Recommendations for books to read to an 11year old boy that we will BOTH enjoy.

another vote for the percy jackson series - my 12 yr old ds is loving them .

I was just about to ask if anyone had any good recomendations for when he has finished the set - currently on Son of Neptune and racing through.

Eagle of the 9th and the other rosemary sutcliffs.

The London eye mystery. Had us gripped.

The Percy Jackson series by Rick riordan.

The dolphin crossing ( d day).

The Machine Gunners is excellent. I second that recommendation. I used to teach it to S1's in Secondary school.

From everything I've heard (although I haven't read it) I wouldn't recommend the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - this thread gives an idea why. For books on the Holocaust, Morris Gleitzman's Once and Then sound a lot better, maybe in a year or so. There are good notes on Once here - aimed at teachers, but seem useful for parents too - actually that page has a lot of other books that sound good for 11-year-olds.

Agree with Eva Ibbotson and would add Diana Wynn Jones the Christomanci series - all wizardy but funny too , we all listened to them on CD in the car DD2 8 enjoyed them as did DS10 and Dh and I - even the LO listened a bit.

The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence, as addictive as Harry Potter and finally got my son reading for fun. I really enjoyed them. Intrigue, romance, volcanos, some gore, plague, pirates, slavery, disgusting descriptions of roman entertainment in the colosseum...

I really enjoyed Moonfleet as a child. A classic, but a good smugglers adventure!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140367047/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=014062144X&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=075E5N306BWRE8968Y5S

I think you asked if Pullman was too old? My 8 yr old is currently romping through them, so I'd say not. Also in a magical vein (he loves Harry Potter) favourites include Eva Ibbotson books and Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale. Alan Garner is also good I remember, but I've not tried him on them yet.

My knowledge of classics is a bit girly, but what about E.Nesbit? Robert certainly liked the Railway Children on CD.

Also: Watership Down, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Carries War, Conrad's War, Diary of Anne Frank, Machine Gunners (Robert Westall), When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann Would be suitable for younger children but I think an 11 year old would still enjoy it if not already read, there are more in the series too.

Of all the above the Wolf Brother series were the ones that my ds of that age really raved about and were very suitable to do together.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

DD is a bit younger (10 nxt month) but I agree definitely good to have something you both enjoy.

We've just started reading My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - I'd not read it for years and had forgotten how funny it is.

Also on my list to get is Bill Bryson's Very Short History of Nearly Everything which I've been recommended on here (I have the adult version as an audiobook read by him & I can also highly recommend that to any grown up audio fans)

That was my feeling alison. My dd is about to turn 11 and wouldn't be ready for it but 11 year olds do vary enormously. It is a great adult read though.

I recognise a lot of these from what my DS also age 11 has been reading.
I have to say I haven't read too many of them myself except harry potter and the hobbit.
Recently I read the hunger games books and TBH I am not sure I would want my DS reading them. It is very violent as people do have to kill each other to ensure there own survival at the expense of everyone else. I am not sure I like the theme for him just yet. DH who has encouraged him to read all sorts of other things also agreed with me after reading them.

I second the skellig

If he liked the wimpy kids one he might like "A load of old tripe" by Gervais Phinn. Bit of a serious point made at the end but still fun.

Skulduggery Pleasant - Derek Landy
The young sherlock holmes - Andrew? Lane
The series of unfortunate Events - Limony Snicker

my DS 10 is working his way through all of these great as there are loads and Derek Landy brings out one a year so till writing - I love picking them up and always read more than I mean to as I like them too and Anthony Horowitz has more than just Alex Ryder he's written some modern tales of the unexpected type short stories too.
And Inkheart, Inkspell etc Cornelius Funke - trying to persuade DS to pick those up at some point too.

Oh the first chapter of Wolf Brother is quite full on.....dad getting killed by bear....I was quite and had to keep checking my DS was ok with it. He was fine. Then as story kicks in and he finds wolf cub its great.

Ooops the various trilogy

Have you read all the David Walliams books? They are very funny and great fun to read together.

Skellig by David Almond?

The Various Trilogy? [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Various-Touchstone-Trilogy-Steve-Augarde/dp/0552548588/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330380114&sr=8-1 here]]

The reason I asked how robust he is is because The Hunger Games is quite violent and a little bit disturbing. It involves 24 people fighting to the death with each other.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas I think he'd be OK with - especially seeing he was fine with Goodnight Mr Tom.

Goodnight Mr Tom is one of my all time favourites are a child (also loved Back Home by the same writer)

The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier - OK, it's war again, but gives a different non-UK perspective

The Young Bond Series by Charlie Higson

Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes is a great book - about two Enid Blyton-style children from the 50s cryogenically frozen and revived in the 21st century!

The Seeing Stone Trilogy is great for a boy that age.

The Golden Acorn is also a great book and there is a series of them too.

Is he a sensitive child or quite robust?

diary of a wimpy kid books are very funny and enjoyable for both parent and boys (and girls)