If he LOVED Gregor the Overlander

[Wheres Toto]

My son just finished the Gregor the Overlander series.  He's been a decent reader for a long time and liked some books (usually Pokémon, Minecraft or Calvin and Hobbes) but wouldn't read much on his own.  I've started picking books for him to read during assigned reading time - sometimes part of history or science but also just books that I think he'll like that are a little bit meatier than he would pick on his own.  Gregor was one of these.  He LOVED it.  He just spent a couple hours of his own free time finishing up the last book in the series.  Then he was talking about how sad he was that it was over because it was so good, and that it doesn't feel right to just jump into doing school after finishing it.  He wanted to think more about the story.

 

So, what else would you recommend for a kid that really got into Gregor in a way he never did any other book?  I've suggested Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or Wrinkle in Time to him and he's reluctant (although he was also reluctant with Gregor).  Any other suggestions?

 

Aww, now he's saying he's not sure he wants to read more like Gregor because he "can't handle the emotional burst". 

[TracyP]

I asked my dd, and she immediately said Percy Jackson. I have read Gregor and Percy - the Percy Jackson books end on a more upbeat note than Gregor. Your son might appreciate that for now.

 

My son agreed with Percy Jackson and also recommended the Alchemyst series. He LOVES this series, fwiw, but I haven't read them.

[alisoncooks]

Around the time I read Gregor, I also read:  

Fablehaven series

The Magic Thief series

the Septimus Heap books (Magyk)

Chronicles of Prydain

 

So they all fall together in my mind as being similar. :)

[redsquirrel]

Another entire family of Gregor fans!

 

I agree with everything that has been suggested.  My son, who is the same age, has been motivated to read Percy Jackson, the first couple Fablehaven (my older boy liked the first couple and then lost interest), Wrinkle in Time series has been a hit... Maybe the Prydain series (book of three, black cauldron,... and one or two more)

 

Would The Hobbit be interesting? It is long, but it isn't really a difficult read. And if you squint, it has some similar story elements. And it is much more child friendly than, say, the whole Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It was my favorite books when I was that age and my kids loved it as well.

 

The Spiderwick series? They are a bunch of very short books that add up to one single novel length work.

 

Is he interested in graphic novels?  The Amulet series is great! They are very easy to read though. My son can read one in an hour. But, we got them out of the library in a big pile and had a very happy kid. He likes them so much, that he gets the first book as a gift for his friends, trying to entice them into the series.

[madteaparty]

There's nothing like Gregor ;) but Fablehaven came somewhat close, and we are listening to the Ranger's Apprentice in the car and we all like it.

We fell out of love with Percy a long time ago, I think we wearied a little. Septimus, *i* liked, but not DS. I really hope Ranger's apprentice continues to be great...

Edited April 15, 2016 by madteaparty

[redsquirrel]

I just want to say that I totally get where your son is at.  I missed Gregor for days.  I am sure that I cried when those books ended. I swear that I sometimes find myself worrying about him, wondering what happened after. We have had long involved discussions on long car trips about him and his family.

[UCF612]

We love Gregory here too. We are on book 3 now. We also enjoyed Percy Jackson before we got into Gregor.

[UCF612]

I'm paying close attention to this post and making notes of what else we can read/audio book.

[SparklyUnicorn]

maybe the Mysterious Benedict Society

 

 

[Guest]

My son #2 loved those and the Erec Rex series.

[tmstranger]

My son just finished the Gregor the Overlander series.  He's been a decent reader for a long time and liked some books (usually Pokémon, Minecraft or Calvin and Hobbes) but wouldn't read much on his own.  I've started picking books for him to read during assigned reading time - sometimes part of history or science but also just books that I think he'll like that are a little bit meatier than he would pick on his own.  Gregor was one of these.  He LOVED it.  He just spent a couple hours of his own free time finishing up the last book in the series.  Then he was talking about how sad he was that it was over because it was so good, and that it doesn't feel right to just jump into doing school after finishing it.  He wanted to think more about the story.

 

So, what else would you recommend for a kid that really got into Gregor in a way he never did any other book?  I've suggested Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or Wrinkle in Time to him and he's reluctant (although he was also reluctant with Gregor).  Any other suggestions?

 

Aww, now he's saying he's not sure he wants to read more like Gregor because he "can't handle the emotional burst". 

 

Gregor was the first series that my kiddo LOVED.  He read the whole series several times.  He was always reluctant to try anything else. 

 

He finally tried The Ranger's Apprentice series followed by The Brotherband Chronicles. I have not read and screened these...fyi!  My son is 12yo.  He is very disappointed that there are not more Brotherband books.  These are for an older audience than Gregor, so please keep that in mind. 

 

Sometimes, I'll find a series that I think he'll like and read aloud the first book.  Once he's hooked, he'll devour the rest. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

My kids really enjoyed Gregor too.