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Topic: Looking for Suggestions 11 yr. old Boy

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Subject: Looking for Suggestions 11 yr. old Boy
Date Posted: 4/23/2008 5:20 PM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2007
Posts: 335
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My son has read, devoured and adored the Harry Potter books, the Eragon books, and several series about dragons.  Now he's out of ideas and hasn't found anything particularly interesting to him.  He just finished reading Icefire (a book about a dragon) which is part of a triology and liked it enough but not enough to read all 3.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Bloomer avatar
Date Posted: 4/24/2008 9:54 AM ET
Member Since: 5/5/2006
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Has he read any Inkspell books?  I think the level is ages 9-12.

Anne MacAffrey has a large series of dragon books.   Dragonsong

 I'll look for readalikes for Harry Potter...  what series of dragon books has he read?

If you scroll to near the bottom of this  http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/j-k-rowling/   , J.K. Rowling has a few reading suggestions. They look interesting.

Lynne Reid Banks' site has some nice books.  Has he read the Indian in the Cupboard series?  If you click on "books" you can select an age level.



Last Edited on: 4/24/08 10:04 AM ET - Total times edited: 3
Bloomer avatar
Date Posted: 4/24/2008 10:09 AM ET
Member Since: 5/5/2006
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Here's a previous discussion for books for a 10-year-old boy:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=110714

 And of course the Newberry Winners is an excellent list! 

Let us know what you come up with!



Last Edited on: 4/24/08 10:18 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
Bloomer avatar
Date Posted: 4/24/2008 10:34 AM ET
Member Since: 5/5/2006
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HP read a likes:

Susan Cooper King of Shadows...

Bruce Coville Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

Silvana DeMari The Last Dragon

Kate Dimacallo The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane 

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni The Conch Bearer

Diane Duane So You Want to be a Wizard

Salamanda Drake Dragonsdale

Nancy Farmer Sea of Trolls

Caroline Cornelia Funke Dragonrider

James Durney Dinotopia

okay i'm tired now..lol

cbrett42 avatar
Date Posted: 4/25/2008 5:11 PM ET
Member Since: 5/31/2007
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Roald Dahl is my favorite children's author.  Most of his books would be good for a 11 y.o.  I highly recommend your son check out some of Roald Dahl's books (maybe start with The BFG) if he hasn't yet.

But from the stuff he has read, it seems like he's into the children's scifi/fantasy.  As mentioned above, Dinotopia and The World Beneath are good (and beautifully illustrated), and the Indian in the Cupboard series is good.  Similar to the Indian in the Cupboard is The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop.  I'd also add the Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card (I didn't read them until I was older, but I think they'd be okay for a 11 y.o.) and the His Dark Materials series (starting with The Golden Compass) by Philip Pullman.  Also, maybe The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia series if he hasn't read those.

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Date Posted: 4/27/2008 2:34 AM ET
Member Since: 9/12/2007
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My 11 year old son's latest love are John Flanagan's series :  Ranger's Apprentice.   This is a fantasy series, with enough warriers and fighting to warm a boy's heart, and enough lessons about character, loyalty, kindness and love, to warm a Mom's.  Originally published in Australia, he eagerly awaits each new book.  He can't wait for PBS naturally, but orders in advance from Amazon.



Last Edited on: 4/27/08 2:35 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Date Posted: 4/27/2008 10:14 PM ET
Member Since: 2/19/2008
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I work with 4th and 5th grade students.  Many of the students who have liked HP have also enjoyed the Charlie Bone books.  There were also some that suggested I read the Gardians of Ga'Hoole.  I haven't read any of them - yet so I can't really comment of them.

Also, several of the boys liked the Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen.  The ones that like that series generally like the Island, Kidnapped, Everest, and Dive series by Gordon Korman (all of them are 3 book series).  I have to admit that Paulsen and Korman are some of my favorite children's authors that I recommend to boys who "don't like to read" or are having trouble finding material they like.

ETA: I forgot, many of my students (boys and girls) have had a recent fascination with anything Matt Christopher.  I have never read any of his books, but I have had a hard time keeping them on the shelf in my room.



Last Edited on: 4/27/08 10:24 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Subject: follow-up
Date Posted: 4/28/2008 3:31 PM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2007
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Thank you to everyone for all your topnotch suggestions.  I made a list of your choices!

 

As you suggested, my son has enjoyed Bruce Coville's books, Carolyn Cornelia Funke, and the Anne McCaffreys.  Unlike his brother, he did not like the Diane Duanes or Lynne Reid Banks books ((but I loved them!).

If you think of any others, I am always appreciative for the suggestions.