Aibu to want more non-scary stories for older kids

[Meanmate]

My child is coming up to 10 and going through that phase where everything is scary. Loves books and is an advanced reader but still finds the Harry potters are too scary (can’t get beyond book 3) and lots of the other books seem to have similarly exciting/scary/slightly supernatural or spy type frightening themes which means child can’t then get to sleep. Anyone have any tips for funny or non scary books for a slightly sensitive child who reads voraciously? Still needs to be a really good story! Pref not old fashioned writing - couldn’t get into the secret garden , swallows and amazons etc.

Famous five? Anne of Green Gables?

All those old books you find on second hand bookshops... if It Hadn't Been For Frances etc

diary of a wimpy kid series
tom gates series
frankies magic football series
Hank Zipzer series

all the best x

Have you tried the Roald Dahls?

Thanks enclume. Sadly she doesn’t like the old fashioned language in similar books, finds it difficult to get into. She’s a fast reader and gets bored easily. If it doesn’t grab her she gives up. She likes David walliams, David baddiel, the wimpy kid stuff, roald Dahl etc, so it’s more of this kind of modern stuff I’m after really, and possibly also for an older age range as she’ll probably outgrow David walliams stuff pretty soon. She does like adventure like Alex rider but finds it difficult to sleep after as it’s so romping.

Thank you sleep - that’s exactly the thing and she’s read all these and absolutely loved them. Anything similar out there?

Wellerr - yes she loves all of these but has read and re read them all.

Thank you for starting this thread! I have a sensitive 9-year-old, too, and am struggling to find good books for him. Everyone recommends Michael Morpurgo, but his books, while really well written, are absolutely death-laden and depressing.

Lemony Snicket has been recommended to me. Also the Hobbit; LOTR; and The Firework-Maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman went down well with my son.

The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is too funny to be scary, I hope, and is a great read for that age.

I'll be watching this thread with a lot of interest: we have a long summer to fill :)

Has she tried the Jacqueline Wilson books? Tracy Beaker, the lottie project etc.

The worst witch books are good too (young witches in an academy but not scary)

Bit of a long shot but she might like Douglas Adams? I read the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy when I was 11 (robbed my dad's copy) and thought it was brilliant

My 9 1/2 year old is potter mad but she also loves Tom Gates, Dork diaries and she’s also has a few books by David Baddiel and David Walliams that I think are a bit more easy going.

Sorry epic cross post 😂

Oh and Terry Pratchett! I think Mort is a good starter for younger readers.

dork diaries is similar, as is the pippa morgan's diary series and the world according to humprey the hamster series x

Thanks everyone! She’s done all the JW (loves them), but there are some great suggestions here which I’ll definitely try.

I agree th classics are classics. I loved them. But she has tried and given up. I’m happy for her to choose what floats her boat. It’s got to be enjoyable hasn’t it? I agree variety is good though, she has a fabulous vocab and a real flair for writing whIch is no doubt linked to sinking 3 books a week. And at the moment when she’s super sensitive, I want stuff to help her escape.

X post with polly!

Not tried dork diaries, or those others - thank you!

I had no idea Katy by JW was a cover????.

I always think of terry p as doing fantastical adult stuff - is his kids stuff non-fantastical?

My 11 year old has been reading Pride and Prejudice and really enjoying it.

Maybe in a few years but the Louise Rennison series - Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging is absolutely hilarious. I read and re-read it throughout my teenage years and still at 31 find them hilarious.

Whoops sorry just seen no old fashioned language. That’s that then!

Has she read any Judy Blume?

Terry Pratchett wrote some kids books too (which I read as an adult and still found very enjoyable), the Tiffany aching books and the amazing Maurice are good places to start. I second a pp regarding mort too. That was the first discworld book I ever read (also robbed off my dad) and it's a good jumping off point.

She might like artemis fowl too by Eoin Colfer

The kids Terry Pratchett stuff is fantastical (it's set in the same world and segues very well with the more adult stuff) but is very light and not scary. The amazing Maurice is about a boy and his talking rats for example