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Original poster

Can you recommend Young Adult books suitable for a 9 year old?

63 replies

Blatherskite · 09/02/2017 18:25

OK, there's no way of saying this without sounding like I'm boasting so I'm just going to apologise here - sorry - and go with it...

DS is 9. A month off turning 10. According to the school's assessment, he's been reading ahead of his age since about year 2. We've been to parents evening tonight and they've said that he's gone up to a reading level of 14.3 years!!

I'm amazed and proud and excited obviously. He loves reading and it shows. I'd love to buy him a new book to celebrate his achievement but I'm not sure what to buy. I guess to support his ability I should be looking at Young Adult type books aimed at teenagers but not all of them are suitable as he is in reality, still only 9 with all of the naivety and interests that go with that age.

Could anyone recommend some books which might be suitable?

/boast

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 09/02/2017 19:09

Robinson Crusoe? Swiss family Robinson? Arthur ransome, swallows and amazons?
Modern ones: The Artemis Fowl books, eoghan Coulgher (?) are brilliant, and the Alex Ryder series, Anthony Horowitz.

Tidypidy · 09/02/2017 19:07

Cross post!

Tidypidy · 09/02/2017 19:07

My 10 yo dd is working her way through the chronicles of narnia and loves them.

AllTheLight · 09/02/2017 19:07

How about the Chronicles of Narnia and the Arthur Ransome books?

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 09/02/2017 19:06

I second Percy Jackson which is pretty safe: DS has always been an avid reader well ahead of his age so we had similar problems. He also loved the Roman Mysteries.

ActuallyThatsSUPREMECommander · 09/02/2017 19:02

I said only if he adores the Hobbit and insist on more Bertrand. Presumably you realise that LOTR didn't become one of the best selling books of all time because everyone hates it and thinks it's unreadably dull Grin

BertrandRussell · 09/02/2017 18:59

Oh, god- not the Lord of the Rings- the most boring book ever written!

Original poster
Blatherskite · 09/02/2017 18:59

That was pretty much my question Bertrand. Are there any YA level books appropriate for a 9 year old.

OP posts:
anxious2017 · 09/02/2017 18:59

My 8 year old is the same. He's shot through the usual Beast Quest, David Walliams, Roald Dahl stuff. He's just discovered the Warrior Cat series which he's really enjoying, loves a Harry Potter and I was thinking of the Hobbit next. Careful with content though. Some of the young adult books are more adult than young.

Original poster
Blatherskite · 09/02/2017 18:57

Ooh, I have Harry Potter, Pullman, Lemony Snicket, Truckers/Diggers/Wings, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books all on the shelves! Good ideas

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 09/02/2017 18:54

Just because he can doesn't mean he should. Stick to age appropriate content just as you would with films.

ActuallyThatsSUPREMECommander · 09/02/2017 18:47

Percy Jackson books are a pretty good compromise between children and YA. For something really challenging you could try Frances Hardinge's Fly By Night. Terry Pratchett's Truckers/Diggers/Wings series is very good for that age.

Or go with the traditional MN advice and go Old Skool. E Nesbit, Just William, Jennings, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Doctor Doolittle etc etc. All are a bit more challenging whilst not having any questionable content (apart from some horrific class prejudice in Nesbit I guess, and terrible if well-meaning racism in the Dr Doolittle, but that's been edited out in modern editions).

And you can't go wrong with The Hobbit. If he flies through it then The Lord of the Rings is the obvious next step.

Sidge · 09/02/2017 18:41

My DD3 is 10 and a very capable reader, but I find the YA books in our local library have rather mature themes.

She's currently working her way through the Harry Potter series, and also likes reference books. She's also read Philip Pullman, Lemony Snicket, and loves David Walliams!

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