8 yr old boy - need new book suggestions!

[florenceuk]

DS seems to be racing through all his books and I am not quite sure what to get out from the library next. To give you an idea, he has read:

• all the Horrible Histories we can find
• all the Alex Rider books except the very latest one
• all the Cressida Cowell books
• quite a few of the Roman Mysteries
• the Terry Deary Fire Thief series
• all the Astrosaurs, Cows in Action, Mammoth books in the local library plus the latest one about a dinosaur T-rex
• all the Molly moon books
• all the Nelly the monster books
• Charlie Small books
• some of the Narnia books - I've been a bit selective as I don't really like some of these
• pretty much all the suitable Roald Dahl books, including his biog, Going Solo

Currently on a WW theme:

• lots of Morpurgo (over the hols he read the latest one about a tsunami, plus War Horse, and the Diary of Adolphus Tips)
• has read When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, something like this might appeal but don't want too much about the Holocaust as he is only 8
• currently reading Johnny and the Bomb by Pratchett

• Also got the latest book by Geraldine McGaughren for Xmas - the Death Defying Pepper Roux - which he loved, but not anything else of hers - not sure what else might be similar
• also some series called "Rangers Apprentice"

Did not like Lemony Snicket, found the Diana Wynne Jones Christpher Chant books a bit hard. Hasn't really warmed to Artemis Fowl yet but I might get him to try it again.

Trying to find books that are a bit more complicated than, say, Astrosaurs but not too complicated - the Edge Chronicles stuff, for example, seems too complicated. He doesn't seem to like "gothic" books or stuff about ghosts/vampires etc but obviously likes both history and fantasy - would he be ready for those Percy Jackson books? Also suggestions for any other WWI or WWII themed books (but not too grim - I wouldn't give him, e.g. the diary of Anne Frank.)

On the horrible history theme - has he read the Horrible Science, Murderous Maths and Knowledge series'? Murderous Maths in particular seems less ubiquitous, but my dd has really enjoyed them. And there are hundreds of them She's only had a couple of the Knowledge ones (same pub as horrible history), one on secret codes & one on archaeology, but liked both.

Paul Steward & Chris Riddell's Hugo Pepper series are fun if a bit off the wall. Roddy Doyle's kids books are v.funny and good stories. + have you got him onto TinTin? Bit different but I'd bet he'd love them looking at your list. The libraries round here stock them as they're not cheap. Let us know if you find any war books - I have a similarly war intrigued boy..

Asterix, too, perhaps?

Machine Gunners (but probably not the other Robert Westall books).
Percy Jackson books.
Books by Michael Morpugo, Robert Swindells.
Biggles flies West/East/North etc.

Asterix good, but after extensive research we like TinTin better

ah, gender split here . . . DH prefers Tintin, DD & I prefer Asterix

I'm a girl and I love TinTin

Waiting for Anya is another good Morpergo war one. DS is this age and is really enjoying the white Giraffe and others in the series by Lauren St John which are set in south Africa.

thanks everyone - some more to try! I remember at this age I was in the process of reading my school library from a to z systematically, but I think for girls there just seems to be a bit more to choose from (because they can readd all the really girly books like Noel Streatfield).

I've also found this on offer from the Book People: true stories which looks perfect and this (thanks Takver) the knowledge

We have always found the children's librarian very helpful. Does your library have one?

The Silver Sword by Ian Seraillier is a good WW2 story. Ds (who is just 9) also enjoyed Truckers, Diggers and Wings (Truckers is the first in the series) by Terry Pratchett, the Jeremy James books by David Henry Wilson, and all the Arthur Ransome (Swallows and Amazons) books.

And he liked The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively. And he loved Professor Branestawm.

i have to admit, I found Swallows and Amazons very dull but maybe because I'm not a boy???

Don't think so - I loved them as a child, & DD was also very keen (though we read them to her).

Hardy Boys, too.

mine loves Beast Quest (which is lucky as there are millions of them)

have you tried him on Non Fic? there are some great books for his age group

Harry Potter?

Later HP books are pretty grim, though; I wasn't happy with DS reading any of them until he was 10yo (when he devoured the lot in the space of 3 weeks, of course ). I haven't read Deathly Hallows myself, am just hoping I wouldn't be aghast if I did.

Warrior Cats series, by Erin Hunter.
Gosh I should be able to make heaps of suggestions, because DS1 is such a voracious reader; really I just go to the library a lot, I Love public libraries. Frank Cottrell Boyce?

there are other ace Pratchett books - my son liked the Bromeliad trilogy.

Bit old fashioned but my 8-yr-old is enjoying Worzel Gummidge books (i am readig it to him at bedtime as he loves that)

He also loved Helen Cresswell's Bagthorpe saga.

I have never read HP but mine also demolished them (at sort of age 8/9 onwards). Didn't realise they were grim lol .

I keep meaning to dig out the My Family and Other Animals books but not sure which age group that would work with. I remember loving them at around 10 I think (but amazing how the mind forgets how old you were when you read things!).

DD loves tintin - has read the whole series 7times . I have kept the collection at the top of the wardrobe so she can read other books. Has he tried Steven and Lucy Hawkings Georges secret key to the universe and cosmic treasure hunt.Adventure stories in the space.

Has anyone DC have read the knowledge series and the true stories recommended by floreneuk - so tempting to buy them but need careful spending this month. Does anyone think it is worth buying it-please convince me.

have you tried charlie bone?

Books from way back might not be a bad idea - Stig of the Dump? maybe

Oh yes, my ds liked Stig of the Dump.

How about the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver? DS1 (7) is enjoying having me read them to him at the moment. There's a bit of new vocab in there for him that he'll probably cope better with on his own in a year's time.

Have you tried Treasure Island? It is a cracking good read..

Oooh yes, that's another one my ds enjoyed!