Books for a 9 year old boy that are interesting and challenging.

[ShadeofViolet]

My DS1 loves reading but seems to be a little stuck - he likes to read Horrid Henry but he needs to move on from that. He is currently reading the 'Wimpy Kid' books and we read the BFG before bed, but I am looking for something else.

He loves Mr Gum and has read all those. Famous 5 was too boring, Beast Quest scared him.

We love books and will try anything.

ds liked Wimpy kid and Mr Gum. He also really enjoyed Cornelia Funke's Ghosthunters series (see here

Could try books by Michael Lawrence or Jeremy Strong. And Michael Morpurgo.

Meant to add, he likes the Jiggy McCue books by Michael Lawrence and the Cows in Action books by Steve Cole.

We're reading "How To Train Your Dragon" with DS1 who's nine and a half (the only reason we 'read with' is that he's severely dyslexic but we read to or with him so he can access age appropriate stuff, which he loves!)
There's a series of the "Hiccup" books apparently, I've seen more in the bookshop so we'll be back!

The other stuff that's lovely is the Michael Morpurgo stuff - an elephant in the garden, and Kensuke's Kingdom amongst others.

We've recently read "Moonfleet" as well, a weeny bit scary in places as it's about smugglers, but it's a brilliant story.

My 8 year old ds loved the wimpy kid books, also loved books about Nate the biy with the biggest head in the world.

Why does he need to move on? I'm not being awkward, honestly, but I really really believe in letting them read what they want to read. Maybe leave a few more difficult books around, but, with boys particularly, it's brilliant if they read any fiction at all. And a too hard book can be dispiriting and make them want to give up.

As to the books to leave around - the first harry Potter, the Guinness book of Records, How to Train your Dragon, all the easier Roald Dahl - (my ds loves and re reads Fantastic Mr Fox). Possibly Swallows and Amazons, although that has that slow old fashioned pace that today's children often find boring.

this one is good

By moving on I mean that he has read absolutely everything Horrid Henry and wants something else. I dont mean pushing him into reading 'better' books, just a bigger variety iyswim.

We are reading the Percy Jackson books with DS2 (7) at the moment, and he has been so inspired by them that he actually started reading one by himself.

Jiggy McCue books also very good for this age.

What about non-fiction books? We just go to the library each week and let DS2 take out lots of books on whatever the craze of the week is - this week Greek Gods (see Percy Jackson above).

Sorry, in a rush, but have you checked the old threads, as I know there have been lots of good suggestions for this age group in the past?

Diamond Brothers series Anthony Horowitz
Cosmic - Frank Cotteral Boyce
Roald Dahl
Jeremey Strong

Also Google 'Year 3 booklist' at Arnold house school to get lists...

Holes is brilliant In fact anything by Louis Sachar.

Some good suggetsions here

Oh yes - Louis Sacher Wayside school series too!

Michael Morpurgo - Kensukes Kingdom, Private Peaceful (my DS thoroughly enjoyed these books)

Vampirates - Justin Somper (v good language builder)

Roald Dahl Books,

My son loves reading, he has lots of those thin Dr Who books which he reads very quickly and if I read something that I think might interest him then I suggest he has a look.

My DD is currently reading the huge amount of Horrid Henry books.

OOh and the Horrible Histories books are educational and interesting too.

DS1 loves the Harry Potter series. He's read all the books over and over again.

He is now very much into the Paolini series (Eragon, Eldest and Brisinger).

horrible histories definately

roald dahl

usborne do a great range of fiction for young readers too

The Book people have 16 Michael Morpurgo books for £16.99 at the moment - DS1's Year 4 Book Group read lots of Michael Morpurgo, and it seemed to go down well...

The Saxby Smart detective stories are brilliant, and there's one by the same author called Jeremy Brown: Spy which is hilariously funny.