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Children's books

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Original poster

DD (8) is about to finish the Harry Potter series and be bereft- what next?

112 replies

BoogleMcGroogle · 08/05/2017 21:24

The bug bit her in February, having been a keen but not avid reader before then. Now she's about to finish the seventh and I think she'll be bereft. She says she'll just start reading them all again (although has conceded to giving War Horse a try), which is frankly lame. What can we suggest to her next? She's eyeing up my Skellig, but as I only read it last month, I'd like to think it is a bit too sophisticated for her (?!)

OP posts:
user1243 · 08/05/2017 22:00

The divergent series
Hunger games series

karalime · 08/05/2017 22:03

I was forced to read Skellig in year 8 and I thought it was utter crap.

I loved Artemis Fowl, great series and Eoin Colfer has some other good books too.

Fruitcocktail6 · 08/05/2017 22:06

Hunger games and his dark materials are too much for an 8 year, hunger games ffs! I read them when I was 18, they're upsetting, it's children killing each other for entertainment.

Terry pratchett and hobbit are good suggestions!

Twoevils · 08/05/2017 22:09

Had she read The Little House series, or Anne of Green Gables or the Heidi books? My just 10yo has devoured all those recently. She is reading Call of the Wild currently. We're also reading Tarka the Otter together.

MrTurtleLikesKisses · 08/05/2017 22:15

Alex Rider books (about a young spy)
Artemis Fowl
Maximum Ride books
These were my favourites!

BiscuitMillionaire · 08/05/2017 22:22

Er, the movie of the Hunger Games is rated 12A, so I don't think the books would be appropriate for an 8-yr-old. Whatever happened to letting children be children?

FayKnights · 08/05/2017 22:29

My DS' liked Percy Jackson after HP. I am currently listening to HP on Audible, I adore the books and enjoying them all over again being read by Stephen Fry.

Etymology23 · 08/05/2017 22:45

Definitely also think Artemis Fowl is fab. Also Nancy Drew (mysteries) and Enid blyton too. I also read Sherlock Holmes and agatha Christie at about that age, but wouldn't necessarily recommend until she's a big older - I devoured about 20 books a week so was struggling for material! (That also means some of my recommendations from earlier may be off age wise.)

eeyore2 · 08/05/2017 23:10

The Secret Series. My kid is obsessed. Seems to have quite the cult following

KittyVonCatsington · 08/05/2017 23:14

Hunger Games for an 8 year old!?!? Shock

alabasterangel · 08/05/2017 23:18

We're in the same boat. She started HP with the illustrated special edition a year ago, and she's motored through the lot. She's on the last one and begging for more. We've also done some not suggested here yet. Neil gaiman has writen a shorter book called 'only the milk' which was funny and quick. Mrs Pepperpot? Chronicles of Narnia? We've also had an illustrated version of the hobbit which looks like a great introduction. She's also devoured all the David Walliams books. And yes ^to little house on the prairie.

Have you taken her to the studio tour? Best day out we've ever done!

Waddlelikeapenguin · 08/05/2017 23:36

DD is 8 & a voracious reader. Sticking to series off the top of my (frazzled) head.
The Rangers Apprentice
Little house on the prairie
Narnia
Dark is rising
Lauren child's Ruby Redfort
The Penderwicks
Alex Rider
Dragonskin slippers etc
Twelve dancing princesses series Jessica Day George (as is Dragonskin above & castle on Tuesdays etc are great too but much lighter/younger)
Dealing with Dragons
Everything Lari Don has ever written Grin
Warrior cats
Dragon fire
Skulduggery Pleasant

Graphic novel series -
zita the spacegirl
Amulet

BlueChairs · 09/05/2017 02:27

The gender game, the red queen, the mistborn series ( amazing) or the way of kings, the Mage apprentice, the left hand of god, the name of the wind, the hunger games

BlueChairs · 09/05/2017 02:27

The goose girl I loved and was v tame

BlueChairs · 09/05/2017 02:29

Or there's wool, a series of unfortunate events... I read a lot of dark shit at that age and it only increased my love of lit

BlueChairs · 09/05/2017 02:30

E.g. I read the handmaids tale and 1984 aged 10 ( do not let her read 1984 it scarred me )

MrsFloppy · 09/05/2017 02:31

I read the Lord of the rings at 7 and was hooked. I must have read it over 30 times now.

EBearhug · 09/05/2017 03:19

I read 1984 aged 11 (because I was determined to read it before 1984), and I don't think I really got it. I reread it a couple of years ago, and wondered if a certain manager was using it as a manual...

I loved Narnia when I discovered it she 8. Also the Dark is Rising and Diana Wynne Jones and Anne of Green Gables and Laura Ingalls Wilder. And Biggles.

KM Peyton - some are too old for 8, but there are some which are for a younger reader.

Sparrowlegs248 · 09/05/2017 03:45

Another vote for Barnes, but NOT the hunger games!

maisiestar · 09/05/2017 03:47

What about Joan aitken's books - the wolves of willoughby chase, black hearts in battersea and many others. I remember absolutely loving those at her age?

nooka · 09/05/2017 04:17

Wow, what a wide range of books being suggested here. The Name of the Wind is an adult fantasy novel and 722 pages long! It's one of my favorites but even the best reader at 8 would struggle :) I read everything I could get my hands on at that age but I'm not sure that I really benefited from reading adult fiction very young, most of it went over my head. I'd take her to the library and let her loose on the 8-12 and maybe the teen sections with a bit of guidance.

Other possibilities not yet mentioned might include the Earthsea series by Ursula le Guin, Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series, the Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas, anything by Tamora Peirce, Garth Nix's the Keys to the Kingdom, and Megan Whalen Turner the Queens Thief series.

Daffydil · 09/05/2017 08:12

Swallows and Amazons?

Newtssuitcase · 09/05/2017 08:21

Do NOT let your 8 YO read The Hunger Games. I'm sure she's capable of reading it. That doesn't mean she should read it.

In the same vein as HP are:

  • Artemis Fowl series (fabulous and about to go into production with disney) - villains and fairy magic
  • Percy Jackson series - greek gods and magic
  • Kane Chronicles - egyptian gods and magic
  • The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flammel - mythology and magic (with a nice HP cross over reference to pique her interest from the start)
  • Skulduggery pleasant - underworld and magic
  • The wierdstone of brisingamen - can be quite tough going due to the fact that it was written many years ago now - we read this aloud as a family - fairy/folk legends and magic
  • The neverending story - other worlds and magic
  • small change for stuart/big change for stuart - magic in the normal world
  • Charlie Bone - very Harry Potter like set in a school
newlabelwriter · 09/05/2017 08:24

Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child is very much loved by my 8 year old.

Newtssuitcase · 09/05/2017 08:28

We did Northern lights as an audio book as a family. It's an amazing series but after the first book it gets a bit hard going. We read the subtle knife (I love the change of setting and was excited for the DSs to discover this) but the amber spyglass has been put aside until DS2 is a bit older (he was 8 at the time) since it was getting a bit tough going.

It should also be pointed out that if you're very religious you might find the series offensive.

In general I think a good thought to keep in your head is "just because it's about children does not mean it's suitable for children". The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Gone etc are all about children but for Young Adults (teens). Fab at that age but potentially distressing at too young an age.