Book recommendations for 8 year old boy...

[Caiti19]

.... to read independently over Summer. He's just turned 8. I've had some luck with Horrid Henry, but looking for some variety. Are "great stories" without buckets of rudeness/attitude a thing anymore? I bought a Secret Seven set, but he's no interest. He enjoys me reading Harry Potter to him, but they would be too advanced for independent reading. His Aunt bought him the set of Diary of Wimpy Kid, but I'm not ecstatic about some of the references within e.g. the "hot girls" at school etc. Thanks in advance.

My DS is now 9 but is a huge fan of the Amulet graphic novel series. I have DCs who are 8 and 9 and we get The Week Junior and Phoenix comics through the post and they are eagerly pounced on each week.
Novels he has also liked- Mr Stink, the train to impossible places.

Just popping back in to say thank you so much for all the suggestions! I have never heard of many of them, so it's been an education. He's recently become football mad so that suggestion re the books combining football and adventure could be a winner. Thank you, Mumsnet!

My 9 year old reluctant reader is loving the 1000 year old boy

There’s a series of books about Humphrey the hamster that DS loved at that age

My seven year old loves the Mac B:spy series.

If he likes Pokemon this box set would be at the right level. I have the smaller one with 8 books.

Pokemon

13 Storey Treehouse but they don’t last long as the are mostly pictures.

DS read all of the Warrior Cats books and all of Redwall at that age. All the Roald Dahl they had at the library too.

Jake Cake and the football beast
The Creakers and The Danger Gang - Tom Fletcher
The Harry Heape stories - The 3 Shiny Pippin stories and Indiana Bones are absolutely brilliant
Fortunately the milk - Neil Gaiman - very silly but my kids loved it!
Mr Gum

I have just rediscovered this book after years of trying to remember the title - The Giant Under the Snow by John Gordon. It was my favourite book at your son's age. It's full of magical adventure and suspense. I believe a film is currently being made of it too.

@kowari

DS read all of the Warrior Cats books and all of Redwall at that age. All the Roald Dahl they had at the library too.

I'd say Redwall is more challenging - more at the Percy Jackson / Artemis Fowl type of level, which will be great in a year or two. If he's currently reading Horrid Henry then they might be daunting as 'read to himself' books, while they might be great as 'read to' ones.

I'd say Redwall is more challenging - more at the Percy Jackson / Artemis Fowl type of level, which will be great in a year or two.
I haven't read them myself so didn't know that. They were in the older children's section of the library with Roald Dahl and similar, Percy Jackson was in the YA section.

It's interesting. They don't have the 'teen' content of PJ / AF BUT they are at a reasonably similar reading level. I teach this kind of age group, and it is my more able readers who love Redwall.

My 8yo ds has recently discovered Tintin and the Asterix books. He likes the comic format. He also loves the My brother's famous bottom series by Jeremy Strong. It's worth a look at your local library, our librarians are great with suggestions. Look at the 'big picture' books section too.

My daughter liked the treehouse books and is currently absolutely loving the podkin one ear series. She’s reading them half with me and half independently and I’m loving them too!

@cantkeepawayforever
I was trying to keep DS out of the teen section as long as possible! Now I remember, Redwall was one of the last series he read before Percy Jackson and so on.

The Underland Chronicles
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Many picture books also have more difficult vocabulary in them than novels for young children.

How to train your Dragon series

Podkin is BRILLIANT but quite dark for the 'younger' end of 8. Often recommended as a Year 4 book but best for Year 5 (9/10).