The Vine: March 9, 2007
Hey, Sars,
I have an 11-year-old bookworm who is quiet at school, and who has been somewhat down lately, middle school is just not what he had hoped it would be. While at first he loved the frequent change of scenery involved in multiple classes, now he’s coming home looking like somebody stole his Roald Dahl collection. There are lots of deep sighs and very short crabby responses to my husband’s or my barrage of “What’s wrong, you can talk to us” type of lame attempts at drawing him out. When there is one of those opportunities when he feels like sharing something, it’s usually something like “[sigh…] I mean, what is the POINT of everything? I understand what they’re teaching us, it’s just all so meaningless.” Apparently he finishes his work early in class and just sits there waiting for the bell to ring for the next one, same song, second verse. It sounds like he’s more bored than anything and the thought of being bored like this “all day long every single day for ever and EVER” is what gets him down.I remember when I was in (what was then called) junior high, I always had a book handy to kill off the extra time in class. I wasn’t picky, I read a lot of bestsellers at the time (and also whatever was on my parents’ bookshelves). Our son does love to read but has already read a lot of the books directed at his age group, and with his tendency toward being somewhat mopey and dramatic, a lot of the “coming of age” material just gets him down or worked up (a la The Giver). Every time he takes a standardized test he shows his reading level at somewhere post high school, so I think he has a lot more choices for reading material than many might at his age.So the question is, what books might be appropriate for him to give him a lift and kill some time at school? To give you an idea of the type of children’s fiction that he has really enjoyed, he has read a lot of C.S. Lewis and some Tolkien, everything by Dahl, Sacher, Lemony Snicket and of course Rowling. We’re no help here, I read a lot of checkout-stand mysteries and my mom’s Erma Bombeck books, my husband’s only recommendation was Catcher in the Rye. Our son doesn’t necessarily want books directed toward the youth market, he wants a new challenge, but he probably doesn’t need anything too PG-13. Currently finding a hiding place for our copy of Jarhead and for anything by Tom Robbins
Dear Rob,
My parents had a similar problem with me at that age; I’d read everything aimed at my age cohort in the local public library, and the librarians weren’t keen on turning me loose in the adult section, so I started plowing through my parents’ college books, which…I was eleven. The level of the language wasn’t an issue, but to say that I really got was I was reading when it came to Hemingway is probably a stretch, which is the issue here, I think — the themes in adult fiction are just kind of over the head of the average middle-schooler.
So, I would suggest non-fiction for your son right now. It might seem counterintuitive, given that his tastes seem to run to fantasy, but I think it’s the best way to close the gap between his chronological age and his scholastic one. I really liked William Poundstone’s Big Secrets series at that age, and Poundstone has a couple other books in a similar vein, like The Ultimate, that are perfect for dipping in and out of during a school day.
He might also enjoy a collection of ghost stories, which tend to be more all-ages. And you could always ask a librarian to recommend some historical bios or memoirs that aren’t too juicy (or boring) for a youngun.
Readers, let’s find some reading material for the kid. No more than two books per post, please; you can also recommend periodicals.
Tags: Ask The Readers kids popcult
Sounds like my son 2 years ago! He always, always has a book tucked into his school stuff and tends to be an “old” kid. Based on his preferences, I’d suggest anything by Garth Nix, especially the Keys to the Kingdom series or the Abhorsen trilogy.
Lesley- I was actually going to recommend Abhorsen! :-)
I’d go with the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman, as well. They’re written for that age group but are extremely mature books. I read them in my early 20’s and loved them.
It sounds a little like me at that age. I delved into the world of Jane Austen, but your son might prefer looking into the Sherlock Holmes stories and maybe “The Three Musketeers”. Both have some mature references but generally aren’t too explicit and the action really carries the stories.
I was also a very advanced reader as a child. My reading teacher actually gave me and another student MacBeth to read in fifth grade. I think that was a little much. I second the recommendation for the Sherlock Holmes stories. A series that I enjoyed in elementary were books by John Bellairs (many with great illustrations by Edward Gorey). The first of the series is entitled ‘The House With A Clock In Its Walls.’ Twenty years later, I still remember these books fondly.
