Children's book recs sought! Queer Narrative Fictional Client Revealed!

[rachelmanija]

I need recommendations for books which are likely to appeal to an 11-year-old who likes sf, fantasy, and the Alex Rider

Comments

[desayunoencama]

Maybe Bruce Coville's Magic Shop books for the 10 year old.

[desayunoencama]

One of which, THE SKULL OF TRUTH, even has a queer character in it.

Not that you need to push that, but you can let the 10 year old stumble across it once they get hooked on the series, presented as a normal part of life, etc.

[rachelmanija]

Ha! Good thought. It's my favorite of the series, too.

The books have to appeal to both kids, though. They might be a bit young for the older one.

[rymenhild]

Fingersmith! Yes, please. I vote for Maud.

[forked]

Hrm-
Skulduggery Pleasant (series)
The True Meaning of Smekday (Highly rec'd!)
Midnight for Charlie Bone (Red King series) Not a bad riff on HP
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm (Highly rec'd)
I'm betting the Percy Jackson ones you already know.

My oldest nephew is only 7, so most of the stuff I've gotten him is a bit too young. But I'll snag stuff that's too old for him as long as I don't mind reading it now- and all of the above were at the least readable.

[rachelmanija]

SMEKDAY! Great idea. Yes, I was also thinking of Percy Jackson. And Zahrah the Windseeker.

[spectralbovine]

I need to get on this Skulduggery Pleasant business at some point. I have some friends who are really into it, and it sounds awesome.

[spectralbovine]

The Name of This Book Is Secret, by Pseudonymous Bosch. I love the Secret Series. It's clever and funny with a metafiction sensibility, a Snicket-y narrator and conceit, secret societies, evil organizations, time travel...and at one point a kid is possessed by the spirit of a samurai. It's great fun.

[lady_ganesh]

My daughter loves those too! (She's ten now and my niece loved them when she was 10-12 too.)

[derien]

The Last Dragonslayer - Jasper Fforde
The Big Over Easy - Jasper Fforde
summary at Jasper Fforde's page. I LOVE these books

Only You Can Save Mankind - Terry Pratchett
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents - Terry Pratchett