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Original poster

Really good book for 11 year old boy

57 replies

parentsonthenet · 18/11/2021 08:06

Not Alex Rider, Tom Gates, Wimpy Kid,

Read Billionaire Boy and Gangster Granny so can take any very good recommendations of David Walliams.

We are looking for two books, don't have to be part of the same series but they have to be interesting from the start and real page turners.

Fighting a losing reading battle here and need to reignite the flame!!

Appreciate any help thanks

OP posts:
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sharpenyourknives · 26/11/2021 22:41

Skellig
Watership Down
Wonder
Percy Jackson
Lord of the Flies

Jessicabrassica · 26/11/2021 22:15

10yo here would second the tree house books, Harry Potter, Rick Riordan, Sophie Anderson (house with chicken legs etc), land of roar and also loved the graphic novel of HisDark Materials.

mellicauli · 26/11/2021 22:11

Definitely worth trying non fiction if the novels aren't hitting the spot.

mellicauli · 26/11/2021 22:09

Lots of good ones recommended here.

My 11 year old is reading Bear Gryll's autobiography, Mud Sweat & Tears (junior edition) and seems to be really enjoying it..

namechangecoercivecontrol · 26/11/2021 22:05

We are enjoying The Wombles :)))

stayathomer · 26/11/2021 22:02

We started reading Harry Potter last year , a few pages a night. I'm as hooked as they are and we're on book 4! Dog man, Captain Underpants, Percy Jackson, Tom Fletcher and David Walliams are the go-tos here- all of my kids were reluctant readers until Summer this year so there's hope for everyone out there yet!!

mamaduckbone · 26/11/2021 22:00

Also 'Wonder' by RJ Palacio, The Boy at the back of the class, and definitely Percy Jackson

mamaduckbone · 26/11/2021 21:55

My ds absolutely loves Ross Welford

  • Time Travelling with my hamster, The dog that saved the world, The 1000 year old boy.
They're funny but with a bit of a science / history twist.
Takeaway2021 · 26/11/2021 20:09

Underdogs by Chris Bonnello, neurodiverse dystopia series, full of action and thought provoking. My 11 year old son loves them.

madamehooch · 25/11/2021 08:56

My Brother is a Superhero

Magissa · 19/11/2021 08:22

I read books on Net galley pre publication. A couple of months ago I read Pony by RJ Palacio. It's about a boy who has a ghost as a friend. One night his father is kidnapped and the boy goes to look for him. It is an adventure story with a supernatural magical element though not frightening. It is aimed at 9-11 but even as an adult I loved it. Would definitely recommend.

Gladioli23 · 19/11/2021 08:11

The trouble with a lot of children's adventure stories is that they have to kill off the parents or how do you facilitate the children having loads of adventures?

If you think about it harry potter's parents have died, Artemis Fowl the father is missing presumed dead and the mother is having a breakdown, Harry and the Wrinklies the parents have been killed, even books like The Secret Island by Enid Blyton the parents are missing. It's a plot device to allow for fun stories.

I don't know if that's something that would help if you explained it or just ruin a load of books?

Original poster
parentsonthenet · 19/11/2021 03:56

I've looked at the Cherub books on Amazon and the reviews are very good, but I saw that his mum dies and I'm not sure about that.

We did try to start Beetle Boy once and it was a bit sensitive and he didn't want to go further with the book.

As I think I'd enjoy Harry Potter too and we can follow up with the film I'm going to get that one for me to read to him.

OP posts:
Gladioli23 · 18/11/2021 23:31

CHERUB is worth a punt, I preferred them to Alex Rider by some margin, they do get quite adult by the end of the series if he gets into them though.

Harry Potter also a good shout, and agree with the recommendation for Artemis Fowl and for Percy Jackson.

One of my favourite books as a child (which is only a two book series so might be more accessible feeling than a long series?) was called Harry and the Wrinklies. It's about a boy who goes off to live in a rambling mansion with assorted aunts and uncles who turn out to be criminals and the high jinks that follow.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_and_the_Wrinklies

LadyCatStark · 18/11/2021 23:25

DS loved the Special Forces Cadets series by Chris Ryan who was in the special forces so they are quite realistic (although they cadets are children) he didn’t like Alex Rider as he said it was too far fetched and his spy cadets were silly 😂.

He’s outgrown Harry Potter but if your DS hasn’t read them yet, he would probably enjoy them.

senua · 18/11/2021 23:24

Is Harry Potter a really obvious choice then for this age range? Sorry. I've never read it.
Yup. The first book starts as Harry turns 11 y.o.

Jerrysgonnabeacableboy · 18/11/2021 23:23

My reluctant reading tween was turned around by Rick Riordan. I think he's finished all the Percy Jacksons and now ploughing through Magnus Chase.

Definitely Harry Potter too. He's a great age to start.

CakesOfVersailles · 18/11/2021 23:20

Also Groosham Grange but there are only 2 books (the series was left as it is a wizarding school series and Harry Potter was climbing in popularity at the time).

CakesOfVersailles · 18/11/2021 23:18

Oops I think I didn't hit post:

CHERUB (though if he didn't like Alex Rider he may not like these).

I second Artemis Fowl.

The Wind Singer

Children of the Lamp

Lion Boy

For reading together, depending on his sense of humour, some of the Terry Pratchett books might be suitable.

Not great works of literature, but they are written to grab kids' attention - maybe the goosebump series? Or an anthology like "Scary stories to tell in the dark."

As for Harry Potter etc, yes suitable for 11 year olds. I would recommend starting soon (if he wants to read it) as otherwise he might find the first two books a bit babyish.

sproutsandparsnips · 18/11/2021 23:04

Yes, Machine Gunners
Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence

outnumbered77 · 18/11/2021 19:11

All of Ross Welford's books are great.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 18/11/2021 18:53

Also 39 Steps series

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 18/11/2021 18:52

Percy Jackson and other Rick Riordan books
Harry Potter
Matt Haig (to be a cat, and another one about trolls)
Podkin One Ear
Holes

Riverlee · 18/11/2021 18:50

Machine Gunners - Robert Westall

ChristmasCalamity · 18/11/2021 14:08

Redwall series by Brian Jacques.
Narnia series by CS Lewis.
The Green Ember series by SD Smith.

My DS adores all of these, and frequently returns to Tintin and Asterix as well.

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