Garth Nix

[Hiddeninplainsight]

DD has flown through Keys to the Kingdom and Seven Towers series's, and loved them (they were a MN recommendation ). She would love to read more but are there any others that are not YA? She is too young for things such as the Hunger Games and the suchlike but has read Harry Potter, the Northern Lights, Tiffany Aching and many other things. Thanks!!

[Hiddeninplainsight]

I'm going to just bump this now the holidays are over in the hope that there might be some Nix fans about...

[NannyOggsKnickers]

Has she read the Abhorsen books by Garth Nix? It is a bit scarier but still great. I also loved books by Diana Wynne Jones. She was a student of both Tolkien and C.S.Lewis and it shows. Start with the Chrestomanci books. I also loved the Tamora Pierce books like 'Wild Magic'.

[Wolfiefan]

The dark is rising books?

[TragicallyUnbeyachted]

I would have said that if she's read the Northern Lights and the later Tiffany Aching books then she should be fine to read Sabriel / Lirael / Abhorsen.

Yes to Diana Wynne Jones and The Dark is Rising.

Maybe the Chronicles of Prydain?

Some Alan Garner (e.g. Elidor or the Weirdstone of Brisingamen / Moon of Gomrath - steer clear of The Owl Service for now as it's all about the subtext).

Other Pratchett (again, if a child's finished all of Tiffany Aching I think they're ready for the rest of Discworld.

Neil Gaiman's children's books (can be scary but not in a YA way - e.g. The Graveyard Book).

Marianne Dreams?

Joan Aiken (Black Hearts in Battersea, Wolves of Willoughby Chase etc.)

Rosemary Sutcliff

Leon Garfield

Penelope Lively

Some John Christopher?

[NannyOggsKnickers]

Ooh, that's a good call Wolfie

That's made me remember: 'Owl Service' by Alan Garner.

[NannyOggsKnickers]

Also, Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathon Stroud.

[Hiddeninplainsight]

Horrah! Welcome back Nix fans!

She has read Diane Wynne Jones (chrestomanci, howls and a couple of others) and the chronicles of Prydain (loved those). She is reading Rosemary Sutcliff at the moment. She tried Tamara Pierce when she was 6 (Lioness ones), but they were a little old then (they were a recommendation and I hadn't realised they were too old). She is going to try them again. I am going to keep my eye out for Sabriel et al I think they will suit her. Will have a look at some of the other recommendations too. Thanks so much! Honestly, I don't know what I would do without my mumsnet book recommendations!!

[Wolfiefan]

I came on here thinking it was another adult reading Garth Nix!
I blame my years as an English teacher!

[Hiddeninplainsight]

Wolfiefan you are exactly the type of book reviewer that is perfect for me! A great level of knowledge and a fan of the same genre. She tried the Dark is Rising (about the only books in this style I did read as a child) but didn't get into them. They are on my 'try again later' list!!

[1Vandal]

I've read the garth nix books since he started publishing! His trouble twister series is also good.

[1Vandal]

The inheritance series by Christopher paolini are about the right age group for her as well I loved those.

[Wolfiefan]

Bless you! I do have a real love of kids and young adult fiction. Not long finished the new Malorie Blackman.
Also re reading To Kill a Mockingbird at the moment. I haven't read Go Set a Watchman yet so that's next after a re read. Not recommending it for your DD obviously!

[pollyhemlock]

Something new and something old: I have just read Dragon's Green by Scarlett Thomas, start of a new series, quite Harry Potterish, and very good, I thought. You could also try some of E. Nesbit's fantasy : Five Childen and It still holds up very well ( the idea of wishes not working out right); also The Amulet and Phoenix and the Carpet. Otherwise would endorse all the ideas above, though Sabriel and its sequels are quite dark- may want to check them first yourself.

[NannyOggsKnickers]

Has she given The Hobbit a go yet. I read that at about 11 years old. You might also want to start with the Wild Magic book without Tamora Pierce. I found them much more engaging than The Lioness series.

Don't go for Christopher Paolini first. Try The Belgariad by David Eddings first. I loved them as a pre-teen. The Paolini books are pretty much a straight rip off of those.

[NannyOggsKnickers]

Not without obviously with Tamora Pierce.

[Daffydil]

I love the Sabriel series. It's amazing.

How about The Prince in Waiting trilogy? Or Artemis Fowl?

[Hiddeninplainsight]

She loved the Hobbit but I think she got stuck on book 2 or 3 of Lord of the Rings. She liked the first three Artemis Fowl, but lost interest. I haven't heard of the Prince in Waiting trilogy. She tried the Belgariad series but didn't love it. I'm going to look for some of the other suggestions, including the E. Nesbit.