that has a love story. I think he wants a happy ending - not mills and boon or anything!! He is very naive so nothing too 'love'

Any suggestions??

[BYOSnowman]

Bump!

[Stickerrocks]

Hmmmm. Doing as told from the other thread & pondering on your behalf.

[BYOSnowman]

Thanks sticker!

I am a little flummoxed and could only come up with the Anne of green gables set. Sent him off to bed with a book on the Cold War while I thought about it!!

[Stickerrocks]

Michael Murpago books sprung to mind, but some of them have sad endings. Private Peaceful is a great story with first love thrown in, but it's very poignant. I'd suggest you read it yourself first to see what he would think.

[BYOSnowman]

Yes he's read that. And he likes MM but said the problem with the books is that they make him feel sad!

He is a bit down at the moment so it would be good to find him something uplifting!!

It's almost the equivalent of me needing something to cheer me up after listening to the archers atm!!

[Stickerrocks]

For something a bit different, take a look at Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale. I'm struggling on the love story bit, because when DD was 9 she was obsessed with Young Sherlock, Young Bond and Theodore Boon type books.

[BYOSnowman]

Thank you both! I will look at these.

When I say love story it is only a side story not the story iyswim

So in one book the fiancé gets killed in ww1. He would like a book where the love interest doesn't die!!

[Fink]

Another one coming over from TA thread, as instructed!

As a disclaimer, I don't have a ds and have never been a 9 year old boy ... how about Noel Streatfeild? Or The Secret Garden. Most of the proper history (as opposed to just old) kids books I can think of are quite grim, so no help there. Not really in the categories you've suggested, but maybe Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl, his autobiographies.

[PerspicaciaTick]

Would he like the LIttle House on the Prairie series?
He might like "Spidersweb for Two" if you can find a secondhand copy around.
The Sword in the Stone is a bit different and might get him into Arthurian legends.

[Fink]

Sorry, took so long to type on phone that x post over Noel Streatfeild.

[BYOSnowman]

I don't think the fact he's a boy should restrict choices - jetty feather books are deemed for girls as I understand it!!

We have the secret garden on the shelf so might migrate it to his bedside table. He's read the Dahl.

I guess the problem is that he doesn't like fantasy and reads a lot of non fiction

Even the two David Willian's he read left him sad due to deaths!!

[BYOSnowman]

That's ok fink - all suggestions very welcome!

He does have Arthurian books so I will migrate those as well!!

[PerspicaciaTick]

The Secret Garden is very uplifting if he can get passed the first chapter or two.
What about Swallows and Amazons?

[BYOSnowman]

He didn't take to it.

He's at a junction where he is beginning to understand adult relationships without understanding them at all iyswim! I wonder if that's what he wants the book for - to try and answer some questions!!

[RosaliesGinBottle]

The Owl Service? It's all complicated FEELZ and Welsh history and myth and owls.

Margaret Mahy generally - The Changeover perhaps?

I'm better at fantasy recs than history tbh. I guess Georgette Heyer isn't his style, although she is very accurate! He might enjoy The Grand Sophy or the ones set in Spain and Waterloo - A Most Infamous Army, The Spanish Bride. Last named has the fab love story of Sir Harry Smith and his brave and lovely Spanish wife, plus Peninsular battles.

[RosaliesGinBottle]

(I believe Sandringham sets Heyer as recommended reading for Waterloo, so boys do read her books!)

[RosaliesGinBottle]

Edit: Sandhurst obvs not 'ham. Coffee not in yet.

[BYOSnowman]

Thanks - I will look at these too

I'm not sure it has to be history just more 'real' rather than fantasy. He really enjoyed Holes by Louis Sachar for example.

He's not bothered by a book being for girls

[madamehooch]

How about Saffy's Angel?

[BYOSnowman]

Thanks for suggestions - will look at them with ds!

[Sadik]

Has he read any Eva Ibbotson? Journey to the River Sea is lovely - no romance exactly IIRC, but the developing friendship between two of the characters is an important part of the plot.
And I'd second the Casson Family series starting with Saffy's Angel, again no romance but lovely real life stories that deal a lot with relationships, friendship, family dynamics (as well as having excellent plots!).

[drspouse]

Sally Lockhart series? May be a bit too old yet but worth a look.

[LordTrash]

My dds (and I) loved Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll - Victorian setting, ghosts and a friendship/love story too.

Dd2 has moved on to another of her books, again Victorian setting, about a girl who works in a circus - that might suit too.