book ideas for 10 yr old boy...he's a very fluent reader...

[MaryAnnSingletomb]

...ds is reading Michael Morpurgo at the moment (working his way through them) - he reads very fluently and I want him to keep on reading chapter books for pleasure, so what can people suggest that I encourage him with ?

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How about the Alex Ryder books? DD1 loved those at 10. (Still does, I think, although now more into the "buffness" of the boy who played him in the movie!)

has he read the roald dahl books...

James and the Giant Peach and all that stuff?

Alex Rider - of course ! and yes dolally, he has read all the Dahls. He does re read things and often goes back to stuff like Horrid Henry and even Paddington !

Look out for
Robert Muchamore
Malorie Blackman - Nought & Crosses etc
Philip PullmanP
Philip Reeves - Mortal Engines
Louis Sacher - Holes, Small Steps
Hoot by someone or other
Millions by someone else

excellent clarice - will make a list and look in Waterstones !

Assume you've also though of Lemony Snickett's Series of Unfortunate Events

weirdly he doesn't seem interested in Lemony Snicket - a friend gave him some on cd and he hasn't bothered with them...maybe I'll try again

There is a good series of books by Michelle Paver -- Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. First in the series is Wol Brother. Set in Stone Age Europe. DS1 loved (and loves) them.

That would be Wolf brother

What about Tolkein?

And Garth Nix - the Abhorsen books are fab.

OK, I have to admit before I start that I have a 7-y-o girl, so feel free to ignore my suggestions! However, she'd definitely recommend:

The Ingo series by Helen Dunmore (Ingo, The Tide Knot, The Deep). They are about Mer people (not just maids; I don't think they are too girlie for a 10-y-o boy), set in West Cornwall. DD is obsessed.

The Roman Mysteries series???

Matt Chaning, The Medici Curse (as recommended by RosaLuxembourg!). Dd currently struggling with it a bit, linguistically, so might be good for a 10-y-o.

Swallows and Amazons?

Millions is Frank Cottrell Boyce - very good. Does he read above his age level? Joshua Doder's Grk books are excellent for 8-12 yr olds, but if he's v fluent they may be a little too light for him.

Have you thought about letting him try some sci-fi? Good transitional reading - I loved John Wyndham when I was his age (The Chrysalids, Day of the Triffids, Chocky ..). And if he hasn't read them yet, can I make a serious, serious case for Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising sequence? Five of the finest children's books written ever - and appeal equally to girls and boys. Oh, and The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively.

Right: I'm done! Apologies for splurge ..

Oooh, and the Lionboy series (Zazou Corder). And dd has just enjoyed DragonRider by Cornelia Funke.

DD1 is reading Inkspell by Cornelia Funke at the moment, which is a sequel to a book called Inkheart. I totally recommend it, great stuff.
Also she loves the Lionboy trilogy by Zizou Corder which is perfect for 10 year olds.
Was going to suggest Matt Chamings books Time Switch and The Medici Curse but Ellbell got there first!

EllHell !!! Great minds!!!

Rosa! I reckon we could swap daughters and not notice!

There is a wonderful set of books by someone called Walter Moers:
-The 13 and a half Lives of Captain Bluebear
-Rumo
-The City of Dreaming Books

Kind of comic fantasy. Not specifically aimed at children (and not in the kids' section) but very accessible and funny. My dcs love them.

thank you all - excellent suggestions - I'm very excited as I love buying books for him. I just want him to go on reading because I've heard that boys just stop and it would break my heart if he did. He has tried Swallows and Amazons too but it was so wordy.
I loved The Wool Pack by Cynthia Harnett at about that age, so might try it - he's quite interested in historical stuff

I couldn't get past the first chapter of Swallows and Amazons when I was that age (or, indeed, ever) MaryAnn, but people kept telling me that it was a 'girl thang' and that it was just a boys' book. Obviously not!

mmm, it was the very detailed bit at the beginning with the boy tacking across the grass to hear his dad's letter. Also ds has seen the film version a million times,so probably couldn't be bothered after that ! lots of people love Arthur Ransome though.

Artemis Fowl - yes, that's a good idea !
I wonder what boys go on to after though - at about 16 ? adult books I suppose, I'm hoping ds will read good novels like his dad rather than SAS type books which is what my brother reads,if he reads anything apart from car/sailing/sports mags