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Original poster

"adult" book suitable for a child to read?

40 replies

ash6605 · 03/06/2011 13:42

D.s 12 is an avid reader, quite advanced for his age. He's bored with the likes of Roald Dahl now and is desperate to read the type of book I do-Patricia Cornwall, martina cole and atm I'm reading Room which he is begging me for! Any ideas on something suitable he could read, obv no sex or adult theme but something a little more challlenging? Tia

OP posts:
OverflowingMum · 09/06/2011 14:08

Christopher Paloni and David Eddings were big favourites of my now 13 yr old book worm son!

fivegomadindorset · 03/06/2011 21:17

Take a trip to your local library, far cheaper if he doesn't like something.

YummyHoney · 03/06/2011 21:15

Great Expectations?

Original poster
ash6605 · 03/06/2011 21:13

thank-you,some great suggestions i'll have to take a trip to Waterstones I think :)

OP posts:
bruffin · 03/06/2011 14:46

On the same theme as smt1375 Desmond Bagley and also Dick Francis.

cmt1375 · 03/06/2011 14:21

Hammond Innes, Alaistair Mclean and Nevil Shute are all a bit old school but I read them as a teenager.. also consider non fiction, travel writing is good

DilysPrice · 03/06/2011 14:09

Rick Riordan, Lord of the Rings? Douglas Adams? Young Bond? Artemis Fowl? Alex Rider?
I'd second Pratchett and Agatha Christie

exexpat · 03/06/2011 14:05

Has he been through all the kind of thing aimed at his age? 12 is a bit old for Roald Dahl, but there are lots of things like Robert Muchamore's Cherub series, or the Hunger Games, which are aimed at that sort of age.

DS is also 12, and is currently into Bill Bryson's travel books - I think he's now on his third one in a row. He's also read some Ben Elton novels recently.

confuseddotcodotuk · 03/06/2011 14:05

Oh! And His Dark Materials. I'd recommend that to adult and child alike :)

confuseddotcodotuk · 03/06/2011 14:04

My 12yr old charge loved Simon Scarrow, I never had a chance to read it myself though. I was a fan of David Gemmel at that age, but it did have the occasional reference to thge idea that they were about to go have sex and lots of gore!

If you're after the murder/crime solving books particularily, what about Kathy Reichs? I'm trying to think if that has gory moments but am not sure, good reads though and may influence him into forensic anthropology which is a highly paid and prestigeous position Grin

CMOTdibbler · 03/06/2011 13:59

Terry Pratchett ? Loads of books, some more aimed at children than others, but nothing overtly violent/sexy. Lots to think about though

nevergoogle · 03/06/2011 13:56

The curious incident of the dog in the nightime?

bruffin · 03/06/2011 13:55

Also has he tried the Willard Price Adventure books, not adult but more grown up than Road Dahl.

bruffin · 03/06/2011 13:54

What about science fiction such as John Wyndham or more aimed at teenagers John Christopher.
There are huge teenage sections now in the book shops. DS liked books such as the Cherub series, Maximum Ride series, HIVE, all aimed at teenagers but may have a bit more adult themes.

EdithWeston · 03/06/2011 13:47

Earlier murders? Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy L Sayers, Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins? And adventure like Rider Haggard?