My 11 year old loves to read, but has really only read Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dog man. He’s read every Diary of Wimpy Kid, all 19, multiple times now. He’ll finish the series and then just start over again. I’ve tried to encourage him to read The Wild Robot with me and he has no interest. We also bought him The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson, but he has no interest in starting that either.
I should mention that he has been diagnosed with mild Autism (who hasn’t at this point, I know). He is very sensitive to violence. I’ve asked him what type of novel he’d like to read if I were to buy one for him and he said “I’d like something with action, but no violence.”
I know this is pretty vague, but I’m really trying to open him up to more than just DOAWK. The Wild Robot is what got his younger brother, 8 at the time, really into reading novels. I’d like to find that same book for my 11 year old.
by CanadianGrown
8 Comments
Asked my teenager who suggested:
-*The Emerald Atlas* by John Stevens (first in a series of three if he likes it)
-*Greenglass House* by Kate Milford
-*The Mysterious Benedict Society* by Trenton Lee Stewart
Also I love the classics: Wizard of Oz, Narnia Chronicles, etc.
Hardy Boys
Good suggestions already. I’ll add these:
James Ponti’s City Spies series
Adam Gidwitz’s Unicorn Rescue Society
Giles Lamar’s Legendary Alston Boys
Matthew Cody’s Supers of Noble’s Green
Jasmine Florentine’s Hex Allen and the Clanksmiths
I hope your son finds some great reads!
I also should say, some folks go back to familiar books like other folks go back to a favorite song. Totally normal to have “comfort reads”. And at some point, most folks will branch out, even if it takes a while.
Have you considered graphic novels? There are a lot of great ones out there, and because they tend to be pretty quick reads, they can be a great introduction to other authors and genres. Just a thought!
Has he tried any Gordan Korman? Swindled series and the On The Run books might work for you.
King Solomon’s Mines
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Very Far North by Dan Bar-El is a gentle, cozy story with zero violence and beautiful writing, amazing for before bed.
For graphic novels in a similar vein to DogMan he may enjoy The Investigators Series by Patrick Greene.
Artemis Fowl, maybe? It’s been awhile since I read it but I don’t think it was particularly violent