Books for nine year olds

[Xanthe]

I have an interview for a teaching assistant post this week and as part of it I have to read a story to a group of Year 4 children for 10 minutes. I thought of Horrid Henry, but am wondering if that is a bit too obvious. Can anyone recommend any good books bearing in mind that the school is very multicultural?

Not multicultural but the Terry Pratchett books are great - this is one of my favourites. Goes down well with 9 year olds and a bit different to the usual HH etc.

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ooh, i just read the Giggler treatment to dd3 - aged 8 - very good.

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will look out for it thanks

Thanks for the ideas so far. I will be reading to both boys and girls. Any other suggestions welcome.

Have you come across The Edge Chronicles series? My 9 year old loves them. The first one is called "Beyond the Deepwoods"; the illustrations (b/w) are really beautiful too. I just searched on Amazon for you and they are pretty cheap - it's difficult to work out the squence order though.

A really good fairy tale?

The Great Ghost Rescue by Eve Ibbotson. She's terrific, it's a great story, and all about the terrible prejudice ghosts suffer, just for not being alive! Amazon describes it as being suitable for 8+

How about something by Jeremey Strong?

Sorry, Jeremy Strong

Anything by Dahl - assuming you don't have to finish the book.
And don't be afraid of the classics. If read aloud, they're fine for year fours. Mine love Treasure Island, The Borrowers, Little House on the Prairie.
And if you want to do a full story there is a great series of fairy tales with a twist - Snow White and the Seven Aliens, Shampoozle...

Cressida Crowl (?sp?) -- Horrendous Hiccup books.

I second Roahl Dahl. I still remember very clearly the teacher reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was in Yr 4.

DS loved Muddle Earth by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. Good for that age.

Also second Jeremy Strong and Cressida Cowl.

DD's in y4. This year the class have had The Phantom Tollbooth and Greek Myths; her teacher recommended (in mtg at start of year) that we try Artemis Fowle, Northern Lights, Roman Mysteries. All have gone down v well with dd; as have Lady Grace Mysteries. All the class love Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Horrid Henry is a bit young for most of them now btw.