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Books/book club

Books for boys?

(42 Posts)
Telly Sun 26-Nov-17 17:15:56

Anyone recommend some books for a 10 year old boy who can read well but does not really enjoy it? We were talking earlier in the year and when I said people read for pleasure he laughed. I did buy David Walliams but to be honest I found it revolting and although he found it amusing, not enough to stick with it! Anything that he might find a tiny bit engrossing??

ninathenana Sun 26-Nov-17 17:21:09

Horrible History ?

Eglantine21 Sun 26-Nov-17 18:00:25

Diana Wynne Jones? Particularly The Ogre Downstairs which still makes me laugh even though I have read it so often my first copy fell to pieces. A Tale of Time City or The Homeward Bounders are good too.

Humbertbear Sun 26-Nov-17 18:06:33

Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Percy Jackson. Beast quest series. You can find these in charity shops but we started with a box set from The Book People. Why not look at what they recommend for boys of his age? David Baddiel’s Books went down well too. And Anthony Horowitz’ Alex Rider series.

I have also been recommended (by 10 yr old boys)
Five Kingdoms
Fable Heaven
Beyonders
Charlie Bone
Mysterious Benedict Society

lemongrove Sun 26-Nov-17 18:08:43

The call of the wild or White Fang (Jack London)

Harry Potter books

The children of Green Knowe ( there is a whole series)

Eglantine21 Sun 26-Nov-17 18:12:35

Oh I have been to the real Green Knowe housesmile

Elrel Sun 26-Nov-17 18:32:35

Telly - My grandsons all greatly enjoyed reading, so much that any list I start would go on forever! You should be able to get advice from his school (some compile suggested reading lists for each year). Libraries also issue lists and will make suggestions as will bookshop staff, try Waterstones.
However since your grandson doesn't embrace the idea of reading for pleasure perhaps he's more comfortable with non fiction books. Have a look for books relating to subjects that interest him, whether sport, space or snakes!

annodomini Sun 26-Nov-17 18:51:31

My grandsons loved 'How to Train Your Dragon' by Cressida Cowell, and lots of sequels. It might be a bit too young for a 10-year-old though. I'm sure I've recommended www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/ on another thread. It should keep you busy from here to Christmas.

Jalima1108 Sun 26-Nov-17 19:48:18

DGS enjoys the Tree House books - he did start reading them when he was about 6 or 7 but still enjoys them now at 9. Perhaps a reluctant reader may enjoy them?

www.amazon.co.uk/78-Storey-Treehouse-Books-Book-ebook/dp/B01M0R0013/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=78+story+treehouse&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1511725608&sr=8-1
Lots of cartoon type pictures for someone who is not a keen reader.
Also available in other outlets.

I should add that DGS still enjoys them but also enjoys David Walliams and other others.

Greyduster Sun 26-Nov-17 19:52:33

My GS is coming up for 11 and he loves the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. It is a spin off from Percy Jackson and the Olympians and I am assured they are very exciting! Also The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence.

Telly Mon 27-Nov-17 09:10:45

Thank you for all the replies. I am going to compile a list and get a selection of the titles that I had not heard of before. He has Harry Potter, not sure about Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Thanks again. Really useful.

CariGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 27-Nov-17 09:19:24

My 9yo daughter (a tomboy) loves Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates, anything by David Walliams, anything by David Baddiel and more. How about getting him a book token and taking him to choose his own books? My daughter loves doing this and it may open his eyes to other options available

hildajenniJ Mon 27-Nov-17 09:39:18

My grandson is an indifferent reader. He struggles, having poor working memory. He loves the Beast Quest books by Adam Blade. He is nine years old.

NanKate Mon 27-Nov-17 21:02:13

It would be worth you looking at the award winning books by Chris Bradford. The Young Samurai series is a fabulous adventure set in 17th Century Japan. His modern day series Bodyguard is fast moving and is popular with both boys and girls.

There is plenty of martial arts in both series.

In addition it is worth checking out the books published by Barrington Stoke which are aimed at both reluctant and dyslexic readers.

