Fantasy book for an 8yo

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Youngest DC(8) has decided they'd like to try reading chapter books without pictures, up until now they've been a little reluctant. Their older sibling is 10 and a confident reader, especially of fantasy books like Percy Jackson.

Youngest DC would like to read fantasy too, but doesn't want books so focused on fighting. We did try Harry Potter, but I think they're put off by the latter books and so won't even start the first one.

I'm wondering about trying the Narnia books, though they might be a little challenging?

Any recommendations?

How to Train your Dragon might be more accessible. Or Chris Priestley's Maudlin Towers, or The Worst Witch. Save Narnia till he's some chapter books under his belt.

Dragon Realm
The Danger Gang
Amari and the Night Brothers
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Land of Stars
The Unmapped Chronicles

Isn’t this perfect redwall and Roman of Rin territory?

*rowan of rin - emily Rodda
I assume he’s read Harry Potter?

Sorry rereading your op I see the Harry Potter comment. I’m tired!!

The Train to Impossible Places (and a few sequels) by PG Bell

Podkin One Ear is a brilliant series for this age group. Really well written fantasy based on tribes of rabbits (nothing like Watership Down, I promise!).
The audiobooks are well narrated too and a great way for less confident readers to access high quality texts and getting the same language experience as more confident peers.

Have they read any chapter books yet at 8 I.e. illustrated chapter books like How To Train Your Dragon or Boy Who Grew Dragons?

What have they been reading up to now?

Abi elphinstone’s Books are great
So are the polar bear explorers club books.

There lots of fighting in how to train your dragon. It’s great but there are fights.

I have a 6 year old who enjoys fantasy. These have gone down very well (being read to)
Land of stars trilogy by Hannah Sparks (dragons and naughty fairies, 2 friends ride in dragons and find a magic land). 8 Yr old could read independently. Short books.
The day I fell into a fairytale by Ben Miller. Full length novel, great story but maybe a bit daunting for first self reader
The nothing to see here hotel by Steven Butler. A hotel for magical creatures. Has black and white illustrations. V funny. 8 year old could read.
The lion the witch and the wardrobe, she loved. Ilt was a beautifully illustrated hardback book for younger readers. It captured her completely. Obviously there's the death of Aslan but she was OK with that and it starts conversations.
Hope this helps.

@NoSquirrels

Have they read any chapter books yet at 8 I.e. illustrated chapter books like How To Train Your Dragon or Boy Who Grew Dragons?

What have they been reading up to now?

Yes, they've read some. The Worst Witch was a hit, and they've enjoyed the Eva Ibbotson books about ghosts etc.

There's some great suggestions here, thank you everyone

Septimus Heape books are rather nice and have next to no fighting or violence.

Beasts of Olympus

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Pamela Butchart

Baby Aliens Series Collection 9 Books Set By Pamela Butchart (Baby Aliens, The Spy, My Headteacher, Attack of the Demon, To Wee or Not to Wee, Icarus Was Ridiculous & MORE!) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1839942533/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_ETBP0SSG7S978E2WFZ6W

Sorry about the USA link but she is a uk author

The Witch Wars series by Sibeal Pounder and Rainbow Grey / Amelia Fang by Lauren Anderson have gone down very well with my two (not quite 8). Predominantly female characters (I think the only male character in Witch Wars is non human) but my boys didn't mind at all until world book day.

They have shortish chapters, a few illustrations and normally a cliffhanger ending each time that kept them hooked.

I should add, Witch Wars is not actually about fighting. There's an occasional magical fight but that's not the main focus. More adventure/solving a problem and friendship.

Land of Roar series. They're great. My 8yo loved them.

The Song of the Lioness. Fabulous.

Came out in the 80s I think, I read it in the 2010s and it was still really good. No sex or anything. I'd say right for age 8-13.

2000s I should say not 2010s 😂

DS1 loved Emma Fischel's WitchWorld seires at about that age. And Sally Gardner's Wings Fairy Detective Agency books.

Thank you! Surely it if ask those suggestions I can find at least one that grabs DDs attention!

Spiderwick Chronicles - Holly Black. Very short books with illustrations but a great fantasy series (and a tiny bit scary in parts)

Mrs Frisby and the rats of Nimh.

Hard to describe but a beautiful magical sort of book. Was one of my favourites at this age.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Frisby_and_the_Rats_of_NIMH