I would definitely recommend anything by Orson Scott Card. He’s a wonderful sci-fi writer that captured my attention from the time I was 13 and through to college. (And I can’t wait to read his books to my kids, so I guess that covers my adult years, too!) The Alvin Maker Series is a great place to start, as are “Treason” and “Ender’s Game.”
He might enjoy the Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper. The main character is an 11-year-old boy, but I recently re-read the series and loved it just as much as an adult.
I think I recommended the Hitchhiker’s Guide series for this one. They’re funny, light-hearted, and though maybe intended for someone slightly older, a mature 11-year old should do just fine. I was around that age when I first started reading them.
There’s a huge number of sci-fi and fantasy novels out there that kept me sane at his age. Two authors that might appeal to a middle school boy are Orson Scott Card (start with Ender’s Game) and Raymond Feist (start with Magician: Apprentice). Both are big enough worlds to keep him involved for a while.
I’m a fourth-grade reading teacher, and every year, I have one of those kids. Here are the series that I regularly recommend:
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper is a Harry Potter-ish series (11-year-old boy finds out he’s one of a handful of history-controlling wizards) that also incorporates Welsh/Celtic mythology and the whole King Arthur/Merlin mythos.
I’d also recommend getting him started on Terry Pratchett, if he’s got a dry sense of humor and you’re prepared to explain some British cultural references and how footnotes work. Pratchett’s especially good if he’s the type of kid to be motivated by and latch on to the “These are Real Adult Books” factor to get him through the harder bits.
Your son might like “Dandelion Wine” by Ray Bradbury–I read that book in junior high, and kept going back to it through high school. You might (and this is a long shot) also want to try him out on Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” If nothing else, his resulting attempts to foment revolution in his middle school–something I heartily endorse–will distract him from how boring it all is.
I had a similar problem at his age and read Wuthering Heights, which, wasn’t the best way to go. I agree with the Philip Pullman recommendation. The books are smart enough to have some dissertations in the works, but are written for a young adult audience. In terms of non-fiction, you may want to try biographies of medieval figures. There is plenty of adventure and sword fighting, and little explicit material. And theres really a large catalog of books to draw on if he likes it. Richard I and Joan of Arc are good places to start, and the Templars are also very popular right now. Best of luck with your search!
I remember enjoying Farley Mowat’s books — “Owls in the Family” was a favourite. Also, in a completely different genre, Susan Cooper’s “Dark is Rising” series.
I was thinking some of the stuff by Neil Gaiman might be great for him – but you should check it out first just to make sure it’s not too mature.
Also, I was a big fan of Nancy Drew stories at that age, but maybe for a boy he’ll like Hardy Boys?
He might try the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.
I also suggest the Ender (and Ender’s Shadow) series by Orsen Scott Card.
I also read way above my grade level as a kid, but my pick comes straight from my middle school’s summer reading list: the Dark Is Rising series. They might not be quite the challenge he’s looking for, but the subject matter is similar to the Narnia/Harry Potter/Tolkien stuff, and the stories themselves are so, so good. They hold up, too–15 years later, I reread the whole set in less than a week, just reading on the subway to and from work. Long story short: highly recommended!
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Rising-Sequence-Silver-Greenwitch/dp/0020425651/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/104-1888341-6192753?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173468628&sr=8-3
Good choice with the Dark Materials books! I’d also recommend Mark Twain – A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court was a favorite when I was about that age. If he’s into fantasy, you might want to check out Madeleine L’Engle’s time trilogy (which, interestingly, has 5 books…). It starts with A Wrinkle in Time, and I recommend reading them in order.
My two recommendations were (a) get back issues of magazines such as Amazing Stories, Asimov’s, and Fantasy & Science Fiction via eBay; and (b) the White Mountains trilogy by John Christopher (The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead, The Pool of Fire).
Oh, I love the Abhorsen trilogy! I third that rec!
The Inheritance trilogy-in-progress by Christopher Paolini is also enjoyable.
