Goodnight, Mr Tom......

[BertrandRussell]

...too much for imaginative, sensitive 8 year old bookworm? I’m inclined to think so.....

I asked for guidance because DS is a good reader but I wasn't sure if what he wanted to read was really pitched at the right level. Teacher told me that anything from dark blue/burgundy or black would be fine.

I must admit I don't like many of the books on the reading list - they all seem so sad! Michael Morpurgo (DS largely hates all MM books), White Fang and books where people are nasty to children and I do wonder what the children are supposed to be learning from these types of books.

Oh not another Watership Down adaptation - just the opening bars of Bright Eyes has me in floods of tears!

My kids were not keen on Michael Morpurgo.

I remember reading The Diddakoi at about that age, I really enjoyed it.

"BertrandRussell oh I'd love that reputation! I wish my nephews and nieces were bookworms!"
I have 7 nieces, 5 nephews and 4 great nephews ranging in age from 40 to 3 and only one bookworm among the lot. I work very hard at not making him my favourite!

It's the machines Bertrand!

I think I read it about that age. It is a fantastic book. I remember being really gripped by it.

Judith Kerr's 'Out of the Hitler Time' trilogy is fabulous and really eye-opening for younger readers in terms of learning about having to flee your country and becoming a refugee, which might be particularly relevant today. I remember it as being written very much through the eyes of a child (particularly 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit' but also 'Bombs on Aunt Dainty').

Not the third book (A Small Person Far Away) for younger readers. Just to make you aware, Anna (Judith Kerr) is grown up and married. her dad died just after the war, and her mum has a new partner. She's going over to Germany because her mum is "ill". Turns out that she's made a suicide attempt because her mum's new partner has said he might leave her. Not a children's book at all.

Bertrand have a look for some GGBP for old fashioned books.
My ds love the Lone Pine Series at that age. First is Mystery at Witchend and is set during WWII.
Other ones he's loved have been Cue for Treason (Geoffrey Trease) Storm Ahead (Monica Edwards), and Biggles.

I was also about to suggest The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden.

We read the book and watched the film in year 4. Don’t think 8 is too young at all!

Children of Green Knowe or Moondial?

Both went down a storm with DD (who also loved GMT but see you’ve discounted that!)

I think I would have probably given GMT to one of mine at this age. But I had read it myself and would know how to deal with it if it was too much. The Little Bookworm concerned is the child of the niece who at the same age half- unwrapped a beautiful copy of The Wind in the Willows, said in withering tones "oh, a book" and tossed it aside. I retrieved it on Boxing Day, still half unwrapped!

Little Bookworm sounds fab!

We’ve got a shelf (well, it’s in DD’s room but it’s mine too dammit!) of exactly this type of fiction. We revisit regularly!

I would hold off on GMT for a couple of years. The scene with the baby (being vague to avoid spoilers though I expect most on this thread know the book) would have been too much for me at that age, and I think many children would respond similarly. Also I just don’t think it’s a very good book. Sacrilege, I know.

A book I often recommend for that age group is Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Absolutely brilliant book and fits the “old-fashioned” criterion (first published in 1916 or so).

I'd say it's too much if they are sensitive. I know you asked about the book but don't be tempted to let them watch the film - one of the scenes (in an understairs cupboard) is quite harrowing.

It traumatised me when I was 10!

^the film that is

YY to The Diddakoi, lovely book.

I watched the film when I was about 14 and it traumatised me so doubt I would read the book even now.

The Borrowers?

I remember reading The Diddakoi at about that age, I really enjoyed it

Anyone here old enough to remember the BBC adaptation of this - Kizzy?

What about Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series?

www.terrypratchettbooks.com/book/the-wee-free-men/

Bert if that’s your reputation, have you done the Just William books yet?

It is dark and disturbing. It gives me the shudders just thinking about it. I cannot understand why it is so popular.

Tough one. I'd say leave it a bit. I think I got hold of a copy of Goodnight Mr Tom at somewhere beween 11 and 13 and it made me cry.

What about the Children of Green Knowe series by Lucy M. Boston?

Also the Melendy books by Elizabeth Enright.