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Original poster

Hot books for children aged 9-14

35 replies

roisin · 26/12/2006 19:32

Charlie Higson: Young Bond Series the first is Silverfin, then Blood Fever. The third one (title as yet unannounced) is due out 4 Jan.

Anthony Horowitz: Alex Rider series of course - I think there's about 5 now, and another one due out in 2007.
The Power of Five series Raven's Gate etc. are very popular too. They are teenage horror, and a bit disturbing in places; so parents who like to censor their reading may not approve: but the kids love them. The third one - Nightrise - is due out 2 April.

Back with more in a mo.

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essbee · 06/01/2007 00:49

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essbee · 06/01/2007 00:47

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essbee · 06/01/2007 00:45

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pointydog · 06/01/2007 00:06

dd1 just read Horowitz's Groosham Grange (I think) and loved it. She was never interested in the Alex Ryder stuff - lots of other books though with wider appeal.

Original poster
roisin · 05/01/2007 23:43

Rosa - I didn't know about the Caroline Lawrence books being filmed for the BBC. DS1 (9) will be very excited; he's a big fan: he started reading her books about 4 years ago, and always buys the new ones as soon as they are published. I thought he'd be growing out of them soon, but he still parts with his cash enthusiastically and reads the new ones avidly!
DS2 (7) is a keen reader of non-fiction, but reluctant to read 'stories'. After Easter he 'does' Romans at school, and with the programmes on the TV as well, maybe I can persuade him to read some fiction in 2007.

OP posts:
Tortington · 05/01/2007 21:06

also she is very much into period drama after seeing pride and prejudice is absolutley inlove with jane austen.

oh and buffy the vampire slayer - but to be honest i dont give a shit as long as shes reading.

RosaLuxembourg · 05/01/2007 20:09

Yes Janeite, DD has read The Hobbit and loved it. I have read the first book of LOTR aloud to her but she finds the long pages of description a bit boring (even though I skip some of them!). Actually even though I have read LOTR many many times myself I didn't notice quite how much description there is - or how bad he is at dialogue - until I read it aloud.
She has read two or three of the Narnia books and quite liked them but not enough to read the rest!
One that she has really enjoyed lately is I Coriander by Sally Gardner - an absolutely wonderful book for anyone that doesn't know it.
Martianbishop - the books set in rome are by Caroline Lawrence - DD likes them too and there is a tv series based on the first three coming out in the spring.

Blandmum · 05/01/2007 19:45

dd likes the books set in rome, Thief of Ostia (?) can't remember the author

janeite · 05/01/2007 19:43

Ooh I like him too Custardo, but hadn't thought of recommending him to dd. How old is your daughter?

Tortington · 05/01/2007 19:39

my dd is quite taken with marcus sedgwick - as an author.

janeite · 05/01/2007 19:34

Sorry Rosa, i thought I'd replied to this last night but it doesn't seem to be here!

"The Ruby In The Smoke" series is utterly brilliant but tbh I think it's too "old" for a nine year old and dd hasn't read it yet either.

Has she read "Muddle Earth" which just featured on Jackanory? That's quite fun; a bit Terry Pratchetty. Also - how about "The Hobbit"? If the full version sounds a bit overlong, you can get a really lovely abridged version.

What about the Narnia books too? As an adult, I get cross with all the Christian allegory but I loved them as a child.

If she's not easily scared, "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman is really good too. Will keep trying to think of more!

RosaLuxembourg · 04/01/2007 20:39

Yes Janeite, DD1 also tried Stormbreaker and thought it too boyish. She likes adventure - is very keen on Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket and stuff with a lot of black humour in, but not so good with guns and physical violence. Was wondering about Ruby in the Smoke? Has your DD read it?

janeite · 04/01/2007 19:06

She's 11 now Rosa. She read a couple of the Alex Rider's at about your daughter's age, then said they were "too boy-ish". They are great books though.

Bucketsofdynamite - great idea! He's going to be very dishy when he's 10 years older isn't he?!!!

Bucketsofdynomite · 04/01/2007 17:36

Let her watch the dvd of Stormbreaker and fall in love with the gorgeous boy actor and then she'll want to read the books!

RosaLuxembourg · 04/01/2007 17:21

How old is your daughter Janeite? DD1 is 9 and I am always looking for new books that other children her age are enjoying - unfortunately not many of her friends are big readers.

Califrau · 04/01/2007 16:33

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janeite · 04/01/2007 16:16

Oh and I've just got "Inkspell" (the follow up to "Inkheart" from the library - will let you know if I enjoy it!

I really liked "Inkspell" but dd didn't - she found it a bit too graphic I think. She also didn't like the Caroline Lawrence ones as she said they got a bit samey.

The "Across The Nightingale Floor" series by Leane Hearne is also absolutely wonderful - epic!

janeite · 04/01/2007 16:12

Roisin - the "Mortal Engines" series is brilliant! Both dd (11) and I loved them; yet to read the final one though.

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 03/01/2007 18:11

I love you Roisin!

Original poster
roisin · 03/01/2007 18:09

Did you know Inkheart is being made into a film right now! Currently casting.

Janeite - have you read Mortal Engines? I didn't like the first one at all - I just couldn't get beyond the concept of mobile cities, I just couldn't visualise it. A girl in my reading group is very keen, and I was intending to read another in the series this holidays - but haven't done so yet! Should I persevere? I know the 4th one won the Guardian Children's book prize in 2006.

OP posts:
RosaLuxembourg · 03/01/2007 17:52

I just read Inkheart - got it for my 9yr old DD - it is terrific. She is also reading the Roman mysteries by Caroline Lawrence - prob too young for a 14 year old but really terrific for 8-13s. Also I recently read Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother and Spirit Walker - good for 10-15 I would say.

janeite · 30/12/2006 16:37

"Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke.

The Sally Lockheart series by Philip Pulman.

"Windsinger" trilogy - William Nicholson (I think

"Mortal Engines" series - Philip Reeve - these are brilliant!

Bucketsofdynomite · 29/12/2006 18:19

Philip Pullman's The Broken Bridge is a good one, all about family secrets and set on the lovely Welsh seaside.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - comedy / apocalypse / teen adventure.
I really enjoyed A Clockwork Orange by Antony Burgess at 16, would have done younger if I'd found it and 14yr old boys (who can be trusted not to copy the violence LOL) would definitely. Got me back in to reading after 5yrs of secondary school had made it uncool.

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 26/12/2006 19:55

Now that looks like being a very useful site. Thank you!

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 26/12/2006 19:54

Sorry not to respond yet Roisin. Am busy reading the reviews and any excerpts that I can!

Now to read the teen site!

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