Stuck for fiction for my reluctant reader...

[PullingMySocksUp]

Whether for him to read or me to read, I am hitting a bit of a brick wall.

He’s nine and has loved Diary of a wimpy kid and read them all.
Doesn’t quite get on with Tom Gates
Has read half the Treehouse series and gone off them
Enjoyed some Naughtiest children by David Walliams but now won’t read them

Got half way through me reading Harry Potter illustrated version and went off it

He’s perfectly bright but I just can’t find any books that are fiction that he enjoys. He happily reads weird facts books and Guinness records etc.

Any suggestions? He rejects any fantasy/adventure/space/err can’t think what else.

He seems to like pictures but they are far and few.

What can I try next? I have googled extensively.

My similarly reluctant-to-read-fiction DS1 absolutely devoured Flat Stanley.

My ds was exactly the same (and still to a certain extent).

I found a fiction series called 'Treasure Hunters' which bridged the gap between his interest in history and fiction. He loves the horrible history books, Guinness book of records ... and many fact / reference books that others have mentioned.

We got him a subscription to The Week Junior which he really looks forward to every Friday.

A couple of years ago, I was a bit concerned about the lack of fiction but told not to be by his teacher ... She reckoned it was A Good Thing that he was seeking out stuff he enjoyed. And I so agree.

Anyway, he's just turned 10 and has steamed through a couple of David Baddiel's books and The Wizard of Once series this summer. Oh and he loves TinTin books as well. and thanks to the teacher for telling me not to stress

Rick Riordan series. My DS still rereads them all from choice and isn’t much interested in anything else.

Sorry, not 'Treasure Hunters'. I meant 'Time Hunters'.

Some of the things that worked for us :
You could try graphic novels which would fit with fiction and pictures ? Phoenix Comics do books as well as the comics or there are plenty on Amzon. We borrowed ours from the library
Maybe, if you still have one, take him to the library and let him choose ?
If you look at Jeff Kinney on this website, it gives suggestions for similar style books - www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/15805/Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid-The-Meltdown-book-13-by-Jeff-Kinney.html

My DS also prefers factual books, Horrible Histories, Science and Geography, etc too. Books on Coding...

Fiction he has enjoyed:

David Walliams books
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Spiderwick Chronicles
Roald Dahl (some)
Beast Quest
Abridged children's classics with read a long CD - Sherlock Holmes, Tom Sawyer, The Legend of King Arthur
Some of Michael Morpurgo

Wow, that makes it sound as if he's not a reluctant reader, but he is. He does most of his reading at school.

The Wayside School series by Louis Sachar. And then when he's a little older, Holes and Louis Sachar's other books.

I get you think he would get so much out of fiction OP, and as a complete bookworm since early childhood I would agree. However I think maybe some people just don’t get as much out of fiction whatever it is - I remember my DM worrying about my younger DB not reading fiction a lot (although he did like Harry Potter) and tbh he still doesn’t choose to read a novel for fun. However he does read factual, extended prose books on his favourite subjects (mostly music) a lot, and looking back he was reading fairly advanced books for his age all along, just not fiction. (Although I am still often surprised when I reference a kids’ book that yet again he never read)

Can you try a Phoenix magazine trial subscription? Weve had it a year and my 9 year old loves it. Also second the books they do, which some library's hold.

My dd who is 9 loved the Percy Jackson series. There are also (rubbish) films of the first 2 books and she enjoyed watching for inconsistencies and telling us how they were different to the books.

He might get on with graphic novels, as plenty of pictures! A PP mentioned Asterix and Tintin, which would be a good start.
Michael Morpurgo books. Many are set in war time, which might appeal if he likes facts. There are also many which are beautifully illustrated.
Poetry books, as I think many children find these easier and/or quicker to read. Maybe an anthology by Michael Rosen, or Benjamin Zephaniah.
Lemony Snicket books are popular with most 9 year olds.

A great series good for reluctant readers is Eddy Stone. Very funny and lots of children who don't normally like reading love these ones. (Fantasy adventure comic books.)

Also try the Diamond Brothers mystery series by Anthony Horowitz. Very funny but also good mysteries.

If he likes them, he can move onto the Alex Rider books by the same author (schoolboy spy mystery series with fantastic action adventure). They are brilliant for reluctant readers. It's impossible not to want to know what will happen next.

Captain Underpants is very silly and funny too. Has he read those?

If he likes factual books try Rick Riordan. His Percy Jackson series is fiction using the Greek gods. Start with Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods then follow with the Greek Heroes book. These two are books of actual Greek legends narrated (and commented on) by the title character. It’s a good way to introduce a child to Greek myth and if he likes it he can go on to read the fiction stories.

Mr gum?

I don't have anything specific to add, but just wanted to say that when my DS was 9, he was a very reluctant reader. He was required to read five times a week as part of his homework, so grudgingly ploughed his way through Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy Kid etc. Two years later, he's an avid reader, devouring books at a rate I struggle to keep up with!
I'm not sure what did it, but something just clicked - and he got the pleasure in reading fiction. Don't lose hope!

Horrible Histories books?
David Walliams books such as Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink?
Michael Morpugo books

My similarly reluctant-to-read-fiction DS1 absolutely devoured Flat Stanley

OMG Flat Stanley!!!! Used to love that

What about these books where you choose your own adventure as you’re going along