Hey all! You’ve done me good in the past, helped me discover some recent favorites. Now can you help me get my 9-year-old reading again?
The big challenge seems to be that he doesn’t like fantasy, and that’s such a popular genre for kids. He’s enjoyed Gary Paulsen’s books, and also tends to gravitate toward “slice of life”, casual stuff like The Terrible Two, Gordon Korman’s novels, and of course, the ubiquitous Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Some humor and relatability seem key.
Anyway, what are your kids reading, or what did you gobble up at that age?
by bonsaitreehugger
8 Comments
I was gobbling up R.L. Stine stuff at that age, mainly books from the Goosebumps ~~and Fear Street~~ series.
Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean George.
– The [Hank Zipzer](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4e11083f-eb31-4f50-8de9-679f975c6bec) books by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
– Andrew Clements books like [Frindle](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a6e4271f-55a6-4aab-a28e-5ae6dfde2ffe)
– The [City Spies](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/80a7e831-1b5f-474d-9ab1-52fc68c0a325) series by James Ponti
The Wayside School series!
I highly recommend A Series Of Unfortunate Events, which is quirky and funny. Plus, there are thirteen books in the series
Holes is always a good pick. I read it around that age, and I loved it.
I loved The Pushcart War, by Jean Merril. The trucking companies have a plan to push the pushcarts off the streets of New York so the pushcart peddlers band together and strike back.
Lost in the Barrens and The Curse of the Viking Grave by Farley Mowat
The Hardy Boys (personally I prefer the OG series)
Gordon Korman’s older books are hard to find, but they are his best. Nothing beats No Coins Please
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatly Snider
Dear Lola by Julie Angel
Warrior Cats
Maybe the Penderwicks?