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books for fluent readers

89 replies

robinw · 16/09/2003 13:31

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robinw · 04/10/2003 06:46

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tigermoth · 04/10/2003 23:43

no time to add message now, but thanks so much for all the suggestions - will come back to this thread tomorrow.

tigermoth · 05/10/2003 14:48

copper, after that eloquent review of the edgeworld series, I can't wait to read one myself, never mind my ds. You've totallly sold me on it - struggling authors should employ you!

We went to the library yesterday and ds made straight for the goosebumps books. Tried to find some Michael morphurgo, and Terry Pratchet and the others authors you mentioned, me but my son was not too interested in looking for them after he saw the shelf of goosebumps books. I suspect he might have to get goosebumps out of his system first. He hasn't read TP or MM's books at school so I will persevere. He's saying no out of ignorance.

Right now he has two new goosebumps books to read and he's read about 100 pages of the 5th HP book over the weekend. This time he hopes to finish it, despite the fact that he finds the plot not as interesting as the others.

I am beginning to realise I am going to have to read some of these books for myself - or at least a chapter or two in order to get my son involved. What strikes me is how many of you do this, so you can share the story and enthusiasm with your children. That means more reading time and even less mumsnet time for me. We are not good at going to libraries regularly, partly because it means taking my noisy, lively, climging on chairs, fiddling with computers youngest ds. However he is now four years old and can look at picture books by himself - or play with a toy.

Right, off to hear my oldest ds read aloud!

Copper · 07/10/2003 13:10

tigermoth
I didn't write the review, just copied it off Amazon! If you do ever get him off goosebumops, there are a whole load of really good and well written and exciting children's books out there. In fact I would say its easier to find a good children's or teenage book than a good adult novel. I have had an awful lot of enjoyment from reading Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Garth Nix (we even ordered Abhorsen from America after finishing Lirael because no one could wait until Easter). Some of these I don't suppose my kids will read for a long time. Has anyone read The Sterkarm Handshake, by Susan Price? If not look out for it for yourselves for a real treat.

tigermoth · 07/10/2003 20:41

coppper, I know what you mean. I loved the Philip Pullman Northen Lights triology and can't wait for my son to discover it. Definitely too advanced for him at the moment, though. The next time we go to the library, I am going to print off this thread and have a browse along the shelves.

Marina · 07/10/2003 21:04

Did anyone mention Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series amongst all these vintage and current selections?
Tigermoth, both ds' might enjoy Castle Diary and Pirate Diary, beautifully illustrated non-fiction works in the form of the diary of a boy aged about nine (page in one, cabin-boy in the other). Younger children (my ds has both but obviously can't read them yet!) enjoy the intricate pictures and the text is suitably gory and mucky in places without being silly or forced. They're by Chris Riddell and someone else...
Do you think he would also enjoy Molesworth & co in How to be Topp?

tigermoth · 08/10/2003 07:45

Thanks for the sugggestions, Marina. I remember enjoyng reading 'How to be Topp' years ago.

We do have a copy of Artemis Fowl but my son certainly won't be reading our edition. It's a hardback first edition and apparently they are now worth between £200 - 500, and rising, according to a Daily Telegraph article that my dh showed me. Is this really true?

janh · 08/10/2003 09:06

I don't think How to be Topp will work for kids these days - they won't get most of the jokes, and the misspellings are confusing. (You could get it for yourself though, tigermoth, and let DS read it later!)

