Books like Secret Seven but modern…? 9/10 year old

[Rainydaysandthursdays]

I have a 9 year old who I am struggling to find books for. He loved all the Diary of a wimpy kid books but has enjoyed little else since. We have most popular series from an older sibling. Other than the Daisy and the trouble.. series a few years ago he hasn’t really enjoyed many books.

I think he might like something Enid blyton like. The teen/child spy type ones have not appealed.

He might like some of the books by Natasha Farrant or Katherine Rundall.

I can't remember the name of the series but one of them is called 'arsenic for tea'.

Also the Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens.

The Mr Lemoncello books are very engaging too

Thanks both. Murder most unladylike he said he tried one and it was too freaky. We have a few Kathrine Rundell ones and he has rejected them already. I think Natasha Farrant is possible though. I think I would enjoy reading them too.

Helen Moss adventure island fits the bill entirely! Modern etiquette combined with children randomly being allowed to sail boats at sea and solve murders...

Murder most unladylike is scary in the first book (hiding the cupboard from the murderer). The later ones don't quite do that.

Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child might suit. Girl spy, code breaking. Several books in the series

Can he read actual Enid blyton books? Famous Five, Adventure series, Mystery series might all suit. Theyre a bit longer than the secret seven books.

Maximum Ride series? Might be a bit old for him yet

Has he tried EB's Adventure series and Famous Five? The Secret Seven are normally a little young for 9-10yo.

Failing that, I know you said modern, but the Roman Mysteries are good for that age. My ds also enjoyed David Schutte Naitable stories. They're available from Waterstones David Schutte books and biography | Waterstones but also if you go to his own website for collecting books Home (weebly.com) you can order them directly from him, and he will reply to emails from your ds about the books and sign the copies if you ask. (or he did for my ds). They're on page 40 of his current catalogue.
The main side effect was ds spoke in a strange language for a few months that I was meant to interpret. 😂

I must have remembered incorrectly, thought I read the secret seven after the famous five. I could try the famous five but I don’t think he would take well to anything old fashioned. He is a YouTube fan and loves gaming. Will check the Helen Moss books. Haven’t come across David Schutte. Will have a look thanks.

The Highland falcon thief. My 8 yr old enjoyed this whodunnit. She took turns with me to read it. She's a good reader but reluctant to read independently. It was interesting, fun and not too heavy.
There other train adventures in the series I intend to get. I definitely recommend.

The Land of Roar series

"Fortunately, the milk" by Neil Gaiman is fondly remembered by my now almost 18 year old DS as his favourite at that age.

The Adventures on Trains series were loved by my 10 year old

Percy Jackson and Harry Potter?

We have the Land of Roar, all the Abi Elphinstine books, Wizard of Once series and many more. None of them appeal. He finds most fantasy unsettling. Harry Potter is a no also. A lot of the mystery ones are too scary as well. That’s why I thought some is the younger books.

He is also very critical of adults trying to write how “they think kids talk”!

13 storey tree house got my son reading

Read the first one under duress @morewrinkles and rejected. I refuse to give up though, I feel sure there must be books he’d like!

I don’t get how he can love Diary of a Wimpy Kid but hate all the other similar series.

i figure an adventure series but not too scary or suspenseful and not an author trying too hard to be “down with the kids” is my best shot!

Anthony McGowan’s Lark. There are other books in the series too.

That's a shame we loved the storey treehouse books.

Other possibilities..

Captain Underpants
Skullduggery Pleasant

Then Percy Jackson's but that's probably a bit older

Tom Gates
Pages and Co series
13 storey treehouse books,
Dogman
Mr Penguin series
My brother is a superhero
David Baddiel books
Bunny vs Monkey
George's secret key to the universe
Tom Fletcher books

What about classic books? Adventures of Robin Hood. Treasure island. Less likely to be written in the modern ‘how we think kids talk’ way

DS is 20 and he's been reading these for a few years, old favourite that he goes back to!

He's 10 not 20!