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Reluctant reader; 9 yr boy recommendations

22 replies

siblingrevelryagain · 13/05/2018 10:32

My 9 year old 2nd son has always been a reluctant reader by choice; he can read well but would rather colour/draw than read.

Recently he got heavily into the wimpy kid books and read them all back to back; he’s read David Walliams, and the first 4 Harry Potters-can anyone recommend any others. I want to capitalise on his enthusiasm! Thanks

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BlueChampagne · 30/05/2018 12:29

Matt Millz by Harry Hill

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SparrowandNightingale · 22/05/2018 19:50

Im currently reading Brightstorm - a sky ship adventure by Vashti Hardy. Its a first book and I'm really enjoying it.
Agree Alex Rider
Also Artimis Fowl
Skullduggery books get quite dark near the end of the series but they are fab plus new one came out this week.
Wolf brother by Michelle Paver is great series is called cronicles of ancient darkness.
Beetle boy series are great
Other authors - Philip Reeve , Philip Pullman, Chris Riddell, Malorie Blackman, Garth Nix, Stuart Foster all ones that my Ds's have enjoyed.
Don't forget Tin Tin and Asterix and Calvin and Hobbs.

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LiveLifeWithPassion · 17/05/2018 23:13

Mine loved the fighting fantasy books. They’re choose your own adventure ones.
Also The chronicles of ancient darkness

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MikeWyzowski · 17/05/2018 23:12

John Boyne's "boy at the top of the mountain" and"boy in the striped pyjamas". Might spark an interest in history.
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dolphin50 · 17/05/2018 23:06

also if he is reluctant goosebumps as they get kids hooked and the horrible histories

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dolphin50 · 17/05/2018 23:06

michael morpurgo is great as is jacqueline wilson, roald dahl and enid blyton. famous five at his age. also the chronicles of narnia, 5 children and it, the secret garden, peter pan, bridge to terebithia, the land of stories, percy jackson, the lord of the rings, oliver twist, treasure island, huckleburry finn, home for peculiar children.

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BlueChampagne · 14/05/2018 12:47

Another one for How To Train Your Dragon. They're quite short, with plenty of illustrations, funny, exciting and a little bit rude.

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Ohyesiam · 14/05/2018 06:28

How to train you dragon series.

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siblingrevelryagain · 14/05/2018 06:15

Thanks for all the suggestions, plenty of great ideas.

I describe him as reluctant because he has never had a love of reading like I or his Dad had; he wouldn’t choose to pick up a book and when he has quiet time before bed I have to ‘make’ him read as he’d rather draw or colour.

Once he’s into a book he finishes it, but I want him to want it, rather than doing it because school & I tell him to.

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Phillipa12 · 13/05/2018 20:08

My 9 year old is an avid reader but reluctant to try anything new, he has read Tom Gates, the entire series about 50 times! Lady in Waterstones reccommended the Treehouse series, the Bolds, Percy Jackson, Bear Grylls, Norm, How to Train Your Dragon. I bought him the first in the Treehouse series to look at over the weekend and its a massive hit.

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TeresasGreen · 13/05/2018 19:50

They have already been mentioned but Tom Gates books always go down well with reluctant readers.

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MonumentVal · 13/05/2018 19:47

Seconding Tom Gates and Barry Loser (sort of UK Wimpy Kid).
Robert Harris "The Day the world went Loki" and sequels
Asterix

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llangennith · 13/05/2018 19:41

The Alex Rider series. Books 1-10 set are cheap on Amazon now
Percy Jackson series

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masktaster · 13/05/2018 19:33

names can be. An ex of mine didn't read much at all for a big chunk of childhood until his elder sister started reading him Harry Potter around the age of 8/9 and he read it for himself, he was so eager to continue with the story

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Namesallgone18 · 13/05/2018 19:30

9 year old boy reading Harry Potter doesn’t sound like a reluctant reader to me!

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HotSauceCommittee · 13/05/2018 19:30

I second “The Bolds” series. Lovely books.

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masktaster · 13/05/2018 19:28

The Percy Jackson series went down well with a (then) y4 reluctant reader I used to work with.

The (insert number) Storey Treehouse series

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OnceAponAMum · 13/05/2018 19:20

Tom Gates books very much in the Wimpy Kid style. My reluctant reader devoured the Wimpy Kid books. He's now enjoying Alex Rider

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SusieFlo · 13/05/2018 19:11

Have a look at The Bolds books by Julian Clary - very lighthearted and silly but my son is mad on them

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siblingrevelryagain · 13/05/2018 16:35

Thanks-will get ordering!

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starryflamingo · 13/05/2018 10:38

Yes to the Rangers Apprentice series. Fantastic books. Even I like them and I'm a nearly 30 year old woman.

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SeaToSki · 13/05/2018 10:36

Skullduggery pleasant
Rangers apprentice
Brotherband chronicles
Warriors (series about cats)
How to train your dragon
Series about dogs helping in world war two

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