Any recommendations for good kids books - Age 10 - 13

[terry mardy]

Hi

Wondering if any of the PH massive can recommend some good reading books for my boys aged 10 & 13.

They have both enjoyed Roald Dahl, David Walliams etc and I would really like to know of any good books of that genre.

My older son, likes more action, adventure, Robert Muchamore type of stuff, but will also like some of the short stories Roald Dahl wrote too. My youngest son loved reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid series more recently.

But really I'm after any books that you think the boys would enjoy reading, because with all the technology around now they probably could do with the enjoyment, relaxation and sometimes excitement of a book where you simply cannot put it down from time to time!

Thanks in advance.

T

[g3org3y]

Do they like any science fiction?

The one book that really stood out for me in my childhood was John Christopher's Tripod Trilogy. Really enjoyed it.

[terry mardy]

Thanks - I think the younger one likes more light hearted reading, and my oldest likes adventure/thriller. They have never been fans of sci/fi, even films or telly programmes.

[blippo1984]

Biggles?
The Hobbit?
Discworld?
jurassic park?
The lost world (conan doyle)



Enid Blyton wrote some cracking adventure books about kids in Africa.

These are what i read at that age.

[AMLK]

Anthony Horowitz - either his Alex Rider books or the Power of Five books.
Philip Reeve - Mortal engines set.
Both authors are good for boys of that age.
There is always Enid Blyton's Famous Five, but if they are good readers they may be a bit old for them.
Other sets that are quite good are:
Michael Grant - Gone series
Pittacus Lore - I am Number Four, and other Lorien Legacies books
Suzanne Collins (who wrote the Hunger Games) - The Underland Chronicles
Sophie McKenzie - The Medusa Project.
Gordon Korman is meant to be a good author, but I have no personal experience of his books.

[thismonkeyhere]

'The Dark is Rising' sequence by Susan Cooper. Five books (IIRC) with interlinking stories - a mix of adventure/mystery/magic/Arthurian Legend. Can be had as individual books or all in one volume.

'Unputdownable' when I found them at age 12/13 and I still read them from time to time now. (I'm fast approaching 40!). Very well written.

[Pixel Pusher]

AMLK said:

Anthony Horowitz - his Alex Rider books

They're great.

Also the Young Bond books by Charlie Higson.

[Happy82]

Would Enid Blyton be too simple? I have fond memories of The Enchanted Wood as my first book.

[rpm1969]

My 13 yr old daughter has just started James Patterson's Maximum Ride series and really likes it (suitable for boys too I think)

My 10 yr old son likes the Willard Price books (eg Jungle Adventure). They are thriller/adventure stories with an exotic wildlife backdrop (eg sharks, tigers, gorillas, crocodiles). I loved them when I was his age (30 years ago).
He also likes books by Chris Ryan, eg Agent 21 series and the Alpha Force series.

[Champhill]

Try "Holes". Louis Sachar.

American. Very typical chopped sentences style. Short chapters. Good story.

Excellent film on dvd to follow up with. Disney. Stars Sigourney Weaver.John Voight too. And a young Shia LaBeouf.

Would appeal to boys. And girls. And grown-ups.

[marcosgt]

My son rattled through the Young James Bond books by Charlie Higson a few years ago (probably about 11-13).

M.

[roryfizz]

AMLK said:

Philip Reeve - Mortal engines set.

+1 to that, i loved those books at that age and still they get re-read every now and again at age 22!!!

[Nightmare]

rpm1969 said:

My 10 yr old son likes the Willard Price books (eg Jungle Adventure). They are thriller/adventure stories with an exotic wildlife backdrop (eg sharks, tigers, gorillas, crocodiles). I loved them when I was his age (30 years ago).

they are just brilliant! i loved them about the same age (and now)....probably responsible for my wildlife fetish. Its amazing how little in them has been proven to be myth/outright wrong considering when they were done and how