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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

DS hates reading - book recommendations?

37 replies

190190tnt · 05/02/2022 12:16

DS will be 13 soon, hates reading and hoping I can find something he might actually like and want to read. He half heartedly read Diary of a Wimpy Kid. His teacher has said that he needs to be reading more so keen to help him.
Just wondering if anyone else has found a book that hits the spot! Thanks

OP posts:
sashh · 10/02/2022 04:00

Have you tried getting him to do something that involves reading but isn't?

Something like a cookery book, he's old enough to cook a meal once a week.

Let him pick a cookery book and have him plan the meal, work out the ingredients maybe even send him shopping for them.

Or tell him you have X, Y and Z ingredients and you want him to find a recipe to use them.

Or something like an electronics kit, I had one at primary school, the simple things you can just build but for other projects you need to read.

One school I worked in had a 'do now' policy, so there had to be something on the board for students to do when they came in to the room which should take 5min, one of the option was 'silent reading' so it was possible for a child to have read for almost half an hour but in 5 min slots.

I doubt you could get the school to implement the policy but could you do some blocks of reading, maybe with the whole family, 10 mins between eating and starting homework in the evening?

Eightiesfan · 13/02/2022 01:54

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan (mythology) - in fact anything by this author!
Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy (fantasy)
Cherub series by Robert Muchamore (action/adventure)
Gone Series by Michael Grant (Sci-fi/Dystopian)
Wings of Fire Series by Tui Sutherland (fantasy)
Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter (fantasy)
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz (action/adventure)
Department 19 series by Will Hill (horror)
The Enemy series by Charlie Higson (horror)

Chichimcgee · 13/02/2022 01:58

Percy Jackson or Artemis fowl, you read a chapter then he reads a chapter.
Or what about those puzzle books where you make a decision that sends you to page 21 or whatever (if someone can remember what they’re called?!)

WhereYouLeftIt · 13/02/2022 02:20

I can recommend Robert Muchamore's 'Cherub' series of books. Similar in theme to the Alex Ryder books with children being agents, but more gritty. The central character James has been recently orphaned by the death of his mother (who reset stolen goods for a living), and whose stepfather has no intention of caring for him and wants him put into a children's home. James' teacher is a former Cherub herself, sees potential in him and puts his name forward as a potential recruit.

THere's at least ten books in the series, probably more now. I read the first six myself, they were really good. There's also a second series, 'The Henderson Boys' which is sort of a prequel, covering the creation of Cherub during WWII.

First book in the series is 'The Recruit'. My son devoured it, and it was lent out to two other not-interested-in-reading boys in his class, and similarly enjoyed. All hail Robert Muchamore!Grin

190190tnt · 15/02/2022 09:27

Thank you, I bought 'The Recruit' showed it to DS, he pulled a face, said 'you know I don't like reading' , pleased with him to just try....he did 10 minutes....grudgingly said ' that was good' !!!! So pleased Smile he hasn't picked it up again but after half term we will use this for his daily reading and hopefully he will really get in to it. So this is progress! Thanks to all for that recommendation, and for the others.

OP posts:
2022HereWeCome · 22/02/2022 12:18

I would try the horror/action/dystopia route personally - Michael Grant's Gone series is very good, Derek Landy's American Monsters series is great, Hunger Games, maybe some early Stephen King 'Salems' Lot', 'The Shining' and 'the Bachman Books'. I read a lot of Stephen King at age 13-15 and liked edgier stuff at this age

MazzleDazzle · 22/02/2022 12:24

Would he enjoy something like ‘The Cherub’ series by Robert Muchamore?

Although the premise sounds a bit cheesy, they’re actually really gritty and realistic (think Line of Duty, but involving teens).

I’m an English teacher and it’s always the book I recommend to reluctant readers. So far, it’s never failed! Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger. I’ve read the series too and couldn’t put them down! My DD is also a fan.

The2Omicronnies · 22/02/2022 12:24

I remember enjoying Stephen King at that age

MazzleDazzle · 22/02/2022 12:25

I got too excited and didn’t read the whole thread! It seems like someone got in there before me. Blush

So glad he enjoyed it! They get better and better as the series goes on and obvs more up to date as the first one was written quite some time ago.

landofgiants · 08/03/2022 21:09

The Ranger's Apprentice series is really good. The author, John Flanagan, started writing it to encourage his own son (a reluctant reader) to enjoy books.

OkyDoke · 11/03/2022 16:35

The new Loki book by Louie Stowell might interest him? It might be a bit young but if he's reluctant and potentially struggling might be a good introduction. I enjoyed it. Graphic novels might be a good shout too.

drinkwithanumbrellainit · 22/03/2022 07:29

Stephen King if he likes Stranger Things? Very story driven, straightforward language and wont feel baby ish like wimpy kid.

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