Yup, I was at a post-high school reading level in Jr High and bored, too. And some of the books that are for his age or high school kids have great stories and relate better towards kids, in my opinon. Heck, I read more young adult fiction at 30 than I do adult fiction. I second the Garth Nix and Phillip Pullman suggestions above, and add in Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series. Good adventure and not too depressing (as the Pullman series gets sometimes). Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card are excellent, too. And if he’s still bored and you want to give him some more adult reading, I’d go with American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.
I would second His Dark Materials… I would also highly recommend Watership Down by Richard Adams. He might balk at the whole “it’s about rabbits” concept but it’s an incredibly deep and rich story.
It depends on your standards of “appropriateness”, I guess, because these books deal with some more adult-ish themes, but I was also enjoying Chris Crutcher, Rob Thomas and M.E. Kerr at that age–if he likes “coming of age” stuff he’ll definitely like those.
My suggestions:
1) “Inkheart” – wonderful modern fantasy all about the love of books. Well written, full of action, and very engaging. (On a similar vein, the “Fly by Night” is also wonderful.)
2) Diana Wynne Jones (anything, but the Chrestomanci series is a good starting point) – She is an excellent author for either gender. She writes youthful books that are very much not depressing, but often contain complicated themes and are very thoughtfully written.
At that age I started reading adult fantasy without too much of a problem. I also agree with Garth Nix, John Bellairs, and Sherlock Holmes.
I have to agree with The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries— perfect for a boy, and yet they are still fun to revisit as an adult. They have suspense and some have a little bit of violence, but nothing terribly gory or scary. Also, they have great SAT vocabulary in them (as do Agatha Christie myteries–steer him toward Hercule Poirot as opposed to Miss Marple at first for best results).
1) “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke – This is a great book about the love of books. Lots of adventure and great characters. (Also “Fly by Night,” on a similar subject.)
2) Diana Wynne Jones – Her books are unfailingly well-written and exciting. Great characters, complex stories, and never depressing or boring. The Chrestomanci series is a good place to start.
I also heartily agree with the suggestions for Garth Nix, Sherlock Holmes, and Jonh Bellairs.
Here’s a second recommendation for the His Dark Materials trilogy. Also, I wonder if he might be ready for a hobby where he needs to be creative but also requires that he do something with his hands. Perhaps a hobby/project that has a “design” component (which he can do in class when he has finished his classwork) and a “build” component.
I’d recommend the Ender series by Orson Scott Card. Start with Ender’s Game and then he can read the others if he likes it.
They’re decent from a plot standpoint, and have some good twists. What’s nice is that they’re about REALLY bright kids and not underestimating the intelligence of a child, which is a theme which might resonate with him.
I know this song, too. My kid’s 11 and required to read X many books for her reading program. And she’s read everything in her tested range (the highest) in the school library. She doesn’t get credit for reading anything *not* on the list, either. It’s killing her enthusiasm for reading, and her teacher and I work pretty hard to find books that keep her interest.
Nancy Farmer is an *amazing* writer for kids this age. “Sea of Trolls” is one of the most engrossing books I’ve read even as adult, it blends fantastical elements with terrific characterizations. And bloodthirsty Viking beserkers. What’s not to love? Farmer starts off slowly but get past the first three chapters, and you’ll be hooked. “The Ear, The Eye and the Arm”, also by her, is set in a futuristic Africa and combines elements of African traditions with crazy imaginative speculative fiction. Great, great stuff.
I’d also recommend non-fiction books in an area of his interests. My kid’s into sharks and pirates, and has an exhaustive library of non-fiction books on both.
There’s a lot of schlock written for the middle school set, unfortunately. Cornelia Funke is recommended a lot and I personally think she should be put before a firing squad for crimes against children, plot and dialogue. Same with Christopher Paolini for writing “Eragon” when he was still in diapers (whatever). Junky writing hailed as engrossing.
When I was his age, I devoured /Watership Down/ by Richard Adams. It’s still on my bookshelf even now. It’s good, solid reading without being lofty. Plus, my sixth-grade self was absolutely enchanted by the Lapine glossary in the back.
Good suggestions Ann! I’d add “The Count of Monte Cristo” — and make sure it’s the full version, not some edited down kid’s version. It’s an incredible epic story, lots of adventure. Also, he’s probably read these already, but I’d suggest the “Eragon” series and “His Dark Materials” trilogy (by Pullman, I believe?).
