4th grader who reads at a college level--summer reading suggestions?

[yellowperch]

I'm asking this here for a friend whose daughter, M, is 11 and is reading Jane Austen and Henry James. In terms of speed, comprehension, and ability to interpret and discuss literary themes she is reading at a college level.

 

My friend and I were discussing other directions her reading might take that would be interesting and also more fun and age appropriate (although M does think Henry James is fun). I thought of those dense Edwardian novels of childhood (Five Children and It, Little Lord Fauntleroy, etc.) or European children's literature in translation (Pinnochio, for example). I also thought of narratives that take on subjects like mathematics (the Number Devil, the Man who Counted), history and science (especially physics, which she is especially interested in from a hard science perspective) but few sepcific titles came to mind.

 

I thought some of you here might have better suggestions, since my ideas were fairly limited.

 

Her family is secular in orientation. M is quite innocent and young socially, FWIW.

 

Many thanks

[LisaDSB]

How about the Anne of Green Gables series, by L.M. Montgomery? Not college-level, but certainly beyond 4th grade and more emotionally appropriate than many that would be at her actual reading level.

[KAR120C]

When I was about that age I really loved Sherlock Holmes and the various Agatha Christie detectives. There is some "inappropriateness" (people having affairs, love triangles, secret relationships, etc. -- and of course murder!) but it's generally discreet... no steamy scenes or anything.

[Guest College Teen]

My sister and I were precocious readers, too. Here are some suggestions that are fun and pretty clean/appropriate:

 

HUMOR

- P.G. Wodehouse, especially the Blandings Castle series

- Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

- Beverly Nichols, Down the Garden Path

- Clarence Day, Life with Father

- Cornelia Otis Skinner, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay

- A. A. Milne's adult books, like The Sunny Side

 

MYSTERY

- Elizabeth Peters, Amelia Peabody or Vicky Bliss series

- Dorothy Sayers, the Peter Whimsy series

 

FANTASY (both are set during the English Regency)

- Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

- Patricia C. Wrede, Sorcery and Cecelia

 

GENERAL

- Kenneth Grahame, The Golden Age and Dream Days

- the Fairacre/Village School series by "Miss Read"

 

 

My sister's free classic literature magazine for teens might be useful, too. It's www.sparrowtreesquare.com - it's secular. Good luck!

[Laura Corin]

I have some lists on Amazon that might help. This one might be a good place to start, but there are lists for older and younger precocious readers.

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[yellowperch]

These are terrific suggestions. Thank you all so much. I can't wait to see what M thinks.

[Elizabeth Conley]

Try Kipling. I particularly recommend The Just So Stories.

 

Consider going to Gutenberg Books and sorting through the older literature for children. Heidi might be a good choice.

 

Here is At the Back of the North Wind, with charming illustrations:

 

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18614/18614-h/18614-h.htm

 

Starting here will greatly simplify the quest:

 

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Category:Children%27s_Bookshelf

 

I recommend earlier Children's literature because it tends to be written with more sophisticated language, but is still aimed at children.

[freeindeed]

Have him take a look at a Sonlight catalog, and he could pick some titles that interest him.:)

[Mommy22alyns]

How about the Lang fairy books?

 

I see you mentioned science too - what about Stephen and Lucy Hawking's "children's" books - George's Secret Key to the Universe and George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt?