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Children's books

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Original poster

Which books for my son?

88 replies

PaWithABra · 13/07/2012 23:31

when he could be playing on the wii ?

ha ha no.. this jsut seems the most well read part of the forum so i anticipate getting the most feedback.

What books would you recommend for a boy of 10 going on 11 to take for holiday reading.
He has read all the harry potter , percy jacksons is currently reading war horse..

he reads everyday and seems to like long involved stories. to help you gauge his level, he tried the lord of the rings but lost interest ...

cheers

pa

OP posts:
DilysPrice · 14/07/2012 00:26

The Graveyard Book is the most appropriate Gaiman

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 14/07/2012 00:26

The only one of Neil Gaiman's I would let a 10 yr old read is Stardust, and maybe Neverwhere.
It's a "difficult" age as they fall between being too old for actual children's books, but not quite old enough for a lot of the teen and young adult stuff. I'd be wary of the Hunger Games too, depending on how "sensitive" he is - some of it is very violent and quite "heavy" in places.
If he likes animals, there's the Adventure series by Willard Price, the first one is Amazon Adventure and there are 13 or 14 in the series. All the animal info in them is spot on, and worked into the story so they learn without realising it iyswim Grin
If he likes fantasy stuff, Garth Nix's "Keys to the Kingdom" is brilliant, I enjoyed it much more than the Abhorsen ones, and there are seven, one for each day of the week, with Mister Monday being first.

manicbmc · 14/07/2012 00:26

Silver Sword? Loved that book and Carrie's War.

I don't for one minute think Huck Finn would turn your lad into a racist. Grin

It made me think though and start to question things.

Original poster
PaWithABra · 14/07/2012 00:25

Stig of the Dump ! that was a book ?

OP posts:
QueenofDreams · 14/07/2012 00:25

Lucelulu The dark is rising was by Susan Cooper not Alan Garner Smile

However I would second the vote for her books as well as Alan Garner's Weirdstone of Brisingamen.

Also anything by Michael Morpurgo

Diana Wynne Jones - my personal favourite was A Tale of Time City

Goodnight Mister Tom

Dawn of Fear by Susan Cooper

The Outsiders by SE Hinton

Maybe the Earthsea books by Ursula LeGuin? although they can get fairly dark, so it depends on how well he'd handle that. (although I don't think it's nearly as dark Philip Pullman)

DilysPrice · 14/07/2012 00:24

Artemis Fowl defo.
Younger Terry Pratchetts
Anything by Frances Hardinge would stretch him
The other Rick Riordan series with Egyptian gods (starts slow but improves)
The Magic of Reality by Dawkins (not if you're religious)
Young Bond by Charlie Higson

Baskets45 · 14/07/2012 00:24

Brian Jacques
Michael Morpurgo
as well as ones above

Hownoobrooncoo · 14/07/2012 00:23

Tried to get mine interested in the classics but he just won't go there, have bought him

Alan Garner - Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Goodnight Mr Tom
Stig of The Dump

Soon as I say it's a classic he turns off.

Original poster
PaWithABra · 14/07/2012 00:23

Mice and men ? I did that for 'o' level .....

OP posts:
Happyasapiginshite · 14/07/2012 00:22

The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. My ds really enjoyed those.

Original poster
PaWithABra · 14/07/2012 00:22

its not that i would imagine the books turning him into a racist but i would rather he read them with me .. They are taught about racism and bullying etc in school and it might be a bit odd to read huckelberry finn without me to explain the context.. or indeed to discuss the other collouqualisms

OP posts:
DitaVonCheese · 14/07/2012 00:20

Of Mice and Men? To Kill a Mockingbird?

King Arthur-y stuff?

Asterix?!

Second Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Brandnewbrighttomorrow · 14/07/2012 00:19

Oooh, I LOVED Alan garner when I was little, had forgotten all about them, off to amazon right now!

Socknickingpixie · 14/07/2012 00:16

my son loves the pirate series books

manicbmc · 14/07/2012 00:15

It is. But it's an interesting look at slavery in some parts.

I read Tom Sawyer and Huckelberry Finn at about that age and it didn't turn me into a racist. It did show the injustice to a degree though.

FadingAwayToAHippo · 14/07/2012 00:14

David Walliams books? Don't know if they are too young but I enjoyed them and I'm 31!

Original poster
PaWithABra · 14/07/2012 00:12

thanks for all the suggestions

there is plenty there for me to look into.. the hunger games seems to come up a lot.
I liked the suggestion of the old classics .. he seemed less than impressed with them in waterstones .. maybe they dont have cool covers.. I could slip one into his books .. he might love it ..
which do you think would be the most appealing ? isnt huckelberry fin the one with constant reference to niggers ?

OP posts:
Original poster
PaWithABra · 14/07/2012 00:07

"Oh I do love a stealth boast, I do! And this is a very skilful one."

you what ?

OP posts:
manicbmc · 14/07/2012 00:03

I've been reading with a year 6 who loves the Alex Ryder series and I have to say I might even have to get them for myself. Smile

ballroomblitz · 14/07/2012 00:02

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hounds Of The Morrigan - Pat O'Shea

Hownoobrooncoo · 14/07/2012 00:01

My son is 10 and loves:

Percy Jackson series
Artemis Fowl Series
The Hunger Games Trilogy
Author Anthony Horowitz - Alex Ryder series
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
Young Samurai series by Chris Bradford
Philip Pullman's Dark Materials series
Michelle Paver's - Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness series

HarrietSchulenberg · 13/07/2012 23:58

My 11 year old loved the Dark Materials trilogy and is in the middle of the Mortal Engines (Philip Reeve) books.

manicbmc · 13/07/2012 23:54

Terry Deary?

If he is a sciency type, Stephen Hawking wrote a book called George and the big bang which sounds interesting.

seeker · 13/07/2012 23:52

Oh I do love a stealth boast, I do! And this is a very skilful one.

That being said, here are some ideas.

Itch, by Simon Mayo- (yes, that one.)
The Hunger Games
0utlaw, by Michael Morpogo.
Skellig
Holes
Sherlock Holmes stories.

crazygracieuk · 13/07/2012 23:52

Malorie Blackman-Hacker, Antidote
Anthony Horowitz- Horowitz Horror, Diamond brothers series
Skulduggery Pleasant

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