Reading suggestions: 10 year old boy

[bohemiancoast]

Hello chaps: this is a sort of semi-regular 'recommend books for my child' post

Comments

[coalescent]

I wouldn't immediately have said that these are quite age appropriate yet, but if he's reading Little Brother ... the Patrick Ness books might be a good bet: The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask & The Answer and Monsters of Men.

[dev_iant]

I'd have to agree with your caveat there - the middle book in particular is very "bleak" - torture isn't really appropriate for a 10-year old, even these days. The presence of a love story might also deter a 10-year old boy!

Would strongly recommend them for everyone over the age of 13 or so, however.

Other than that - Ender's Game & Only You Can Save Mankind were my first two thoughts.

[bohemiancoast]

He likes the Scott Westerfeld Uglies series, which has a load of not-suitable-for-a-ten-year-old content. In general J seems to prefer stuff that's aimed at much older children, or very easy material. Little of what he reads strikes me as being obviously age-appropriate.

[flick]

I'd try and keep him away from the Ness books for a bit longer yet. They are very disturbing, and they gave me bad dreams.

[dev_iant]

It's always the parents' call as to what is and isn't suitable, but I found bits of the series disturbing and it's a long time since I found that with any series, let alone one aimed at a YA audience. The answer is read the books yourself - you won't regret it!

[bohemiancoast]

M thinks they're fantastic but hasn't managed to persuade J to read them yet.