His Dark Materials would be an excellent choice. I read them as a 12 year old and was a bit out of my league, but I understood and enjoyed it well enough (I fell completely in love with them when I read them five years later). This is up to your discretion, but I know my boyfriend (who was a lot like your son at 12) started reading Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and Firestarter around that age. He might like those, but of course it’s always up to you to decide what your kid is ready for or not.
My 11 year old has been reading Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Series as well as Pratchett’s more youth-oriented novels set in Discworld.
There’s a SEQUAL to “The House With A Clock in Its Walls”?? I had no idea – I loved that book!
Must.Go.Find.
I had the same issue in middle school, but I’m far more of a fiction geek. How about the Discworld series? Those are what the librarians handed me once I had devoured the “young adults” section at his age.
He might not get every joke, but there’s plenty of books in the series, and the subject matter doesn’t really go past PG-13. As an added bonus, most used book places seem to have at least a few on hand in the fantasy section, not to mention regular book retailers.
My other suggestion would be a collection of mythology. Heroic adventures are fun for all ages.
Rob’s middle schooler should try the 3-volume “Ender Saga” by Orson Scott Card and the “Belgariad” series by David Eddings. Science fiction, the former, and sci-fi-fantasy, the latter. Both excellently written, content-appropriate and advanced enough to keep Rob’s reader interested.
Sounds like he enjoys the fantasy type reads. I would recommend the Xanth Series by Piers Anthony; they are fun and punny but still maintain a nice thread of plot throughout. Plus he’s written so many of them, that your boy won’t run out for a good long time!!
Hola! Man, I read just about everything Sci-fi/fantasy/mystery when I was that age. What I wound up doing, mostly, was finding an author and reading through his/her works until there were no more books to read. To that end, I’d suggest Piers Anthony because while not the world’s most stellar author, the dude writes a TON of stuff. His Xanth series is high fantasy and, if I recall correctly, his writing is overall more cheery than gloomy.
As far as non-fiction, my husband is awfully fond of James Burke’s books based on his Connections series (Connections and The Pinball Effect).
I was a huge bookworm, and I remember loving Cricket magazine when I was his age. They had a good selection of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, a couple of science articles. I saw on their website that now, they even have online forums where kids can talk about stories they’ve read, and even post original works themselves. Going to the Cricket website reminded me of how much I used to love reading those stories. I’m definitely buying them for my kids (when I have them). I also loved the Madeline L’Engle books (both the Supernatural ones and the Austen series), but I wonder if they might be a bit girly…
, I immediately thought of the Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain series. I read these books when I was in jr. high, and they still stick with me today. Adventure, danger, humor, love, good, eeeeeevil — they’re all in there. There are 5 books in the series, so there’s plenty for a voracious young reader to lose himself in.
Please please please DO NOT judge the series by the god-awful Disney adaptation of The Black Cauldron (second book in the series).
I work in a bookstore, and I get this question a lot. If he hasn’t read the Philip Pullman books (the His Dark Materials trilogy), he should. We keep them shelved in both the children’s and adult sections (and I usually don’t go in for this kind of thing, but the adult covers are much prettier). They’re long, absorbing, extremely well written and also a giant reimagining of Paradise Lost, so they don’t exactly talk down to kids. They’re pretty anti-organized religion, though, so that could be an issue.
As for the other…hmm. There are just so many! I guess I would suggest The Once and Future King, by T.H. White. The first part of it, The Sword in the Stone, is definitely a kids’ book, but the rest of it is more advanced, and I’d say it’s age-appropriate. (Also? So different from the movie.) White is the best fantasy author I’ve ever read in that he doesn’t leave it to fantasy — he writes about power and tyranny so well, and he’s funny and warm and wonderful, but never stupid, and never sappy, and never condescending. I laugh out loud every time I read it, and I cry every time I read it.
