Moving on from childrens books

[Keepo]

I have been here for ages but have name changed loads lately - my dd was telling her friends my mumsnet name .

Anyway, a while a go I posted about dd wanting to read To Kill a Mocking bird and you were all very helpful saying it would be fine to read at 10. Well she loved it ! She now wants more things that are similar.

She was wondering if you could suggest similar more grown up books that she could read. BTW She hates chic lit style books that are aimed at teens.

Can anybody help ?

Not similar but what about Pride & Prejudice?

I would also say Diary of Anne Frank but there is some sexual content in that so not sure how you feel about that.

I loved The Dark is Rising sequence at about 10 I think.

I also read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at 11 and loved it too.

Brilliant ideas thank you !

How about Watership Down

At that age I liked the Miss Read books. The observations are actually quite acerbic and at the time made me long to be a school teacher (as long as I was the only teacher in the school and my own boss, of course!).

I also started to read Agatha Christie books then.

No, not Watership Down. It'll traumatise her for life. That book and the film should be banned.

How about Carrie's War? Goodnight Mr Tom?

Interestingly Watership Down is a restricted read in the school library - you have to be 11 to read it. A younger child tried to check it out and the fire alarm practically went off.

My nine-year old has just read the sequels to When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - Bombs on Aunt Dainty and A Small Person Far Away They trace Judith Kerr's life from fleeing the Nazis in 1933 to returning to Germany after the war. Although When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is primarily a children's book the other two are really for teenagers, but for a thoughtful nine-year-old they are fine.
The Anne of Green Gables series is another that should work well for her if she hasn't read it.

I loved Watership Down! It's sad yes, but it's a great book.

I remember I got really got into Sherlock Holmes short stories, but I can't remember how old I was, perhaps a little older?

DP says how about some Anne McCaffrey - great fantasy storytelling with decent female characters.

I loved the Dragonquest series - the first one is Dragonflight

Thanks so much, I am building up quite a list here. I have just bought Dragonflight as she loves dragons so much. Thank you

You need to be aware that there is some fairly explicit sex in the Dragonquest books though.

Is there? I really don't remember - it must have gone over my head at the time. Or perhaps I was a bit older when I read them, although I'm sure I can't have been older than max 13 I don't think? (I appreciate there is a world of difference between 10 and 13 though). I absolutely loved the books, I was really pleased to hear you'd got one, as I remember them so fondly. Now I'm embarrassed, I didn't consider that aspect at all.

I googled the books and there does seem to be confusion - some places they are listed as young adult, and some places under children's.

Probably worth a quick read before you give it to your daughter then.

Right then, my mission of the day is to think of a good book with dragons in it, which is definitely suitable for a 10 year old, in case she is waiting with anticipation for a book on dragons which it turns out she won't be able to read for some time!

I've been really enjoying the distraction from tax returns and moving house remembering the books I read when I was young, I was an avid reader at your DD's age. I'll take more care regarding suitability if I suggest any more.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld books?

Lowrib - I think they would be fine for a 13-year-old but maybe pushing it a bit for a 10-year-old. They are great books - I'd probably give them to my almost 13-year-old now (in fact I think I might, I have the whole set) but probably not to my 10-year-old.

oh ! I will read it first then It might be fine.

Oh if she loves dragons, try the Christopher Paolini trilogy ? Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr.

They are quite substantial ? c.600+ pages each, but DD (11) read them last year and loved them all.

mattellie brilliant, another dragon book, thanks!

The Hobbit.

My DD loves Thomas Hardy and Jane Austin but finds Hardy much easier to read as his style of writing is much more modern.

I read Bleak House when I was 11 and loved it - got into Dickens through that (my mother thought a different one might be better first, but I'd run out of books on holiday). PG Woodehouse. JB Priestly.

Rosina Copper is a nice book for pony lovers. The Black Stallion books are also good for horse lovers (can you see a theme here???? )