Book ideas for a 10 yr old bookworm

RandomDan

oldhaggis wrote: »

A few more DS enjoyed:

John Wyndham – The Day of the Triffids, The Midwich Cuckoos, Chocky etc.

I would second this. Any book by this author. These books are short and easy to read but gosh they leave a mental impression. I re-read Chocky about every few years. Some books really open the mind to ask questions. I loved them aged 10 and still do. Not only are they brilliant science fiction but they teach so much about the era in which they are written.

System

The His Dark Materials trilogy were brilliant So i second them.

Can't be anymore help as i read crime/thrillers, which probably aren't suitable for his age.

barbarawright

Mado wrote: »

Soory, done these already except from the Terry Pratchett!:rotfl:
Unfortunately, the times when could take him ( when I do my weekly shop) he is at practise orchestra and weekdays he does clubs.

Thanks for all these ideas though.
It will make Chritsmas easier.:D

He goes to clubs every day? I'm biassed because I'm a librarian but I definitely owe much my love of books to being able to roam in public library and make my own choices, some good, some rather dull. I would have hated to have had all my books chosen for me and to not have been able to development my own tastes. I know it's hard when you lead a busy life but please try to give him the opportunity to make his own discoveries - most boys who read are just as keen on non-fiction as fiction, Who knows what he might become interested in if you let him loose among science or history or books about other countries?

Mado

barbarawright wrote: »

He goes to clubs every day? I'm biassed because I'm a librarian but I definitely owe much my love of books to being able to roam in public library and make my own choices, some good, some rather dull. I would have hated to have had all my books chosen for me and to not have been able to development my own tastes. I know it's hard when you lead a busy life but please try to give him the opportunity to make his own discoveries - most boys who read are just as keen on non-fiction as fiction, Who knows what he might become interested in if you let him loose among science or history or books about other countries?

Well, he has access to the school library (and in fact they have to pick books there) and I do let him select books in charity shops and he has had a few opportunities to spend book tokens (he received quite a few as bday presents as it is well known that he likes reading).
He has a large selection to chose from at home as well since he is the baby of the family and his sister was also a keen reader (unlike my middle one who like most boys would be content with just the guiness book of records...) The grown-up bookshelves are also well stocked.

I feel a bit bad not to take him to libraries , but monday to thursday is just not an option as the nearest library isn't within walking distance and there is no adult to take him before 5 pm. ( he is a busy body and does a multi skill club, football club at school and out, film club, netball club and plays 2 instruments as well... actually, just typing all of these makes me exhausted!!!)
Friday we could try and squeeze it before football practise, but we're always in such a rush... and after the saturday morning frenzy, we tend to have quite afternoons at home, so not easy...

pavlovs_dog

Another option is going digital.... if he has an e-reader (or access to an e-reader) he can borrow digital books from libraries from the comfort of your home.

If you are planning on buying him an e-reader, beware that Kindle doesn't currently legally support loaning from libraries.

Ames

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

Another option is going digital.... if he has an e-reader (or access to an e-reader) he can borrow digital books from libraries from the comfort of your home.

If you are planning on buying him an e-reader, beware that Kindle doesn't currently legally support loaning from libraries.

Do you have any more info on this? I have a Sony eReader, and I'd love to be able to borrow e-books. I like to read ebooks but have the real one on my bookshelf :rotfl: so I'm pretty much restricted to the classics.

pavlovs_dog

I've got a Kindle so didn't have much luck with this. The first step is to find out whether your local library has a digital section. Welsh libraries as an example are increasingly well served through the ebooks for Wales initiative. Cardiff library's page HERE gives advice which should be reasonably generic (check out the FAQ).


There was a thread about e-readers on MSE a while back where members reported successfully joining libraries all over the UK in order to take advantage of the e-books on offer.

Sorry I can't be more help. Still trying to get my head around getting my Kindle to cooperate with my local library's service :shhh: :whistle:

PlutoinCapricorn

Violet Needham's Stormy Petrel series have a boy as hero: they are being re-issued by Girls Gone By.

What about The Prisoner of Zenda? John Buchan's books?

Some older books do seem dated now, but they may seem exciting to people new to them.

WolfSong2000

Michael Morpurgo was my first thought...I'm in my mid 20's and still adore his books. When I was around your son's age I read "The Plague Dogs" by Richard Adams (the chap who wrote Watership Down). Fab book, but definitely should not be read by kids (even though it was advertised as a kids book) so be careful about what you pick for him. Bizarrely enough, Jeffry Archer did a book of short stories called 12 Red Herrings which I also read when I was about 11 and it was great...not at all like his novels.

How about the George R R Martin books (e.g. Game of Thrones)? They're now a TV series, but the books themselves are excellent.

My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell is also a fantastic book which I am sure your son would love.

Not suitable now, but in a few years he should look at books by Russian authors. I am a massive fan of Tolstoy (Anna Karenina is a masterpiece) and Dostoyevsky's "The Idiot" is also very thought proviking.

Savvy_Sue

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

How about the George R R Martin books (e.g. Game of Thrones)? They're now a TV series, but the books themselves are excellent.

I heard the author being interviewed on R4 not long ago: he was a bit shocked to be asked to sign a book for a 13 year old, who was there with his mum but was the reader. George asked him mum if she realised they were adult books (ie quite graphic sex and violence), and she said yes, she did now, but her son was on page 500 before she had cottoned on!

So I think leave those for a few years ...