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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

11 yo DS - birthday book to carry on tradition...

19 replies

jobnockey · 28/11/2019 09:40

Hi all,

DS likes reading so he does get books throughout the year both from me, the library school etc... However, Every year since he was 1 I've got him a 'special' book on his birthday, often books I enjoyed myself e.g. The Enchanted Wood, Chronicles of Narnia (yes, this is more than one book), His Dark Materials, The Hobbit, The BFG... He's enjoyed them all particularly HDM and the Hobbit.
He's kept them all so I want to carry on the tradition but I'm struggling to think of something for this year. I usually pick a nice hardback version but that's not necesarily that important.

He's going to be 11 and although i still do read to him occasionally i'm not sure how much longer he'll want me to do that so would rather get a book he'll be able to manage himself. (Although secretly hoping he'll want me to read it to him!)

He's a good reader and currently enjoying the Percy Jackson series. Has done all of HP and enjoyed them.

I was thinking Hunger Games, or the Knife of Never Letting Go ? I have read and enjoyed both but can't remember if the themes are maybe a bit too old for him yet?

I want to get him a nice copy of Lord of the Rings but again, will probably wait till he's a bit older.

So does anyone have any ideas? I feel he's at such a transformative age, he often already seems like a teenager and then he's a little boy again so I'm finding it hard to thinkof something appropriate for his age!

OP posts:
dmmijp · 28/11/2019 11:01

Harry Potter series?

WhenYouCantRunYouCrawl · 28/11/2019 11:04

Would how to train your dragon series be too young for him?

Hobbes8 · 28/11/2019 11:29

I wouldn’t think the knife of letting go would be more adult than the dark materials trilogy, although it’s been a while since I read it. Has he read Book of Dust?

The Divergent trilogy maybe? Not sure if that’s a bit old too - it’s a difficult in between-y age.

In terms of books you might have enjoyed...would Judy Blume be too girl oriented? How about Goodnight Mr Tom or the Demon Headmaster?

owlofathena · 28/11/2019 11:36

The heroes of Olympus series to follow on from Percy jackson? That's if he hasn't read those ones as well

jobnockey · 28/11/2019 12:27

Thank you all for the responses.

He's read Harry Potter and some (not all) of the How to train your Dragon- Haven't heard of Divergent - will have a look at those. I know what you mean about in-betweeny... I've not doubt he'll read all these books eventually (I think the Patrick Ness ones are on the year 7 reading list for one of the schools we visited recently) but don't want to put him off by giving them too early.

I hadn't thought of Judy Blume - he doesn't mind 'girl' books at all (loved most of Jacqueline Wilson's) ... That will be a blast from the past going through Judy Blume's books!

Owlofathena - I wasn't aware of any books beyond percy jackson so thanks for that!

Thanks all...

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 28/11/2019 16:15

War Horse
Treasure Island
Tom’s Midnight Garden
Alex Ryder series
Artemis Fowl
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Five Children and It
Lion Boy
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
My Swordhand Is Singing

ConfusedAndStressed95 · 28/11/2019 16:50

The Charlie Bone series, Percy Jackson series, Uglies series, Alex Rider series. They're all books I enjoyed around his age and would and do reread now.

Witchend · 28/11/2019 20:28

What about some old books? You can get them secondhand often.
Ds loved the Lone Pine Series, starting with Mystery At Witchend.
You could also go for something like Biggles, or Jennings, or Just William.

Longtalljosie · 28/11/2019 20:31

How about A Christmas Carol?

IHateBlueLights · 28/11/2019 20:34

John Wyndham Sci Fi for teens.

The Chrysalids is my favourite.

user1374384 · 28/11/2019 20:40

My DD really enjoyed The Hunger Games at 11/12. She also loved the Darren Shan series, I got these because I remember reading some of them at the same age.

For something more classic, Goodnight Mr Tom is a good suggestion, maybe you could do your own boxset with other 2nd World War themed children's classics? Carries War, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Anne Frank, and I would include a more challenging one for you to read to/with him if he wants to read the others on his own, perhaps The Book Thief?

GetUpAgain · 28/11/2019 20:43

At that age there is a great set of books whose name I forgot. Something like Psydonomous Bosch 'My name is invisible'

It saves using up books you could give him when he is older.

Hecateh · 28/11/2019 21:03

The Wee Free Men Terry Pratchett. The first of 3 children's/young adult books by Terry which are a great entry into the very big Discworld of Terry Pratchett and which will, I suspect, lead him to a forever love of Ankh Morpork and the rest of the disc. All of the books are suitable for teens and above and they are books which continue to give on multiple readings.

Hobbes8 · 29/11/2019 12:01

I like the 2nd world war suggestion - I’d include the boy in the striped pyjamas.

jobnockey · 29/11/2019 13:51

Thanks so much everyone there are some fantastic suggestions here !

Can’t believe I haven’t thought of introducing him to disc world yet!

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 03/12/2019 17:49

Swallows & Amazons.
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Black Beauty

AbsinthedelaBonchance · 25/01/2020 17:43

There are more than 3 Pratchett young adults Amazing Maurice and his educated Rodents is great. Also apart from the two Percy Jackson quintets, Rick Riordan has three more series in the same world - Kane Chronicles (trilogy Egyptian Mythos), Magnus Chase (trilogy Norse Mythos) and Trials of Apollo (second sequel to Percy Jackson currently awaiting Book 4). I'd also recommend Stephen Fry's Mythos and Neil Gaiman's Norse Myths- both fantastic retellings, Which reminds me to mention Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book"

TwigTheWonderKid · 25/01/2020 17:59

My 11yo has recently enjoyed

My Side of the Mountain by Jean George
The House With Chicken Legs and The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson
The Way Past Winter by Kran Millwood Hargrave
Emile and the Detectives by Erich Kastner

TwigTheWonderKid · 25/01/2020 18:04

OOh and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

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