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Help! Life after Tom Gates...?

36 replies

spiderlight · 13/06/2015 13:14

DS is 8 and a very able reader (in Y3 but has literacy lessons in a mixed Y5/6 group at school), but until now reading has been easy but 'booooooooooring' and he's had to be coerced into it and never willingly picked up a book for pleasure. We've tried all the usual suspects - Wimpy Kid, Horrid Henry, David Walliams, Captain Underpants, Flat Stanley etc. - and he's quite liked them once he's got going but not really read with any real enthusiasm. Then he discovered Tom Gates books and he loves them - has devoured the first three in the past fortnight. I'm delighted, but also panicking slightly because there are only 8 in the series so far and I want to keep the momentum going. We're going to the library to see if anything there tickles his fancy, but I was wondering whether you lovely lot had any suggestions. He particularly likes the graphics and doodles in the Tom Gates books.

OP posts:
Yamahaha · 13/06/2015 22:05

Percy Jackson series?
Mr Gum?
Philip Pullman Northern Lights trilogy?
Anthony Horowitz (Stormbreaker, Falcon's Malteaser etc)
Diana Wynne Jones Chrestomanci books?
Chronicles of Narnia
Hobbit
Has he read Harry Potter?

Horrid Henry/Flat Stanley way too young for him I would have thought.

Mytholmroyd · 13/06/2015 22:00

i second James Patterson's books DS is 9 and currently reading them and can't put them down - giggles away happily on the sofa!

thobblywighs · 13/06/2015 21:56

All of the above plus I am not a loser books

forago · 13/06/2015 21:54

2 DS here and its been tom gates, norm, middle school here

Starlightbright1 · 13/06/2015 21:51

Have you tried Will Solvit...My DS loves Tom gates but has also enjoyed these.

DoTheDuckFace · 13/06/2015 18:15

Another vote for the middle school series.

Have you tried a different genre? Ds loves fantasy and loved the beast quest series which then pavedcthe way for skulduggery pleasant and the chronicles of ancient darkness.

spiderlight · 13/06/2015 18:13

Thanks - I'll have a look at those!

OP posts:
AngelsWithSilverWings · 13/06/2015 14:30

Watching with interest as I have a 9 year old Tom Gates fan who won't read anything else.

madamehooch · 13/06/2015 14:25

World of Norm

NickNackNooToYou · 13/06/2015 14:03

Just go to the library and let him choose. I take mine aged 10 (reading age of 14+) and 8 (really struggled but is improving greatly). They both love just looking through all the shelves, often they choose for each other or ask me too.

Leeds2 · 13/06/2015 13:58

Middle School series by James Patterson might appeal?