books for 8yo DS with reading age of 15

[darleneoconnor]

DS had his reading assessed at school and he's done much better then I had expected. I knew he was a bit ahead but he doesn't like 'language' so I didn't expect too much. he prefers non-fiction to fiction but I'd welcome some appropriate suggestions on either. I dont mind him reading some things tht are a bit above his age as he is quite streetwise and pre-teenish in his behaviour/outlook but I'd imagine that 15+ books would have unsuitable themes in them.

exotic- did you not read the post where I said what book I actually bought him? Not exactly classics...

If he goes to an interview and can only talk about flipping Horrid Henry they wont give him a place. Do you have any ides how competitive these things are and how impressive you have to be to get in, let along get a 100% funded place! It's worth over £100000!

He has got 2 years until then though which is why I just want him to enjoy reading atm. I never said anything else.

maybe there is a list of recommended reading books for G & T children online. There must be many dc who have a reading age way in advance of their age and whose parents face similar issues re suitability of content. Maybe someone can point you in the way of something like that

I don't have any idea about scholarship exams/interviews but I would imagine the child needs to be able to discuss the books read. If this is going to be a pivotal issue when the time comes, maybe that is what needs training, getting him to use the new vocabulary he is acquiring passively through his reading and asking questions about/discussing the books he reads with him (in a low key , fairly natural way I should think) so he will have had some experience of discussing his reading in athoughful well-expressed manner.

sorry crossed posts re the interview itself

Ds is in a similar position. The books he has loved recently include the Hobbit, anything by Eva Ibbottson, Alan Garner or Enid Blyton. He has also read a lot of children's translations of Greek myths and got really in to the Odyssey. Loves Jeremy Strong and Beast Quest too. I let him go to Watersones and the library and browse and he has come up with some surprising stuff.

I'm sure that left his own devices he will move on from Horrid Henry!! If he likes reading you won't be able to stop him. I found classics for myself- I read anything and everything. If he doesn't like reading putting 'impressive' books his way just won't work anyway-you are flogging a dead horse!

I know that places are competitive ,and there is so much at stake, that I think that an experienced interviewer will be able to distinguish between a DS who is an enthusiatic, wide ranging, try anything, reader and one who has been 'schooled' down the 'right' road by his mother.

All I am saying is give him a wide variety of books, if you can't get to the library you can pick them up really cheaply, and leave it to him!