Re your first edition, they have to be unread and pristine for top prices, and absolutely immaculate, with perfect dustcovers etc, if they have been read - the high prices are paid by collectors and they want perfection. (I read an article recently!) We have friends who have a first edition of HP1, they keep it in a plastic bag now and are not rough with their books anyway but it won't be worth anything like the prices that sometimes get quoted.

kmg1 · 08/10/2003 22:20

IMO Artemis Fowl, and many of the Pratchett books, and some other stuff mentioned here are not suitable for a 9-10 yr old .. simply because the whole point of these books is in their contrast to other science fiction books; that's where the humour lies. My ds1 would love Artemis Fowl now, but would be completely missing the point. Northern Lights too, I think, needs an experience of the morass of stuff that's out there, in order to appreciate how different Pullman is - something out of the ordinary. I have enjoyed these books, but at the moment they'd be wasted on my son, so I wouldn't allow him to read them yet.

robinw · 09/10/2003 06:44

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SueW · 09/10/2003 07:42

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SueW · 09/10/2003 08:47

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tigermoth · 13/10/2003 23:33

suew, I your dd sounds incredibly mature and thoughful - she's just 6 isn't she? I too showed my son the morpurgo books in the book People Catalogue and he told me 'NO'. I waved 'The Butterfly Lion' in front of his face at the library too, but he refused to even look at the first page. What's that phrase? you can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Sigh.

If you do see your friend, I would be interested to know how much an unread 1st edition of Artemis Fowl is worth. The dust cover alas is slightly damaged.

Robinw, thanks. I did make the school library suggestion to my son a few days ago. He does bring back books from school but again, he says lots of the books there are boring or he has read them already. He's really fussy!

Kmg, I think you've made a good point that children probably won't get much out of some books like the Terry Pratchett books, until they have read more widely. I was shocked to see the Book People stating that the Northern Lights Triology was suitable for readers aged 10 and over. I really don't think my son in one years time will be able to stomach or understand the girl/boy relationship, as it develops. It could actually be quite confusing, even worrying for him. Lots of the other cultural refernces would be lost on him, too.

He's now on page 600 of the Harry Potter book 5 so at least he is reading lots. I think that he can just about grasp this HP, but anything more grown up is beyond him.

mears · 13/10/2003 23:47

Any suggestions for an immature 13 year old boy who doesn't like reading?

JJ · 14/10/2003 00:01

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett here . What does he like? I've loved Tigermoth's interpretation that I'm reading these for my boys... I am so totally happy to sacrifice myself further. Just give me a title.. any title.

mears · 14/10/2003 00:04

He is a strange wee person. Likes to watch documentaries about the first world war, likes Roman gladiators and is constantly on the platstation/computer.

JJ · 14/10/2003 00:26

Then the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny. Or, if you can bear graphic novels, start with the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman.

Feel free to mock me in 9 years time.

mears · 14/10/2003 00:30

Thanks JJ. Will go to the library tomorrow.

robinw · 14/10/2003 07:07

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janh · 14/10/2003 09:01

It's such a shame that there isn't a Jacqueline Wilson equivalent for boys! DS2 has read a couple of hers at school, and enjoyed them, but they are mostly (entirely?) about girls which puts boys off.

Bookfair last week - there was a Malcolm in the Middle book so we bought that. Haven't read it yet so don't know if it's any good. (My boys love Malcolm in the Middle.)

SueW · 14/10/2003 11:00

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Philly · 14/10/2003 14:26

Candy,thanks a lot for the suggestion,we're not near B'ham unfortunetely but perhaps our local theatre will put it on sometime

kmg1 · 14/10/2003 19:11

Anyone read the new Morpurgo book yet? Reviews? I think it's called Private Peaceful. I stroked it today it Ottakars - gorgeous sexy matt black cover - but it's too old for ds1 yet, and I can't justify buying a hardback to put away in the cupboard, can I? What about Zizou Corder: Lionboy - anyone read that yet? Apparently it was on Blue Peter.

I hate most shopping - but can happily spend hours (and lots of money!) in bookshops and libraries

SueW · 14/10/2003 22:18

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kmg1 · 15/10/2003 19:09

Heaven! I remember years ago going in a second hand bookshop in York, and that was clearly the case there. The owner seemed quite unfriendly, and unwelcoming, and appeared distinctly aggrieved when we actually bought a book and removed it from his premises