I would really, really recommend that the kids’ parents go to a bookstore and ask the booksellers. I know there are fewer independents on the East Coast, which is where the booksellers tend to know their stuff more, but I work with some fantastic booksellers who used to work at the chains, so you can find them there, too. Barring going to an independent, you can also call one that’s not in your area. Most of us are more than willing to give recommendations over the phone, and you don’t have to buy them, necessarily. It’s much easier to give recommendations when you can talk to the customer. Also, it’s actually a lot of fun — those are my favorite calls!
Your son might really like Orson Scott Card’s Alvin Maker series — it’s a fantasy series set in an alternate version of nineteenth-century America, and (from what I remember) not too PG-13. I’d steer clear of Card’s science fiction, though. Ender’s Game and its sequels are great, but probably a bit too dark for a sensitive eleven-year-old.
When I in middle school, I was lucky to have an awesome librarian who was always on hand to recommend great things to read. The Blue Rider by Robin McKinley was one of those as was The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper. The latter is being made into a movie, so the books are going to be re-issued soon.
I was a lot like him at that age. A lack of challenging work can be so frustrating!
Since he has read and liked some fantasy/sci-fi, I would recommend Steven King’s Dark Tower series. I started reading the series around Jr. High, and loved it. The first book is engaging from the start and now that the series is done, no waiting for the next book!
Steven Brust is also a great choice – fantasy with humor and lots of plots and intrigue.
Sounds like me too! I would STRONGLY recommend The Dark Is Rising Sequence (Silver on the Tree; The Grey King; Greenwitch; The Dark Is Rising; and Over Sea, Under Stone) by Susan Cooper. They’re probably a bit simple for his reading level, but the stories are truly engrossing (modernish kids fulifilling Arthurian quests) and they turn up so many other interests to look into. I first read them when I was 10, and now that I’m 36, I still re-read them every few years. And of course, The Earthsea Cycle (Wizard of Earthsea, Tombs of Atuan, THe Farthest Shore, Tehanu, The Other Wind) by Ursula LeGuin – especially if he enjoyed Rowling & CS Lewis.
I echo both the Nix and Pullman recommendations though the Abhorsen trilogy might skew a bit female (Keys to the Kingdom and his other books might be better) and parents should be aware of the mature themes in the Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (they go to war with God!). Eoin Colfer might be a good progression from Rowling.
I would recommend the Prydaain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander, and the Dark is Rising Series by Susan Cooper. Also, if he likes Dahl and Snicket, you might try Pratchett’s children’s books. I think the Wee Free Men is the first of them.
You also might want to ask your librarian to do a Novelist (it’s a librarian database) search for books with a middle school interest level, but a higher Lexile score. This should give you age-appropriate books that are on a more challenging reading level. Most public libraries have access to the service. It’s what I use when I get questions like yours at my library.
Lloyd Alexander — in addition to the Prydain chronicles mentioned above, I highly recommend the Westmark trilogy (Westmark, The Kestrel, The Beggar Queen).
I can vouch for a slew of these recommendations, too. Another suggestion I’d have would be Frank Herbert’s “Dune.” I discovered this sci-fi classic in middle school and still love it a dozen or so years later. It’s got complex themes, but also a young protagonist whom a middle-schooler could relate to.
I think the Dark Tower books are excellent, too, but a word of warning… they can be a little sexually explicit. The first three books mention succubi (with lots of talk about their “greedy need” and a disturbing scene where a female main character is raped by a male succubus), a psychopath who has an orgasm when he hurts a little girl, probably some other stuff.
I’m not necessarily saying they’re a bad choice, depending on how mature your kid is in that regard, but you may want to read them first, if you haven’t already.
I second the rec for Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain — they won’t last him long, but they’re totally worth it at any age. I’d go further and recommend running down anything else by Lloyd Alexander as well; he wrote a whole lot more than just the Prydain stories, and they might be perfectly suited to what you’re looking for – good writing, great stories, great attitude, and best of all, main characters around your son’s age, so probably easy for him to identify with.
I loved anything non-Star Wars by Timothy Zahn at that age.
Also, Alan Dean Foster’s Pip and Flinx series.
That was me, as well. I enjoyed the Iliad and the Odyssey at that age, and also loved the Dune books, Anne McCaffrey and Agatha Christie. I also was really into astronomy, and liked Asimov. My son is getting there quickly, so this thread is really helpful!