Books for a boy who loves reading and is going through a very hard time with his Dad who bullies him

[NeverTwerkNaked]

He's 10, he loves gentle books, nothing too scary or dark.
He is currently refusing to see his dad, dad was very emotionally abusive to me and it seems like DS has been experiencing the same and it is all coming out.

So I would love any recommendations of books that either

• are gentle /humorous and not scary at all
• or might help him explore /make sense of some of the complex emotions he is going through right now

Some of the classics like E Nesbit (Five Children and It, etc), The Family From One End Street; Paul Berna, A Hundred Million Francs; The Phantom Tolbooth.

Helen Cresswell's Bagthorpe series is funny too - starts with Ordinary Jack. The first two are in print (and on kindle if he has one), if he likes those you can the others pretty cheap second hand.

Have a look at Ross welford. Superb books.

My very sensitive boy (also can’t deal with scary books) very much enjoyed the Mr Terupt series.

My boys have recently read warrior cats and seekers by erin hunter.
Something funnier - julius zebra by Gary northfield.

Sorry to hear you and your son have been having a tough time.

The Roman mysteries by Caroline Lawrence - very pacy, take your mind off things
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - for a good laugh
The Uncommoners as mentioned above

It's a bit left field, but check out Biggles books. DS loved them. We picked up quite a few from a 2nd hand book shop.

Gentle authors:

• Noel Streatfeild (has written far more then Ballet Shoes - lots of boy heroes as well)
• Phillipa Pearce
• Arthur Ransome
• Philip Turner
• Anthony Buckeridge
• Richmal Crompton

I loved The little Grey men by BB when I was his age

Brian Jacques - Redwall series are fantastic. I loved them when I was around 10.
www.goodreads.com/series/40340-redwall

The David Baddiel books are good fun - lots of laughing out loud while reading them here.

Are you reading non-fiction books about feelings with him (The big book of feelings, What to do when you worry too much) ? I would also give him books to strengthen his self-confidence. Margot Sunderland's workbooks are very good as well (Helping children who are anxious...).

I would look at Jacqueline Wilson books. They are about girls, but they deal with real life problems in a very accessible way. It might be easier for him to access his feelings if the main character is a girl or if the book is historical fiction. Maybe a children's biography of a famous man who had an abusive dad?

Yes yes yes Just William, my very modern 11 yr old loved him!
The Jacqueline Wilson you’d want (perhaps?) is “Cookie” - emotionally abusive dad. Altho there’s a disturbing part when Dad has had enough of the family rabbit...... so maybe not for your sensitive DS.
Little House on the Prairie has a very strong but good and loving dad.