serendipitous journey Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) ... I'm sort of stumped on what to read next for before bed. He loved Calpurnia (both books), the Martian, and the first 3 books of The Hitchhikers' Guide (I wish I'd remembered that the fourth is VERY DIFFERENT in tone!!! We just didn't read most of it). We started 20,000 Leagues but that is very slow going indeed, and I've moved it to a more non-fun slot (daytime, once a week) just to finish it. One of our daytime RAs is The Doldrums, which he likes, but both children are listening so I don't want to make that his bedtime read. I have a cold and can't think worth a fig. Any ideas? ETA: I was thinking of either Around the World in Eighty Days or Lord of the Rings (we've done The Hobbit twice now) but am not sure Around the World would be much fun (haven't read it in forever) and am thinking LotR might be a bit dark for this child. He liked the Neverending Story though (first section -- I don't like the second bit) and that had scary pars. Edited October 17, 2017 by serendipitous journey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 My boys are 12 and I'm in the same boat. We just started The Westing Game and this one seems like it will be good! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Just off the top of my head, and sticking primarily with middle grade / ya fiction? Ambassador and Nomad by William Alexander (must do both books) Mars Evacuees Ash Mistry Trilogy (cannot get all three books on Kindle in the US) The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm Nine Pound Hammer Summer of the Mariposas (starts off with a dead body, and it works better if your son has a passing familiarity with the Odyssey) Gregor the Overlander (many serious scenes of death) The Conch Bearer (first book starts off slow) The Great Greene Heist (not too serious) Bud, Not Buddy Celeste's Harlem Renaissance Dave at Night If I Ever Get Out of Here (one passing mention of hookers, but all that happens is they say hi to the main character and joke about him coming from the reservation, another passing jokes where his guitar teacher teases him about how he needs to callus his fingertips, not his palms, haha masturbation) Stranger Powerless trilogy (the one set in our world, not the one with the angsty female main character - that one took itself way too seriously) Al Capone Does My Shirts The Real Boy Breadcrumbs The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora How Lamar's Bad Prank Won Him A Bubba-Sized Trophy The Earthsea Cycle One Fine Day Leviathan trilogy Akata Witch Zahrah the Windseeker Geography Club (I only ever read the first book)Jefferson's Sons Seeds of America series Octavian NothingSo You Want to Be a Wizard (get the new Millenium editions from her website, not the original) Hello, Universe Holes The entire Discworld canon On Two Feet and Wings Again, my focus was on books geared for kids around 12 years old. It's a tough age. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 oooh, thank y'all! The Westing Game may kick us off, and then there's that lovely list ... Tanaqui, we tried Discworld #1 (Color of Magic) last night and the first 15 or so minutes ... 20? ... were rather opaque to the child. Stick with it, or give it a couple of years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 oooh, thank y'all! The Westing Game may kick us off, and then there's that lovely list ... Tanaqui, we tried Discworld #1 (Color of Magic) last night and the first 15 or so minutes ... 20? ... were rather opaque to the child. Stick with it, or give it a couple of years? Mysterious Benedict Society series? All 3 of us loved them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Tanaqui, we tried Discworld #1 (Color of Magic) last night and the first 15 or so minutes ... 20? ... were rather opaque to the child. Stick with it, or give it a couple of years? Oooh, don't read them in order. They get better with time. (Well, until the dementia. Then they don't.) I'd start with Educated Rodents, and then Wee Free Men and the other Tiffany Aching books. Once you've finished those, come back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 Mysterious Benedict Society series? All 3 of us loved them. Oh yes, this great for the thread (though he's read them already, unfortunately). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachaheart Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/659209-help-with-our-next-read-aloud/?do=findComment&comment=7807462 I recently asked this question in the K-8 board. Just wanted to share the responses :-) Edited October 17, 2017 by mlktwins 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt This was a good book! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted October 28, 2017 Author Share Posted October 28, 2017 (edited) Oooh, don't read them in order. They get better with time. (Well, until the dementia. Then they don't.) I'd start with Educated Rodents, and then Wee Free Men and the other Tiffany Aching books. Once you've finished those, come back. I'm just getting back to this thread ... thanks so much! I've enjoyed Pratchett thoroughly and want to set the child up for Pratchett happiness :) The Westing Game is thoroughly enjoyable, and also a nice intro to the mystery genre. I'm thinking we may revisit some Sherlock Holmes after this (though not before bed -- I don't think it'll be THAT popular -- maybe as a snacktime read). New Book for the thread: The Doldrums. We haven't finished it, so can't 100% recommend, but so far so good. Edited October 28, 2017 by serendipitous journey 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Enchantress From the Stars Lots to talk about in that one for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventuresinHomeschooling Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 My kids like LOTR and Narnia and The hobbit type of stories too. However, my husband just read them this new series called the Wingfeather Saga series, and they were on the edge of their seat waiting for bedtime reading, trying to read ahead, etc. I think it's a medieval type adventure, and there's a map of the kingdom it comes with, and they just ate it up. Some other classics: Swiss Family Robinson Treasure Island Around the World in 80 Days H.G. Wells books Jungle Book Dr. Dolittle All Creatures Great and Small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 If he liked The Martian, which is pretty optimistic and science-y sci-fi, he might like some Heinlein - Have Spacesuit, Will Travel or The Moon is a Harsh Mistress are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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