AIBU to let DS 7 read Agatha Christie's Poirot?

[Mysterylovingboy]

DS7 has read lots of Famous Five, Five Find-Outers, Malory Towers, Just William etc. This weekend he's been reading Poirot's casebook which contains short murder mysteries.

I'm just wondering if these are actually suitable, given his age. I remember reading them in late juniors, but he's still in the infants and they are, after all, about murders, though they're not gruesome and the baddie always gets caught and punished so hopefully they're not morally bad (occasional racism, classism and sexism - which we will discuss - aside).

AIBU to let him read them, and if so, can people suggest alternatives please?

He's not really into fantasy or magic or animal stories. IIRC he's got a reading age of 12+ and enjoys Horrible Histories, Asterix, Obelisk, Enid Blyton's mystery and school stories (not SS, which are "boring and too slow"), Just William, some Jacqueline Wilson (avoiding the scarier ones). He wants to read Biggles, but I've said that's too violent.

Should add - he's exceedingly logical, hence the dislike of magic stories, and presumably why he loves the challenge of working out the clues in mysteries.

I think I was reading them in junior school, but in the final year, so aged 10-11. If he understands them, then that's fine, but I'd give him Harry Potter instead. He sounds great!

My DD enjoyed the childrens versions of Sherlock Holmes. Tamed down a bit, with explanations of some historical stuff. (I got them from Books2Door)

She's currently reading the Roman Mysteries.

We don't know your DS or how that content might/might not affect him.

I would've thought you were better placed to know that?

I think the first Agatha Christie my (fairly strict) dad let me read was The Murder of Roger Ackroyd which he reread at speed and declared “suitable”. That would as in the eighties, I think I was nine, which is probably about seven in new money.

I think most of them are okay, maybe a couple get close to “adult themes” in a broad sense but if you’re unsure wait a year or have a look at the one I mentioned.

Also I’ve just remembered the Septimus Treloar mysteries by Stephen Chance, which are Christie-like children’s books. They might make a good stepping stone. My eldest loved them.

Thanks!
The children's Sherlock Holmes versions sound good so I will look into those.
He's blasé about the violence he reads about in Horrible Histories (some of which I find absolutely gruesome) and they have those in the infant's school library, so presumably approved. However I'm wondering if there's a difference between a historical fact presented with context and making clear it's horrible, and a story where you might get to identify with the characters.

I’ve just looked and the Septimus ones are only available in very full covers now. They might be more appealing if you can get them from the library or second hand.

Dull not full.

I don't remember what it was called but when I was in primary school I read a lot of famous five and there was one book (or it might have been a different Enid blyton book- the fab four or something like that!) which had been turned into one of those adventure books where you as the reader have to answer riddles using different tools like a mini map and a clue cracker wheel and a compass and then end up flicking throughout the book to different pages with choices of which way to send the story. İt was excellent.
Have a look on eBay or old book sites for that and also there was an usbourne series of mystery solving books which were similar.

Don't you want to go down the Harry Potter route, OP? It seems the most logical choice at the moment.

The thing with Agatha Christie is that you learn about plot devices like unreliable narrators, red herrings etc. I think he's probably too young for that, really.

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/martin-oliver/2nd-puzzle-adventure-omnibus/9780746021446

I think these are the ones. They were brilliant.

Why not? As murder mysteries go, they're very tame.

I’d try something published a little more recently. The Adventures on Trains books by M G Leonard and Sam Sedgman would be perfect. First one is Highland Falcon Thief. Also Elen Caldecott’s Marsh Road Mystery series. Both those series have child detectives solving crimes very methodically with lots of great clues and deduction going on.

Not crime, but how about the Arthur Ransome 'Swallow and Amazons' series? I read these at his age and they were an absolute joy. Straightforward adventure, but MUCH longer than a famous five type book. Lots of kids camping out on islands, setting fires, sailing, hiking..not a boring grown up in sight.

the baddie always gets caught and punished

By being hanged in some of them! Having said that, I definitely read some of them while I was still at primary school, and I don't think it's done me any harm.

He might like the "My Story" series, they're written as historical diaries and there are loads for all different time periods.

The Roman Mysteries would be good as well, since he likes detective stories.

And how about the Diamond Brothers?

There is loads of young adult murder mystery books that might appeal? I’ve spent most of lockdown reading them.
I really like the murder most unladylike series. The main detectives are girls but it’s in no way girly.
I love Christie but I would worry most about how dated they are. Similar to readying blython.

@HollowTalk

The thing with Agatha Christie is that you learn about plot devices like unreliable narrators, red herrings etc. I think he's probably too young for that, really.

That’s why it depends so much on the individual child, and worth OP having a quick look at the short list.

Harry Potter - he's just not that bothered by them for some reason though I'd love to share them with him. Might be the magic, he applies logic to everything.

He loves trying to spot red herrings in stories though, so I think that ship has sailed, Hollow!

I'll try some of the modern suggestions, as well as Swallows & Amazons, which I'd somehow forgotten. He seems to be quite drawn towards historical settings, probably because he's a bit of a history buff. Roman Mysteries sounds good, he's fascinated by ancient civilisations too.

Puzzle Adventures sound right up his street thanks!

My DD had them age 10 but found them v dull because the characters are all 'boring old people'.

What about The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew?

Treasure island

İt's not a mystery book but how about the Just William books? They're always up to mischief and the stories are very engaging. I definitely second the swallows and amazons books!