ssexton Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Hi everyone! My 10 year old son has just blown through The Great Brain series, and he has just loved them! He is generally a history/non-fiction kind of guy, but this series has really excited him about reading some other novels. So, I'm coming to the hive for some suggestions. Please? He has read and enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate factory and its sequel as well as the Redwall books. He has just started reading Danny, Champion of the World. Some read-alouds he has enjoyed: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Owls in the Family, and Gone-Away Lake. So, I'd like to strike while the iron is hot and find some engaging reading material for him! I'm thinking about the Narnia series and maybe The Phantom Tollbooth? He's also interested in Tom Sawyer. Is that appropriate for this age? It's been so long since I've read it. He's reading at about a 5-6th grade level, but I don't mind giving him something easier, as he is reading these on his own time for his own pleasure. ;) Thanks so much for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenL Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 How about The Incident at Hawk's Hill? I can't remember the author, but I have yet to find a child who hasn't liked it. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians books are also hugely popular if you are comfortable with mythology themes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhudson Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Artemis Fowl - it's about high tech fairies and a genius teenager. My son loves them. I pre-read all my son's book so we talked through some of the themes and topics but really enjoyed. Narnia is a big hit here as the Dragonrider series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalknot Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 He has read and enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate factory and its sequel as well as the Redwall books. He has just started reading Danny, Champion of the World. Some read-alouds he has enjoyed: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Owls in the Family, and Gone-Away Lake. All of those were big hits for my 9 year old :) he also really enjoyed: Indian in the Cupboard (and the 2nd sequel) Because of Winn Dixie Sarah, Plain & Tall (plus sequels) Cheaper By the Dozen (plus sequel) Shiloh Little Men Homer Price Narnia series Wrinkle In Time Right now he's reading Stone Fox. It's not a HUGE hit (meaning it probably won't be re-read ad nausem over the next few weeks) but he likes it well enough. Bridge to Teribitha would fall in that same category - glad he read it, in no hurry to read it a second time. We started to do Tom Sawyer as a read-aloud but it wasn't a big hit, surprisingly. Huck Finn was much better received. In hindsight, I'd have waited on Tom Sawyer. We big puffy read heart The Phantom Tollbooth -- definitely don't miss out on that one. It's great as individual reading, but so much more fun to read aloud with one another! I'm not familiar with the Great Brain series; I'll have to look into it :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly in FL Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 How about the Peter and the Starcatchers books? I started reading these to my son when he was 6yo. He is now 11yo and still loves them! The fourth book in the series came out recently. I'll be giving it to my son this Christmas. Also, he might like the "Encyclopedia Brown" books. ~Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 My 10 yr old enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society books. She also liked, about a year ago, the Percy Jackson series-- which even I enjoyed. We are also Artemis Fowl fans and can't get enough of Roald Dahl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 He might like the Harry Potter series, as well as the Warriors series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssexton Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 Thank you all for the suggestions! Jennifer--I'd never heard of The Incident at Hawk's Hill! Thanks for the recommendation! I think he might like the Percy Jackson books also! I just checked paperbackswap and the version I looked at had 114 members wishing for the first book in the series. Sounds like a winner there! Dawn--Artemis Fowl! Yes, I remember reading that awhile book. That sounds good, too! Thank you! Eternalknot--sounds like our boys have similar tastes! My son also loved Homer Price and Cheaper by the Dozen. Did you know there is a sequel to Homer Price called More Homer Price? Thanks for your thoughts on Tom Sawyer. We just saw a local production of Tom Sawyer at our local children's theater, and he noticed the similarities between Tom Sawyer and the character in The Great Brain (who I believe is also named Tom!) But, it is good to know that he may enjoy it more farther down the road. Also, I think we will read Phantom Tollbooth for our next read aloud. Thanks for the glowing recommendation! I've never read it, and it sounds like one I don't want to miss. :001_smile: If you do look into The Great Brain series, please know the main character is a mischievious con-artist, but I do believe his character grows and matures throughout the series. He does learn, in time, to use his remarkable intelligence on behalf of the underdog. He has stern but loving parents who offer guidance along the way. Holly--Thank you! I just checked out Peter and the Stargazers at Amazon, and it looks wonderful, too! Thanks everyone, and keep the ideas coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I second Mysterious Benedict Society! It's great! What about My Side of the Mountain? The protagonist is an older teen, but there's nothing (that I can remember, and I read it fairly recently) that would be inappropriate for a younger child. I primarily review books on my blog; you're welcome to take a peek if you'd like. I have a Juvenile Fiction category. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssexton Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 Laurie, You know what? We have The Mysterious Benedict Society somewhere around here! I need to dig it out. I remember it looked really intriguing! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssexton Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 Stacia, thanks for the recommendations! I've never heard of the Warriors series. I'll be looking it up, too! Amy, My Side of the Mountain is another one we have on the bookshelf. It's one of those that I never read as a child, and so I wasn't sure about it. Thank you! And I'm adding your blog to my bloglines!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 A few more I thought of: Magyk/Septimus Heap series the George books by Lucy & Stephen Hawking Stick and Whittle by Sid Hite (OOP) Eragon series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 My 10 year old has most enjoyed the Charlie Bone series (last year) and the Chris D'Lacey series (I know one of the books is called Ice Fire and there are several of them). He liked Artemis Fowl and the Lightening Thief series as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyK Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Snow Treasure (WWII in Norway) Hatchet Ordinary Boy Series Roman Mystery Series Einstein Anderson series all hits with a similar boy here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 The Mad Scientists Club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 The Indian in the Cupboard The Extraordinary adventures of Ordinary boy George Washington's Socks The Enormous Egg The Homework Machine (and anything else by Dan Gutman) How to Speak Dragonesse Hank Zipper The Report Card (Andrew Clements) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 You're in luck if she likes Artemis Fowl, as there are 5 books now, I believe. There are 3 MBS books, and all are big and fat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssexton Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 Oh, so many great ideas! I've been taking notes and researching at Amazon. Thanks so much for the replies. By the way, has anyone read Secret Agents Four by Donald J. Sobol? I ordered it, along with some other books, from Bethlehem books (great sale there!) It looked interesting, and I thought we'd give it a try. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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