Paige Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I'd like some suggestions for thought provoking, meaningful, good quality books for my DS (11/12) who is an excellent reader that aren't depressing. DS is starting to think that all of the "classic" books are about people dying, hurt animals, or people struggling through horrible situations. He is sensitive and his complaint is valid. Most of the books on the great books list that I've been picking from have been pretty depressing. I understand that depressing subjects make for good stories, but are there some nice uplifting books that don't involve death and abuse? I'm primarily looking for books for discussion and school assignments- not stuff he'd pick on his own. He's reading Gulliver's Travels right now for school and likes it well enough. He also liked Peter and Wendy but wasn't happy with the ending. For his free time he likes the Percy Jackson, Among the Hidden, Warriors, and Guardians of Childhood series right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Shakespeare's Comedies? Emma? Does A Wrinkle in Time count as a classic for middle school? I vote yes. :) The Lord of the Rings, October Sky, Going Solo, Dune, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? I'm sure there are many that would work. It is just really easy to find the depressing ones. Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 No "downers" or depressing books in this list of good books. Enjoy! "Traditional Classics" - The Hobbit (Tolkien) - Rikki Tikki Tavi (Kipling) - Just So Stories (Kipling) - Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Twain) - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; Through the Looking Glass (Carroll) - The Reluctant Dragon (Grahame) Young Adult "Classics" (Newberry winners etc.) - The Phantom Tollbooth (Juster) - From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Konigsburg) - My Side of the Mountain (George) -- boy lives on his own in the woods for a year, makes everything - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (O'Brien) -- talking animal quest/adventure - The Great and Terrible Quest (Lovett) -- medieval quest adventure - The Westing Game (Raskin) -- detective - The Twenty-One Balloons (DuBois) -- Jules Verne like tale, with light humor - Enchantress from the Stars (Engdahl) -- fantasy/scii-fi - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Aiken) - Holes (Sachar) Fantasy/Magic - The Never Ending Story (Ende) - Half Magic; Magic by the Lake, Knight's Castle; Time Garden; Seven Day Magic (Eager) -- humor - Five Children and It; The Phoenix and the Carpet (Nesbit) -- humor - The Book of Dragons (Nesbit) -- 7 short stories; humor Real Life - The Great Brain (Fitzgerald) -- hijinx of rural turn of the century boys; humor - Kildee House (Montgomery) - Family Under the Bridge (Carlson) - The Wheel on the School (de Jong) - In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (Lord) -- humor - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Robinson) -- humor - The Black Stallion (Farley) Historical Fiction Adventure - Hittite Warrior (Williamson) - Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow (French) - Adam of the Road (Gray) -- Medieval England - Shakespeare Stealer (Blackwood) - The Great Wheel (Lawson) -- building of the first Ferris Wheel in 1893; light humor - Snow Treasure (McSwigan)-- WWII Norweigan children hide the country's gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 The Yearling Call of the Wild The Slave Dancer I, Juan de Pareja Black Beauty Just kidding!!! :smilielol5: How about: Detectives in Togas Anne of Green Gables (all of my boys and even my husband love this series)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 My son doesn't like depressing stories either. Here are some he enjoyed around that age: Wild Animals I Have Known Rascal Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles Master Puppeteer Blue Fingers - A ninja tale The Egypt Game Magyk, Flyte, etc. Warriors series by Kathryn Lasky - she also wrote Guardians of Ga'Hoole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violamama Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I remember liking all the James Herriot books... but it's literally been 30 years since I read them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 The Yearling Call of the Wild The Slave Dancer I, Juan de Pareja Black Beauty Just kidding!!! :smilielol5: How about: Detectives in Togas Anne of Green Gables (all of my boys and even my husband love this series)? :lol: I was very confused at first! Why not put Old Yeller on that list too?! Thank you to everyone for all of the suggestions. He's read some of these but there are many others that I hadn't considered that I can add to my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.