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Original poster

Books for a boy who loves reading and is going through a very hard time with his Dad who bullies him

38 replies

NeverTwerkNaked · 23/06/2019 22:38

He's 10, he loves gentle books, nothing too scary or dark.
He is currently refusing to see his dad, dad was very emotionally abusive to me and it seems like DS has been experiencing the same and it is all coming out.

So I would love any recommendations of books that either

  • are gentle /humorous and not scary at all
  • or might help him explore /make sense of some of the complex emotions he is going through right now
OP posts:
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eastmidsmum · 15/10/2019 22:32

Yes yes yes Just William, my very modern 11 yr old loved him!
The Jacqueline Wilson you’d want (perhaps?) is “Cookie” - emotionally abusive dad. Altho there’s a disturbing part when Dad has had enough of the family rabbit...... so maybe not for your sensitive DS.
Little House on the Prairie has a very strong but good and loving dad.

Yolande7 · 10/10/2019 18:33

Are you reading non-fiction books about feelings with him (The big book of feelings, What to do when you worry too much) ? I would also give him books to strengthen his self-confidence. Margot Sunderland's workbooks are very good as well (Helping children who are anxious...).

I would look at Jacqueline Wilson books. They are about girls, but they deal with real life problems in a very accessible way. It might be easier for him to access his feelings if the main character is a girl or if the book is historical fiction. Maybe a children's biography of a famous man who had an abusive dad?

dancinginpurplerain · 12/09/2019 17:55

The David Baddiel books are good fun - lots of laughing out loud while reading them here.

samsamsam999 · 12/09/2019 17:52

Brian Jacques - Redwall series are fantastic. I loved them when I was around 10.
www.goodreads.com/series/40340-redwall

FrancisCrawford · 04/09/2019 17:55

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Squiz81 · 02/09/2019 22:49

I loved The little Grey men by BB when I was his age

akkakk · 30/08/2019 15:57

Gentle authors:

  • Noel Streatfeild (has written far more then Ballet Shoes - lots of boy heroes as well)
  • Phillipa Pearce
  • Arthur Ransome
  • Philip Turner
  • Anthony Buckeridge
  • Richmal Crompton
EmCamB · 08/08/2019 08:04

It's a bit left field, but check out Biggles books. DS loved them. We picked up quite a few from a 2nd hand book shop.

Bitlost · 07/08/2019 08:32

Sorry to hear you and your son have been having a tough time.

The Roman mysteries by Caroline Lawrence - very pacy, take your mind off things
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - for a good laugh
The Uncommoners as mentioned above

Todayissunny · 06/08/2019 09:42

My boys have recently read warrior cats and seekers by erin hunter.
Something funnier - julius zebra by Gary northfield.

HelloYouTwo · 06/08/2019 09:38

My very sensitive boy (also can’t deal with scary books) very much enjoyed the Mr Terupt series.

Claracracker · 06/08/2019 09:32

Have a look at Ross welford. Superb books.

Ellmau · 03/08/2019 11:50

Some of the classics like E Nesbit (Five Children and It, etc), The Family From One End Street; Paul Berna, A Hundred Million Francs; The Phantom Tolbooth.

Helen Cresswell's Bagthorpe series is funny too - starts with Ordinary Jack. The first two are in print (and on kindle if he has one), if he likes those you can the others pretty cheap second hand.

Ellmau · 03/08/2019 11:43

Maybe Elizabeth Goudge, The Little White Horse?

Jennings and Just William would be great, they're very funny and sound just right for your DS.

FreeFreesia · 25/06/2019 12:43

Jennings definitely. DS enjoyed a few.
Phantom Toll Booth
George's Secret Key to the Universe

PopGoesTheWeaz · 24/06/2019 22:32

The uncommoners is a book about a fantasy world that's happending around us - so a bit like harry potter in that the protagonist is learning about the magic world as we the reader do, but not nearly as dark as HP - worth having a look.

PopGoesTheWeaz · 24/06/2019 22:26

Really sorry he and you are going through this.

Mr Gum is pure silliness/nonsense. There is a villain, but he's a complete farce. so not scary at all. The Bolds is a similar vein.

My kids don't really like them, but I know they are popular: what about David Walliams?

jackparlabane · 24/06/2019 08:05

Lots of beatings and death in LIW - be warned. Much as I loved them, I can't read them to ds (10) as too scary and dd7 needed a few bits glossed over and lots of explanation of the Wild West and Christianity.

One with a bullying dad - Nobody's family is going to change, by Louise Fitzhugh (the teenage girl and dancing brother eventually pursue their interests and dad has to lump it)

Pratchett is going down well with the 10yo.

MadamNoo · 24/06/2019 07:52

My 10 year old boy was very into the wings of fire series- warring tribes of dragons but there’s actually lots about friendship and relationships in there. Quite gentle and age appropriate and escapist.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 23/06/2019 23:22

Roald Dahl
David Walliams
Diary of a wimpy kid
Tom Gates

chilledteacher · 23/06/2019 23:21

Swiss Family Robinson, Robinson Crusoe?

LionsHeart · 23/06/2019 23:20

Terry Pratchett - timeless wisdom delivered tongue-in-cheek.

Original poster
NeverTwerkNaked · 23/06/2019 23:19

The Jennings ones could be good, I think my brother used to read them, will take a look, may be able to dig his old ones out!

OP posts:
ItsInTheSpoon · 23/06/2019 23:15

Sorry, link doesn’t seem to work but “Jennings goes to school”, the first in the series, is available from amazon

Beeseeinya · 23/06/2019 23:14

The Phantom Tollbooth
Roald Dahl books
Robin Hobb books get very weird after the first couple in the series, I'd look into the plot first to see if too scary. Might be if you can't handle potter.
How to train your dragon series
Eragon series
Enid Blyton books