Recommendations for books to read to an 11year old boy that we will BOTH enjoy.

[MordechaiVanunu]

We've done recently Goodnight Mr Tom, Secret Garden and quite a few Michael Morpurgo, and we've just given up on Swallows and Amazons after many weeks as god it was tedious.

So what should we try next?

I've been recommended Wolf Brother? And Terry Pratchett (started separate Terry Pratchett thread) any other suggestions?

The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann Would be suitable for younger children but I think an 11 year old would still enjoy it if not already read, there are more in the series too.

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

I really enjoyed Moonfleet as a child. A classic, but a good smugglers adventure!

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I think you asked if Pullman was too old? My 8 yr old is currently romping through them, so I'd say not. Also in a magical vein (he loves Harry Potter) favourites include Eva Ibbotson books and Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale. Alan Garner is also good I remember, but I've not tried him on them yet.

My knowledge of classics is a bit girly, but what about E.Nesbit? Robert certainly liked the Railway Children on CD.

Also: Watership Down, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Carries War, Conrad's War, Diary of Anne Frank, Machine Gunners (Robert Westall), When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.

The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence, as addictive as Harry Potter and finally got my son reading for fun. I really enjoyed them. Intrigue, romance, volcanos, some gore, plague, pirates, slavery, disgusting descriptions of roman entertainment in the colosseum...

Agree with Eva Ibbotson and would add Diana Wynn Jones the Christomanci series - all wizardy but funny too , we all listened to them on CD in the car DD2 8 enjoyed them as did DS10 and Dh and I - even the LO listened a bit.

From everything I've heard (although I haven't read it) I wouldn't recommend the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - this thread gives an idea why. For books on the Holocaust, Morris Gleitzman's Once and Then sound a lot better, maybe in a year or so. There are good notes on Once here - aimed at teachers, but seem useful for parents too - actually that page has a lot of other books that sound good for 11-year-olds.

The Machine Gunners is excellent. I second that recommendation. I used to teach it to S1's in Secondary school.

Eagle of the 9th and the other rosemary sutcliffs.

The London eye mystery. Had us gripped.

The Percy Jackson series by Rick riordan.

The dolphin crossing ( d day).

another vote for the percy jackson series - my 12 yr old ds is loving them .

I was just about to ask if anyone had any good recomendations for when he has finished the set - currently on Son of Neptune and racing through.

Does he enjoy the diamond twins series by horowitz? Funny detective stories. Short.

I'd second the Diana Wynn Jones books. I've read some of the Chrestomanci books and very much enjoyed them.

Also, how about Treasure Island? I love that book I do, and hope my son likes it too, although I've got a bit of a wait (about 8 or 9 years, I reckon) before he's going to be old enough for it. The black spot!

Treasure Island is good, but I found it tough going to read aloud.

Thought of another - Windsinger - William Nicholson :)

Wouldn't Treasure Island be similar to Swallows and Amazons?

I mean more in the writing style than actual story!

We (me and DS, 12) are currently reading Cosmic by Frank Cotterell Boyce and totally loving it, both. Me and DD (8) have just loved his sequel to Chitty chitty bang bang too. he's my new best author.

I also used to teach the play of Treasure Island. It's great fun if you are a confident reader and can get into the accents and voices. Some dcs loved it and some hated it.

If you enjoyed reading Mr Gum together you should be ok as I found that really hard to read aloud.

Mrs Frisby is my absolute all time favourite children's book

Black beauty, not a girly as you might think.
Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles by the same author.
11 is just right for the first his dark materials, he might need to come back to the latter ones.

Lots of things my slightly older DD likes have been mentioned already.
Alex rider, hunger games, skulduggery.

Don't tell my Dad you don't like Swallows and Amazons. He read them all to me as a child, but I was younger. They are slow for a modern audience.

My 11Y DD is no help, she likes horrid Jackie Willson and Cathy Cassidy trash.
Oh and Asterix and Calvin and Hobbs cartoons. Both of which would defiantly appeal to a boy.

Calvin and Hobbes cartoons are magic!

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/the-50-books-every-child-should-read-2250138.html

There are lots of good books for boys. Have a look at the link

Just finished reading " my side of the mountain" by Jean Craighead George" which ds and I both loved. About a boy who runs away to live n the wilderness

My 11 year old has recently enjoyed this series , Skulldugerry Pleasant, Skellig and Antidote by Malorie Blackman.

I know it's considered Lowbrow, but a lot of the Jacqueline Wilson books are very funny. Cliffhanger, Double Act. Anything by Jeremy Strong, too, especially the Dog ones. Saxby Smart, too. Holes by Louis Sachar.

Some fab suggestions.

What about Holes and Small Steps by Louis Sachar

Thirty Nine Steps - John Buchan

The Weird Stone of Brisingamen or The Owl Service - Alan Garner

Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian

Hoot - Carl Hiaasen (not sure how to spell his name)

Stig of the Dump

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler - Gene Kemp

The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman

Stormbreaker series - Anthony Horowitz

Sorry I suggested loads of things you've read already.

How about:

A Little Piece of Ground and Garbage King - Elizabeth Laird

There is a sequel to Skellig (which is excellent, but I haven't read the sequel) called My Name is Mina.

Other David Almond books which are okay but not as fab as Skellig are Heaven Eyes, Kit's Wilderness and Counting Stars

The Moomin books by Tove Jansson (I adore these books)

The Iron Man - Ted Hughes

Journey To Jo'burg - Beverly Naidoo

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - Judith Kerr

Some Roald Dahl (if you haven't already done them all)

I know you've done some Morpurgos; have you read Alone on a Wide Wide Sea? The audio book of this is great - very good reader and the sound and music is lovely too.

Itch my Simon Mayo is great - worth the hype I think.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is wonderful and was my favourite book as a child and my sons love it too
Holes by Louis Sacher
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman - quite adult but would suit kids who like Harry Potter but are ready for something darker - there is a great audio version by the bbc

Some of the Judy Blume books, fudge and super fudge are good -