Books for a 10 year old boy who doesn't like Harry Potter, Roald Dahl but does like Dr Who stories.

[nevergoogle]

Birthday coming up and DS1 is showing an interest in books at last. Hurrah!

He likes action, mystery and history.

He doesn't like magic, or posh kids with wands.

What's good?

The Mysterious Benedict Society, maybe? If he likes that then there are a couple of sequels.

have been browsing on amazon and come up with a charlie higson thriller, young james bond and another called the fastest boy in the world set in africa. i'll have a mooch into town this weekend and see if they have any of them.

any reviews of these from mumsnetters?

The cherub series? Or Alex rider? I know ten year olds that have loved them but they might be a bit old in content - very action packed though.

Horowitz horrors, goodnight mr Tom, Artemis fowl, the dark is rising series, the tulip touch, the redwall series or umm... Oh that writer who wrote the Whitby witches series and the alchemists cat, robin Jarvis, I think!

Cherub and Alex rider are like James Bond for younger readers but not featuring James Bond, instead they have child spies as main characters and they're great!

great, i haven't heard of a lot of these so thanks for those.

Roman Mysteries series ? (Set in ancient rome, so both history and mysteries!) There's lots of them, but probably best to start at the beginning, as you get to know the characters over time.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?

Can't go wrong with horrible histories/science etc

Robert Muchamore is not intended for a 10 year old. The content is aimed at teens.

My recommendation is 'The Indian In the Cupboard' which is a wonderful combination of history, action and adventure.

Young Bond is also aimed at teens.

My ds used to love the Skulduggery Pleasant series at that age.

DS says Alex Rider, Mr Gum, Skulduggery Pleasant and the Dark Lord books.

he does like horrible histories, but i'm hopeful he'll start to enjoy fiction.

i loved indian in the cupboard at that age. i think they are reading stig of the dump in school right now.

keep the suggestions coming, i hope to return to the thread for more ideas once he's tried the ones i've ordered.

I've been giving TIITC to my Year 5 reading groups for the past 5 years now and I've yet to find a child that doesn't like it.

David walliams books are good too.

Alex Rider - Anthony Horowitz
Lion boy trilogy - Zizou Corder
My Side of the Mountain - Jean George
My Family and Other Animals - Gerald Durrell
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
The History Keepers

Gene Kemp might suit - The Turbulent Term of Tike Tyler or The Clock Tower Ghost.

Sorry to be negative but Noughts and Crosses does contain sexual references so may not be suitable for a 10 year old boy.

Good point, Madamehooch - I tend to forget in the pursuit of good literature!

the young james bond series is excellent - it was a hit with my son.

Skullduggery also fantastic but it is magic based ( not posh kids though).

The Indian in the cupboard is just fab - beautifully written old fashioned adventure.

The Percy Jackson series is great - not magic based but does have mythical gods - do they count?

How about some classics: Treasure Island, Coral Island, Tom's Midnight Garden, The Machine Gunners, Carrie's War, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (the last 3 are all war stories), Little House on the Prairie, Swallows and Amazons.

A bit off piste but my 10 yo DS has really enjoyed

Wonder - RJ Palacio
Holes - Louis Sachar

To add to the classics
Around the World in 80 Days
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

The Silver Sword