I’m looking for a series for my son who is a fairly advanced reader for his age. Most book recommendations for his age tend to be either too easy or too “adult”. I’m looking for a series that challenges him more than the typical kid books, but isn’t filled with too much violence, sex, or language. I’m not saying there can’t be any, but I’d rather not have it on every page or have the main story be about killing people (a.k.a. hunger games or Red Rising).
For reference, here are some of the series he’s already read:
1. Harry Potter
2. Wings of Fire (Got bored with the story after book 7 or 8 – Also, I’m aware these are pretty violent, but it’s dragons and not humans)
3. Percy Jackson (Two different 5-book series)
4. The Hobbit
5. Chronicles of Narnia
6. Magic Treehouse
7. Last kids on Earth
He wants to try the Lord of the Rings trilogy next, but I’m afraid it might not hold his interest. I’ve also considered Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but I’ve never read it so I’m not sure what to think.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you!
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by peakedAt16
19 Comments
Maybe try books by Jules Verne.
These might both be terrible recommendations as i read them a long time ago but what about Catcher in the Rye or The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay? There might be some sex in both though. Perhaps some science fiction like Philip K Dick or William Gibson.
Two series which wouldn’t look out of place on that list are:
‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’
‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’
You could also consider starting him on Pratchett.
The Carpet People, The Bromeliad Trilogy and the Johnny Maxwell trilogy were some of my favorites at that age.
Maybe also consider ‘His Dark Materials’ but might still be a few years away from that due to *some* content.
I read Lord of the Rings at 11, absolutely loved them. Also, if he wants to read them, just let him? If they don’t “hold his interest” he can move on to something else, I don’t see the problem.
Older children’s books, like Treasure Island or Peter Pan for example, are written with more challenging language and help prepare young people for dissecting the classics in school when they are older.
At his age, I loved the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
I came to recommend ‘His Dark Materials’ too, and yeah I agree that some of it can be a bit heavy. From what I remember it’s not horrific though.
Another series I enjoyed at that age was the ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ series.
My all time favourite series though is the ‘CHERUB’ series by Robert Muchamore. I’m 26 with 2 kids now, and I still find comfort in reading that series. I cannot recommend it enough, and as an 11 year old the main character will really resonate with your son.
The CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore. Young teenage spy series. My son loved them
Hitchhikers is fine (I’ve had students that age love it). Also recommend Artemis Fowl, Skulduggery Pleasant, The Westing Game, Inkheart, and anything by Dianna Wynne Jones or Catherine Jinks or any of Terry Pratchett’s non-adult novels (lots of his adult fiction is actually fine for younger readers, but there is some implied sex or innuendo at times).
The Septimus Heap series.
The Rangers Apprentice series.
Inkheart trilogy.
Refugee.
Ready Player One….
Try ‘The Edge Chronicles’ by Paul Stewart, starting with ‘Beyond the Deepwoods.’ It’s got some lovely illustrations by Chris Ridell too. It really captured my imagination as a young reader (and at age 12, I had struggled through The Hobbit and found it arduous.)
Ok, look. I was also an ‘advanced reader’. At 8, I was reading Edgar Allan Poe & Shakespeare – including “Titus Andronicus”. At 11, I was into Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. I would not have read kid’s novels or young YA (if it had existed at the time) for all the money in the world. I’d read the novels in the Middle Grade ‘section when I was third grade. I bet your son has, too.
Time to level up. Try some Christie novels. Try some Historical non-fiction. Try some slightly older YA (just stay clear of Ellen Hopkins if you want to keep it less gritty), try some exciting wilderness survival stories (hello, Jack London). How ’bout some Star Wars tie-in novels? “Scoundrels” by Tim Zahn is a great heist novel. Try Shakespeare (gateway for Shakespeare? The Star Wars-in-iambic pentameter books: https://www.amazon.com/William-Shakespeares-Star-Trilogy-34-inch/dp/1594747911/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UBNK5FCYCM6H&keywords=shakespeare+star+wars&qid=1701121745&sprefix=shakespeare+star+wars%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-1)
[*Gormenghast Trilogy*](https://www.amazon.com/Gormenghast-Novels-Titus-Groan-Alone/dp/0879516283/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701125302&sr=8-1) by Mervyn Peake. A gothic fantasy. No swearing, no sex, a little violence, but nothing that kept me up at night. If you feel that LOTR might bore him, then this might be too slow moving; maybe wait untill he’s 14. .
Not a series but a bit of an oldie, let me suggest The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. It follow the adventures of a boy, Peekay, as he grows up in south Africa. It is very interesting, lots of new things and a great ending.
I fell in love with reading when I read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings when I was about your son’s age.
Hatchet
Watership Down
The Earthsea trilogy by Le Guin
Ray Bradbury’s books (The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked This Way Comes)
Also you might try asking the librarian at your child’s school for some good suggestions.
This is prime Terry Pratchett time!
(all times are prime Terry Pratchett time)
My 13 year old reads World War Z and other Max Brooks titles over & over again and has for a couple years.
He also loves this series of US Civil War books called Diary of Freeman Colby.
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are big at our house too
Well, The Hobbit isn’t a series, so I’ll recommend a single-volume: Skellig.