HillyN Mon 27-Nov-17 21:38:05

How about Roald Dahl's 'George's Marvellous Medicine' or 'Fantastic Mr Fox'? I would endorse other books mentioned above, particularly 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid', 'Tom Gates' and the Beast Quest books.

Nelliemoser Mon 27-Nov-17 22:43:09

FOR HEAVENS SAKE
Why should books be defined by what gendered child should be reading.
I was great "Biggles" fan and other such characters when I was at late primary and secondary school.
(If any of you are old enough to remember Biggles)

Honestly I despair! It is the 21st century and you are defining whether there should be be books aimed specifcally for Girls or *Boys and never and never be seen reading the "wrong book" for your gender.

Get a grip and stop pushing children about what to read according to their gender.

SpringyChicken Mon 27-Nov-17 22:56:23

If he likes maths, the series of books by Kjarten Poskitt are fabulous and involve a lot of reading. These books so captivated my daughter at primary school that she went on to do a maths degree. They are written in the style of horrible histories. Lots of references to burping and bodily functions which children love. Daughter began with the one about arithmetic, a good one to start with. It is very dog eared now and well loved. She took it to a book signing by the author and he was moved to hear he had inspired her to follow a career in maths.

Eloethan Tue 28-Nov-17 00:02:10

Hacker - Malorie Blackman
Goodnight Mr Tom - Michelle Magorian
The Butterfly Lion - Michael Morpurgo
Birthday Boy - David Baddiel
The Demon Headmaster - Gillian Cross
Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz
The Hardy Boys Mysteries - Franklin Dixon
Holes - Louis Sachar
I Know What You Did Last Wednesday - Anthony Horowitz

phoenix Tue 28-Nov-17 07:54:47

Terry Pratchett, try the gnomes trilogy, Truckers, Diggers, Wings, then there's Johnny & the Bomb, Only You Can Save The World, then Discworld!

Greyduster Tue 28-Nov-17 08:13:18

‘Fortunately the Milk’ by Neil Gaiman. A very funny story.

Nannarose Tue 28-Nov-17 15:59:01

Nelliemoser: I agree with you on principle BUT for a lot of reasons (that could fill Gransnet!) if you take a sample of children who don't enjoy reading, there will be more boys than girls.
So, just as we sometimes treat girls differently to give them a boost in other areas, I think we sometimes need to search a bit more for books that will appeal to boys, and make the effort worthwhile.

I suspect OP didn't begin by thinking that a boy needed different books than a girl, but that in trying to encourage him to read, she realised she needed to approach it differently.
OP - I think you may find it changes as his brain matures.
One of my sons struggled with reading - he could read, and did so for school and work, but he found it tiring and not until age 25 did he find that he could read fluently and therefore 'enjoy' reading for pleasure.

I suggest trying cartoon books and graphic novels such as Asterix. Some children like them because there is less text, others find the page too 'busy' and can't concentrate.

Nannarose Tue 28-Nov-17 15:59:02

Nelliemoser: I agree with you on principle BUT for a lot of reasons (that could fill Gransnet!) if you take a sample of children who don't enjoy reading, there will be more boys than girls.
So, just as we sometimes treat girls differently to give them a boost in other areas, I think we sometimes need to search a bit more for books that will appeal to boys, and make the effort worthwhile.

I suspect OP didn't begin by thinking that a boy needed different books than a girl, but that in trying to encourage him to read, she realised she needed to approach it differently.
OP - I think you may find it changes as his brain matures.
One of my sons struggled with reading - he could read, and did so for school and work, but he found it tiring and not until age 25 did he find that he could read fluently and therefore 'enjoy' reading for pleasure.

I suggest trying cartoon books and graphic novels such as Asterix. Some children like them because there is less text, others find the page too 'busy' and can't concentrate.

aggie Tue 28-Nov-17 16:48:41

I remember Biggles , the girls version was Worralls I think , but Biggles won hands down

aggie Tue 28-Nov-17 16:48:42

I remember Biggles , the girls version was Worralls I think , but Biggles won hands down

hildajenniJ Tue 28-Nov-17 22:38:43

My son discovered the joy of reading when he was eight years old. I gave him my old Famous Five books.
He is 33 now and recently bought himself a Kindle just for reading.