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Books for a 10 year old boy who doesn't like magic/sci fi

33 replies

Hallloumi · 21/05/2019 20:14

Looking for recommendations for a friends' son. He is not a big reader but they are trying to encourage but he does;t like anything 'not real' (so no magic/sci fi etc). No specific sporty or other interests. I'm stuck so any help appreciated.

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NotInGuatemalaNowDrRopata · 27/05/2019 05:13

My two (8 & 11) enjoyed The War That Saved My Life and City of Ember and I enjoyed them as well!

SummerLightning · 27/05/2019 03:30

My two 8 and 10 have recently liked
Insignificant events in the life of a cactus
Boy at the back of the class
The explorers

+The usual wimpy kid, dog man, captain underpants, the storey treehouses (bit young for 10 perhaps)
Everything else has magic or similar (Harry Potter etc)

They are also mad about the Phoenix magazine and the Beano. And Asterix and Garfield.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 27/05/2019 01:59

The Barney series by Enid Blyton.
If he likes animals, the Adventure series by Willard Price is good, and all the animal facts are true so they're secretly educational too Grin

Witchend · 22/05/2019 16:28

In truth I can think of a million things - but I gather that modern children can’t cope with any language produced pre-2000

Not true. Ds has a preference for older stories. Of course that does mean he may come out with phrases such as "chocks away" "Blast" "Oh gosh!" and "damn unsporting". But he doesn't struggle with the language.

Witchend · 22/05/2019 16:25

Ds is 11yo, but in the last few years his favourites have included:
Biggles
Lone Pine Series
Swallows and Amazon series
James Heriot's vet series
Alex Rider
Cherub
Swish of the Curtain Series
Various Noel Streatfields/Enid Blytons
Stalky and Co
The Daughter of Time
Cue for Treason

GeorgeTheBleeder · 22/05/2019 13:38

Sutcliff without the ‘e’ my phone wants.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 22/05/2019 13:37

Oh - I recently re-read the Rosemary Sutcliffe series, having not looked at them since I was a child. So dark. So traumatising. But probably much less so for children!

How about Richmal Crompton’s William books?

In truth I can think of a million things - but I gather that modern children can’t cope with any language produced pre-2000. Hmm So I’ve given up recommending John Buchan or P G Wodehouse or Shock Charles Dickens ...

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 22/05/2019 13:29

The 13 Storey Treehouse series - ridiculous, silly, with comic style drawings throughout. My 10yo loves them. Can be read out loud, or read alone. No particular genre.

Dog Man also good for reading alone.

FreeFreesia · 22/05/2019 13:26

The unbelievable top secret diary of pig
Zoobreak - Gordon Korman
Diamond brothers series - Horowitz
Treasure hunters by James Patterson
Dirtie Bertie Burp
Paddington (the proper chapter books)

stargirl1701 · 22/05/2019 13:26

Rosemary Sutcliff. Eagle of Ninth plus many more novels with historical settings.

The Ghosts of Glencoe by Mollie Hunter.

A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hunter.

Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian.

Wonder by R J Palacio.

MumUnderTheMoon · 22/05/2019 13:03

Superfudge

cakeandchampagne · 22/05/2019 12:57

Maybe books about easy science experiments, building treehouses, or identifying animal tracks?

Hecateh · 22/05/2019 12:51

The Gerald Durrell books - nothing like the TV series.

My Family and Other Animals - I read and loved the whole series in my early teens. Very focussed on the animals rather than family relationships

All Creatures Great & Small - James Herriot

Lord of the Flies
Moonfleet

BlueChampagne · 22/05/2019 12:41

My Family and other Animals?

BlueChampagne · 22/05/2019 12:38

Roman Mysteries
Chris Priestley's Maudlin Towers books

Waterlemon · 21/05/2019 21:39

My ds only really read the wimpy kid books. Ds1 has probably read each book about 4 times!

Occasionally they will branch out into Tom gates, David Williams, frank cottrell Bryce but they are all still a similar genre - family/school based, easy to read with a touch of humour. They’re not going to develop their vocabulary or comprehension skills, but they are reading daily. (Chick-lit for kids)

Sometimes I chose a book and we read it together- I read a chapter then get one of them to read aloud. Books we’ve shared
The London eye mystery
Harry Potter
The phantom toll booth
Stig of the dump
Kids version of treasure island
Wonder
What to do if you turn in invisible

Hepte · 21/05/2019 21:28

Captain underpants, David Williams books.

fruitpastille · 21/05/2019 21:07

Alex Rider, Wimpy kid and David Walliams are all popular with 10 great old boys. Tom Gates are a bit of an easier read.

There are graphic novels of Alex Rider too which are a good start for more reluctant readers.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 21/05/2019 21:02

Sorry - the last actually involves some of the tools of magic but it’s entirely real world not fantasy! And very funny.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 21/05/2019 21:00

Erich Kästner - Emil and the Detectives

E. L. Konigsburg - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Lisa’s Evans - Small Change for Stuart

notacooldad · 21/05/2019 20:49

At 10 Ds1 loved the Alex Rider series that has been mentioned.

Flicketyflack · 21/05/2019 20:46

TINTIN more pictorial but complex stories and great locations Wink

Flicketyflack · 21/05/2019 20:44

Michelle Paver Wolf Brother series
Anthony Horowitz Alex Rider series

sijjy · 21/05/2019 20:39

My son read Tom gates and the diary of the wimpy kid at that age. I think he also had the joe sugg books. Not sure what age they are aimed at though.