Book help for an 11 year old v serious reader...

[nevernotstruggling]

If dd1 loves Harry Potter, his dark materials, Anne of green gables, Nancy Drew, Jaqueline Wilson....what else will she like?

She could read Austen; that’s pretty frivolous and great. I heard great things about the Young Sherlock Holmes books. Can’t think who by but some celeb - perhaps a comedian - Charlie Brooker maybe?

The second Book of Dust is a bit grown up IMO. There was some sex I think, and definitely some swearing.

The Wonder series are great. She should definitely try them. Also - I forgot - My Family & Other Animals etc. That does have mild swearing and it mentions sex but lightheartedly & in passing. But the main thing is it’s ruddy hilarious, and very interesting. I’m going to read it to my DS soon.

Sorry, it was the Young Bond books mentioned by PP. Not Holmes!

If she hasn't already read them anything by Katherine Rundell, especially Rooftoppers

@nevernotstruggling

Any series? I think she's a bit young for some of those. Her reading age is 6th form but she's only 11...

If only libraries were open! When my DC was 11 I was concerned like you about the content of books, but couldn’t research every book as I was just too slow to keep up. I chatted to the librarian to ask if there was a list with recommended ages for books (like film ratings) and while you can look at reviews, which will tell you about the type of content,there wasn’t an easy way to work out the age suitability.The librarian suggested that I let them. Choose their own books, and that they wouldn’t read it if they didn’t enjoy it. This worked very well for us, several books abandoned as too graphic (particularly WW2 spy type books) or pages skipped (didn’t like reading about certain things) plot lines too complicated. But they enjoyed choosing own books from the Young Adult section.

I have found so much inspiration from these book threads, and they have been brilliant at suggesting different authors.

Young Bond is by Charlie Higson. They are my DS’s favourite books. He also loves anything by Ross Welford. Some fairly hefty emotional but age appropriate storylines backed up with in depth scientific explanations. And also a gentle but good sense of humour. I’ve listened to them on Audible with my DS and really enjoyed them.

Both mine also enjoyed the Bartimaeus books by Jonathan Stroud.

YY to Susan Cooper - Dark is Rising series.

For an 11 year old:

Wrinkle In Time
Judy Blume books
Dogsbody
Agatha Christie
Arthur Ransome if she's a true bookworm
Mark Twain
Maritan Chronicles

Sorry they're all so old (though we finally won 12 yr old DS over to Dogsbody )... but more modern...

Jane Blonde
My History books
Cat Royale
Calvin & Hobbes (vocab is not merely for kids)

I second the pp who suggested the older classics: Treasure Island, Lorna Doone , Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner etc. Jane Austen lovely but some of the Brontes are probably too angsty for 11 ( likewise The Twilight books).
Also James Herriot: the subject matter isn't inappropriate for an 11 year old.

Try Tamora Pierce! Her Tortall world is fabulous - I loved all of the named items as a young teen (I am there age where I grew up with Harry as he did) and I still read Tamora Pierce as a comfort! They're also great for strong female leads.

House with chicken legs and girl who speaks bear.. Can't remember the author but beautifully written. David Eddings Belgariad - 5 book series sort of fantasy fiction, magic, prophecy, coming of age etc

*the age! Grr.
Also a second vote for the Belgariad by Eddings, absolutely fantastic.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lauren St John has written the White Giraffe series if she hasn't already read them, and she has also written a trilogy for slightly older readers called The One Dollar Horse (first book of the 3). From memory there isn't anything in that which would be wildly unsuitable for an 11 yr old. There is a bit of a romance theme at times but nothing racy.

Also, going back to when I was the same age, Flora Thompson - Lark Rise to Candleford, and Marcel Pagnol - The Water of the Hills (the film Jean de Florette is based on part of this book) both are now quite old-fashioned books which I think would be suitable for able younger readers. I still have both books now and still love re-reading them

Kiera Cass's Selection series might be good for her, and the Twisted Tales books, which are retellings of Disney stories, are also great. And what about Skulduggery Pleasant or Veronica Roth's Divergent series? I'm a high school librarian so you're welcome to PM me for a suggested reading list if it helps.

We just had huge success with young Bond and young Sherlock series for DS11. Same level reader and read the Bond series back to back in a week. (Unfortunately under the table in class too)

I second / third all Katherine Rundell recommendations. Rooftoppers is excellent. Also the classics, for a bit of stretch and reading from different times in different language. Lovely to have a bookworm!

Dd1 has looked at the twisted tales with interest that's a good shout.

Other stuff she likes is Indian in the cupboard, Noel streatfirld, fh Burnett, so a broad range of periods.

I might push what Katy did we have that here.

Thank you so much

Ballet shoes series
Girl who circumnavigated the world in a ship of her own making series

My dd absolutely loved the 'my story' historical novel series in years five and six.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collection-Factory-PompeII-Titanic-Invasion/dp/B00G6HIAFS

@StitchInTimeSavesNine !!!!!! I've seen these before I loved the idea. Forgot them until now you might have cracked it for me thank you xx

It's so hard when they are really good readers but finding suitable topics. DD is just a bit older and has enjoyed Twilight, the Divergent series, Hunger Games, Twisted Tales and Sherlock.

She might go for Sherlock as she loved Nancy Drew. I might see if we can get divergent from the library as ours is open now

The NeverMoor and Wundersmith series
Nevertell
The House of one Hundred Clocks
Miss Nobody
Speechless
Sophie Anderson books
Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens
Clockwork Sparrow series
Scarlet & Ivy series
Eve Ibbotson books
Michele Magorian books,
Jan Mark books such as Trouble Halfway and the Dolphin Crossing
Emma Carroll books - Letters from the Lightouse etc
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and other Judith Kerr
Charlotte Sometimes
Philippa Pearce books especially Tom's Midnight Garden, The Way to Satin Shore
Moondial by Helen Cresswell
Flambards series
Anne Marie Conway books
The London Eye Mystery and The Guggenheim Mystery
Pages & Co series
Cogheart series
Alison Uttley - A Traveller in Time
Who Let the God's Out
Onjali Raouf books
Agatha Oddly books
Rumer Godden including The Diddakoi
Carrie's War, The Peppermin Pig and others by Nina Bawden
The Highland Falcon series