He loves to read. I took him into a book store at Christmas and he stopped in the middle of the store, looked up at me and said, "I could live here." I'm trying to encourage his love of reading. His reading skills are pretty advanced yet he's still a 10 year old so I'd like a book that's engaging yet appropriate for his age. Thanks in advance.
by Radioactivejellomold
32 Comments
Do you know of any books that he has previously read?
Redwall
Chronicles of Prydain series
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
My Side of the Mountain series
The giver
I read Hatchet in 5th grade and it scared the shit out of me. The scene where (spoilers) he has to dive down and sees the body of the pilot decomposing in the lake still haunts me to this day. So you could say it had an impact.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Both still two of my favorite books to this day 😊
The Giver
Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes”.
The Menagerie Trilogy by Tui T Sutherland made a huge impression on my kid when he was that age.
I was an Anne of Green Gables fan
Wonder
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
Bone by Jeff Smith
The Pendragon Series was one of my favorites when I was that age!
I loved Alice in Wonderland and read it when I was about that age.
My very reluctant reader loved Alan Gratz books at that age. Refugee is a popular pick, but they’re all good.
Mother of 10 yr old — My boy has read every single I Survived book and graphic novel. He also likes Alan Gratz books, DK Encyclopedias, and really likes Guinness Books of World Records.
I really liked the Artemis Fowl books when I was about that age
How to Train Your Dragon,
Specifically the second one: How to Be a Pirate.
I was obsessed with pirates as a kid and that book with it’s crude illustrations and goofy style drew me in so hard. I fell in love with the characters and the world that as a 8/9 year old kid I read the rest of the whole 8 book series
Gregor the Overlander series
Ender’s Game series!
The Rover books by Roddy Doyle
The Ronan Boyle series by Thomas Lennon
If there’s an interest in history (mostly war stuff) there is the “I Am Canada” series about stuff like the battle of the Plains of Abraham or shooting down the Red Baron or being a bomber crew shot down behind enemy lines.
The Name of This Book is Secret by Psydonomous Bosch is also great and not about war or Ireland.
Holes!
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Gary Paulson books, like the Hatchet series. Or, My Side of the Mountain. You might also consider Beyond the Bright Sea, by Lauren Wolk, or The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. He is sure to enjoy one or more of those. Start by asking a few key questions about his interests and let that inform your purchase.
The Hobbit! We fostered an 11 year old boy who didn’t want to read, so I bribed him to start it with me. After every chapter, he was begging to keep going. Reading The Hobbit with him was one of the best memories of my life. Then in a few years you can go through LOTR together!
Is There Life on a Plastic Planet?
Any books by Gordan Korman.
Andre Norton books
He might like the Percy Jackson series. I loved those as a kid. As an adult, I still love reading books like this. I wouldn’t say the stories themselves stuck with me, but what was impactful was that it helped me hone in on my own personal interests and sparked a lifelong love of the tales of old.
I’m currently reading “The Children of Jocasta,” which is a retelling of Oedipus rex and Antigone. I read the Percy Jackson series probably more than 15 years ago, and I’m still going strong on the historical fiction, haha.
All of these are series:
* A series of unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket
* Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
* The mysterious Benedict society by Trenton Lee Stewart
* Life of a Cactus Series by Dusti Bowling
Geronimo Stilton