Audiobook recs for family incl pre-teens

[NashEnquirer]

It's a bit of a tricky brief!

The older one (11) loves Cabin Pressure, John Finnemore, NSTAAF etc (and reads Hunger Games, Lockwood, YA etc) but the younger one (9) still tends to prefer more of a narrated story, and reads stuff like Wimpy Kid, bit of David Baddiel, likes The Week Junior.

Last year they enjoyed the first Skandar and the Unicorns etc but lost interest during the second one. When they were younger they loved silliness like Sir Louis and the Dreadful Damsel. Something like the Phillip Pullman trilogy would be the right sort of fit but the younger one has a bee in his bonnet about not liking it. Or maybe a classic? The elder ones enjoyed things like Treasure Island and Jules Verne. Adventure is probably the right genre generally, but I'm out of ideas 😳

Can anyone think of anything we might all enjoy? (I'll be looking on Audible)

How about “Impossible Creatures “ by Katherine Rundell

My kids loved The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, (they were probably 12/10/6). It's an amazing adventure story. They also liked Rooftoppers, and The Good Theives.

My 11 year old loves the Harry Potters read by Stephen Fry and the How to Train Your Dragon books

Oh, and the Nevermoor books by Jessica Townsend

The Wizards of Once series is brilliantly read by David Tennant, and we all loved it over many hours of car journeys. I think it would suit you brilliantly (multi part epic, some funny parts, great voices, ongoing “who is the narrator”)

Gerald Durrell's books might be worth a try. The Mystery Hour podcast is interesting (kind of like an audience participation QI) but the host is a bit marmite - after a few episodes I get a bit annoyed with his ego and need a break 😆

Alan Garner's books are wonderful and the Weirdstone of Brisingamen tends to work for different ages. And The Hobbit? You could also try The Belgariad by David Eddings or Magician by Raymond E Feist.

Narnia

Also podcasts: That’s Just Wild with Steve Backshall at the moment is a hit

Would they like the Robin Stevens mystery ones? Kind of children's Agatha Christie.

My boy enjoys the ‘Who Smarted?’ - it’s a factual sort of science, facts, interesting questions podcast.

Thanks all!

The older one enjoyed The Explorer and the younger one is actually taking the book on hols, but weirdly neither of them liked Impossible Creatures when we tried it.

Funnily enough we're also taking The Wizards of Once books on hols but I wish I'd known it was Tennant as I'd have prioritised the audiobooks!

The older one LOVES The Hobbit but has reread it recently. Gerald Durrell is a good shout though, thanks - will try them on a sample. And children's Agatha Christie sounds ideal tbh - will look that up too!

Oh I haven’t read these for years so they might be too dated, but what about Swallows & Amazons or The Coot Club? And the Secret Seven and Famous Five. Lots on Audible.

Thanks @FloraBotticelli - they quite liked Swallows and Amazons but I think they feel they're a bit too old and cool for Famous 5 and Secret 7 now 😁

Fair enough! 😂

Hilda?
https://www.audible.co.uk/series/Hilda-Audiobooks/B09XVG2P3N

I really liked the James Herriot books from about that age (and still listen to them now at 40ish!). The version narrated by Christopher Timothy is lovely.

I just searched old threads and there were recs for Pratchett and Hitchhiker's Guide - both good for the older one but the younger one, although very bright, is a bit weirdly against about stuff like that that he perceived to be for older kids or adults.

There was mention of a podcast called Tunnel 29, about East Berlin - might try that along with the Get Smarted one recc'd here (the KS for that!).