Science fiction for 9 yr old ds please

[Krakken]

I'm trying to find books for my reluctant fiction reader ds.

He is happy to read reference books on dinosaurs, wild animals, sharks, astronomy, Greek mythology but is v hard to please in terms of fiction.

He loved the dinosaur cove books, Ronald Dahl and David Walliams but nothing else seems to have grabbed him.
Ds is v similar to dh who only enjoyed science fiction as a youngster so I thought I may suggest a few for ds.

Any ideas please?

Have you seen Philip Reeve's book Mortal Engines? I think there's a series of them.

Have you tried the Tom Gates series by Liz Pichon?

The Skulduggery Pleasant series has also been very popular with boys in particular. It's got a huge following.

No, not tried any of the suggestions. I'll have a look at those. Thanks.

DD loved George's Secret Key to the Universe which is more fact based that true science fiction.

Start with the classics - Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke. Very well written, easy to read, but full of the drama and dreams of the early space age.

Aren't Asimov and Arthur c Clark a bit too difficult for a 9 yr old?

George's secret key looks fab.

I'll show ds the books and see if any of them appeal.

What about Nicholas Fisk? I remember enjoying Grinny, Trillions and You Remember Me. Also Chocky by John Wyndham - they made that into a TV series when I was little (so ages ago, then)!

Ooh, and The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross.

Are John Christopher books still in print? Best ones I recall are The Guardians, and the Tripods trilogy, also one called Empty World.
(Off to look on amazon because I loved these as a child)

Not science fiction, but might he like Willard Price animal books?

Dinotopia books by James Gurney? Fabulous artwork, but I think plenty of text too and exciting tales of adventure, might be just right for a 9 year old.

Have you looked at Terry Pratchett- he does childrens books - Diggers, Truckers and others, along with his Discworld books- children love them, and keeps th
em reading through the teenage years as well

DS1 loves mortal engines for kids sci fi. Its a big leap from dinosaur cove and roald dahl though. If he likes Greek mythology the Percy jackson series is an obvious choice and the companion series is the Kane Chronicles (modern day mixed with ancient egyptians).

For fantasy try Diana Wynne Jones. DS1 also loves Enchanted Glass, Howl's Moving Castle (DS2 was six and also loved this being read to him) and the Homeward Bounders. Another amazing book is the Weirdstone of Brisingamen. I read it at school but DH and the DSs were not keen. We read it as a family taking it in turns to read out loud whilst in the garden and were all gripped.

Chocky is also a good recommendation. We've bought it on audio book for DS1 for Christmas. Quite dated in places though.

Hmm possible it's out of print as Amazon copies are all 2nd hand. However, great writer nevertheless

Astrosaurs is pretty easy reading and worth a shot to start with to get him used to the idea of novels.
I think Mortal Engines series is a bit tough for a 9 year old who's not used to long-form, but Philip Reeve's steampunk series Larklight/Starcross/Mothstorm has gone down a storm with my DS (just 10).
There's a whole load of Doctor Who novels that should be available in your local library.
Artemis Fowl series is excellent meaty stuff.
Terry Pratchett's juveniles (eg Truckers) are worth a shot.

Tripods series is still available. There are box sets on amazon

Seconding Percy Jackson.

A wrinkle in time by M L'engle

I have no idea what it's like BTW but I know it's a classic and is in our junior library, so hopefully would be the right sort of thing

This thread has just made by buy the tripods series for DS1

How about Neil Gaiman and Phillip Pullman? Both do interesting takes on traditional stories and could let him grow into more of their books as he gets older.

Neil Gaiman does graphic novels which might keep him interested as a Teen. I got the graveyard book for a 7 year old boy for Christmas last year and I think it was a bit old for him so might be just right for your DS?

Try Aquila by Andrew Norriss.

Fortunately the milk would be a good Neil Gaiman to start with. George's secret key and the others in the series are really good and on the border between fact and fiction. In the same vein, the Uncle Albert books by Russell Stannard
Chris Riddell's Far Flung Adventures also fun

Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

We started off with George's secret key and Fortunately the milk.
I hope ds1 likes them!