Like hetty feather - with a love story too - and not so sad

[BYOSnowman]

So ds (9) has just read the first three hetty feather books. He enjoyed them (he loves history) but found them a bit sad.

He told me he wants a book that has a love story. I think he wants a happy ending - not mills and boon or anything!! He is very naive so nothing too 'love'

Any suggestions??

As an adult I read a book called Arthur and the Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland which I think is part of a triology targeted towards children/young adults. They weren't bad, but may be a bit fantasy-esque.
I also enjoyed Cynthia Harnett's The Wool Pack and Leon Garfield's December Rose which are mysteries solved by. children. I think neither is in print but can be found on ebay. The latter might be a bit sad, the former isn't.
How about Rosemary Sutcliff's books? Eagle of the Ninth is usually available at the library so he can test drive it first.

Hoot or Scat by Carl Hiaasen are both ace books. Real life, comedy, crime thriller, some boy girl relationships plus adult ones but nothing too heavy. Happy endings (good triumphs) in both books. Also if he's not put off by potentially 'girl' orientated books how about jury blume's fudge series (tales of a fourth grade nothing, super fudge, fudge mania and otherwise known as Sheila the great). All excellent.

I realise none of those are remotely history orientated but they're still really good books, honest! The Carl Hiaasen ones are set in Florida and have an environmental theme to them

Has he read any of the Land of Stories (Chris Colfer) series? Book 3 has a bit of first love interest (the main characters are twins who are 13/14 and both find first loves). Both my girls have loved these books which give an alternative take on fairy tales, with lots of adventure thrown in.

I will have a look - thank you

He read all the judy moody books so the judy bloom books sound good (how old are 4th graders)?

DD's favourite book for ages was Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park. It is an absolutely cracking read with a love story that is sad but ultimately hopeful, some fascinating characters, and brilliantly realised historical detail. Set in Sydney in the 1870s or thereabout.

Sorry - but with a time travel element - set in "modern" (1980s, but hasn't dated too badly) and then 1870s Sydney.

Think 4th grade equates to about Year 4 so about 9 I think. As far as I can remember the protagonist - Peter - is about 9, with an annoying little brother called Fudge and at some point in the series a baby sister is added into the mix. I remember absolutely loving these books as a kid and re reading them fairly regularly.

Have just stumbled across what appears to be an extremely clever little gizmo on the scholastic website. It's called 'book a like' and you type in the name of a book you / your son had enjoyed and it comes up with suggestions of similar books. Seems a pretty cool idea to me (though I may just be easily impressed!)
www.scholastic.com/tbw/bookAlikeSearch.do?Ntk=TBW_BookAlike7_SI&workId=1286749

What about the James Herriot books?

Jennings by Anthony Buckeridge (not love by very funny)?

Would be be too young for Mortal Engines? There's a love story of sorts in that. Some sites same 11+, others say 9-12 so it should be ok.