Fiction for a fact / science mad boy

[EddSimcox]

DS has been told a million times by every teacher he's ever had that he needs to read fiction as well as information books (which he devours, across a wide range of subjects). The only 'story' book he claims to have liked is Cool Nukes - which I haven't read but I think the reason he liked it was that it was about someone discovering something sciency - nuclear fission perhaps. He's in year 5. He also had a couple of books from the library that were fiction, but full of facts, and he quite liked them. Neither of us can remember the titles.

He has to read a series next term for school, but he can choose which. He has turned down Alex Rider, which I thought he might like.

Any idea of a suitable fiction series which he might like?

Not a series, but I think there are two, one of which is "George and the Big Bang" by Stephen Hawking and his daughter (I think).

Otherwise some Jules Verne?

I was going to suggest Alex Rider.
My year 5 boy, who also loves facts finds them excellent.
Has he actually tried them?

What I have done with both ds and dd2 is read the first few chapters to them. They're usually then trying to wrestle it off me to read the rest. In fact with dd2 it's usually half way through the second page.

You could look at Henderson Boys (Cherub prequel). They're WWII so have facts there. But I'd say a little old for year 5 ideally. Certainly check them first as there's a bit of bad language and more.

Ds also loved Cue for Treason-it's a historical novel set round Shakespeare.
Biggles-again WWII, ds enjoys them.

It's not a series, but if you think he might like engineering then Airman by Eoin Colfer has a lot in about designing machines for flight.

Have you tried the My Story books? I loved those. They're kind of historical fiction for children, and you can pick the time periods you're interested in. Some of them follow on (the one about Catherine of Aragon is the diary of a maid who came with her from Spain, the Anne Boleyn one is from her daughter's point of view). Lots of little daily historical detail as well ad the big events and facts.

These are some, but there are lots more. You can choose ones from a boy's perspective as well if he's more likely to read those.

Thanks, great ideas. I'll take a look. I think science is probably more likely to work than history, though I'll try both. We definitely need a series though as well. I'd settle for anything other than Wimpy Kid (which he has in fact read).

Not science, but very sciencey DD enjoyed Sophie's World around the top end of primary - IIRC it is basically a book about philosophy with a thin wrapping of story holding it together.

He might like 'hard' sci-fi (as in more technical gubbins, less feelings, rather than difficult ) - oldies like the Robot novels by Asimov would be fine I think for a 10 y/o.

One more - but it's a graphic novel so maybe not - I just bought as a gift The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage - the (mostly) true story of the first computer. I haven't read it (though I now want a copy for myself!) but it looks very good.

There is some really good science fiction written for children. How about Arthur C Clarke's Islands in the Sky? Or Asimov's Lucky Starr books. (the first being more scientific than the other)

How well does he know London? There is a really good series of books starting with one called Stone Heart which is about the statues in London coming to life. If he knows his way around London he'll recognise the locations and the statues. My girls and I went exploring in London to find them all.

My sister used to like the Willard Price adventure books which basically regurgitate pages of the National Geographic at you in between two brothers travelling the world and collecting animals.

They might be a bit dated now though - collecting animals for zoos probably no longer seen as quite so admirable.

EddSimcox, Can you pls.let me know what all your son has read, on the contrary I am looking for science/facts book ( interesting).

Is he a good reader? Wondering if he's a bit young for Simon Mayo's Itch. I normally get cross about "celebrities" muscling in on writers' livelihoods but this one is really good. He wrote it with his own science mad son in mind.

There is a book collection called Horrible Science... it's from the Horrible Histories creators!

Mine loves science and facts, but then story wise loves Enid blyton famous five/ secret seven books. I think it's because they are contrast but also old school adventure.

Artemis Fowl! Bits of magic with techno wizardry.

We had this issue with DS2 (now 14), who loves science and didn't start enjoying fiction until Year 8.

George's Secret Key to the Universe (Lucy Hawking)
George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt (Lucy Hawking)
Itch (Simon Mayo)
Itch Rocks (Simon Mayo)

He also really enjoyed the Hitchhikers Guide series, which he started reading in Year 6.

His current favourite is Frankenstein, which he is reading for the second time, but I wouldn't recommend that for under 12s.

Ds1 likes science. He also reads alex rider, Tom gates, captain underpants and dr proctor series.

I initially thought of the Willard Price Adenture series too. They are probably a little dated, written in the 1940's I think, but are brilliant at combining fiction and zoology, they have lots & lots of animal facts!

Thanks Vortex, ds1 especially loved nature. Will try those!

Artemis Fowl definitely worth a go. Proper stories and characters but well-tailored to the geek mindset. Also the Truckers, Diggers, Wings series by Terry Pratchett.
HItchhiker's Guide has some unsuitable content but it connected with my nine year old like no other novel before or since.
And although they're not particularly aimed at your DS's interests, the Percy Jackson books are very funny and well plotted and tempt a lot of non-reading boys into the joys of narrative so it's worth trying him in them.

Do you read him bedtime stories? If all else fails then you might want to start doing that again...possibly breaking off at an exciting bit and leaving the book and a torch by his bed.

I was going to suggest the Pratchett trilogy too!
I started Asimov around that age- books such as Oceans of Venus etc. Orson Scott Card too, not sure how he'd manage Enders Game etc , I think I was probably secondary age rather than Y5.
Maybe Pullman Northern Lights trilogy.
Phoenix by S.F. Said

Just thought-provoking what about "Here be Monsters" by Alan Snow?

Stephen and Lucy Hawking wrote a fiction series which is heavily science based which both my science mad sons love (George series).

Ahh, I see someone else mentioned George.

I third the Jules Verne recommendation.

My science mad son loved the young Sherlock series.

Time Travelling with a Hamster, lots of maths/physics with major characters named after Einstein and Pythagorus. But also a very funny story.