Recommend books for a boy that aren’t grim, gruesome or gross!

[thelegohooverer]

I would really like to find some books for ds that aren’t any of the above or dark and malevolent. Or if they are dark, that there is at least a strong moral direction. Basically, what my grandparents generation would have called “wholesome”

Ds has asd, and is more deeply influenced than most so I’m not being judgemental in the slightest about what anyone else’s dc are reading! It’s simply that he needs a bit of balance. His reading level at the moment is Percy Jackson/ His Dark Materials.

He’s read lots of books that would traditionally have been recommended for girls - we’re equal opportunity readers in this house. But in the last year or so, he’s seeking out more male protagonist books and I’d really like to find more heroes and less villains and anti heroes. He tends to be a bit literal, taking someone’s dialogue as advice for life and missing the context that qualifies or belies it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Warrior cats series by Erin Hunter. Admittedly I haven’t read them but my son was gripped and read about 6 series. The cats are in different clans and do have some fights but all innocent stuff.

This is a great thread - I have one who reads anything - one who doesn’t like to be scared ... a few of the books suggested whilst really great books might not suit your son if he’s like my younger one - I’d recommend you download some kindle samples first ...

My younger son has rejected a lot of the books suggested here ( frustrating as I have bulging bookshelves as my older one was a vociferous reader ) - he does though like Elizabeth Laird novels

Repeating what’s already been said but my son really loves Katherine Rundell books too.

Whilst they are excellent stories, the Skulduggery Pleasant books are definitely dark and grim! Yes, they're done with humour, but they're based on the Cthulu mythos, and are riddled with death, massacres, etc.

Alex Rider also has plenty of dark moments- the Syrian (Egyptian?) torturer for one.

Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve has moments of peril, but definitely strong moral themes running through them.

Someone mentioned the Polar Bear Explorers Club- my 14yo DD who has AS likes those. She also really likes A Place Called Perfect series (Helena Duggan), Beetle Boy/Queen series, Phoenix by S. F. Said, Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree, and Bunzl's Cogheart series.

DS, 12, (also has AS) absolutely loves Skulduggery Pleasant, Alex Rider, Mortal Engines, Artemis Fowl, Stoneheart series, Itch series, Series of Unfortunate Events, but he can handle more 'grim' than DD can.

Eva Ibbotson is a good writer, but make sure you get the children's books not her adult romances! Which Witch, Secret of Platform 13, Journey to the River Sea, Star of Kazan are all good. Sam Gayton is another good author.
My DS also devoured the Chronicles of Prydain, and the classic TH White Sword in the Stone.

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver is just the ticket. First of a series too so if he likes he can read on but didn't have to. Good characters and balance of the world message, edge of the seat story. My son likes Percy Jackson and Dark Materials and lives this series. The last in the series (vipers daughter) has just been released in time for Xmas

My DS loves fantasy and mystery stories . He’s 10. He also likes well researched, realistic stories about animals. He’s very picky and opinionated about what he sees as a good book! He’s also a keen naturalist and is highly critical when author’s get nature stuff wrong! He likes male and female lead characters equally.
I have had a look at recommended reading lists for his age and Carnegie medal winners.
Recently he had read and enjoyed:
Abi Elphinstone - one of his favourite writers currently
Harry Potter and Northern Lights Trilogy
Wolf Brother - Michelle Paver
The Machine Gunners
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe - Penelope Lively
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Loads of Michael Morpurgo (lives up to factually accurate nature detail expectations!)
River Boy - Tim Bowler
Katherine Rundell
White Fang - Jack London (this was a bit too heavy going for him)
The Mouse and his Child - Russell Hoban
I also still read to him. We enjoyed Tom’s Midnight Garden and Swallows and Amazons. We waded our way through the dire Prince Caspian but are now loving Tarka the Otter.

Willard Price fits the bill! Yes they're Esther old now but good, gripping stories

The Tygrine Cat might be a good one, OP. Narrated from a cat’s point of view, as he escapes from Egypt and ends up in London. Lots of adventure and excitement, not grim or dark.

Also what about the CS Lewis narnia series

Does he like fantasy? My son loves the Eragon books (the Inheritance trilogy).

Thank you so much for these recommendations. I’m making a list. I think the best thing might be to head to the library and read a couple of chapters myself. And kindle samples are a good idea too.

Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series

I loved Garth Nix, Paul Stewart (Edge Chronicles), William Nicholson (Wind Singer) and Darren Shan (granted, a bit darker). The Montmorency series by Eleanor Update was really good too.