Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

My 11 year old is reading The Book Thief. For his reading course in middle school, they get raffles for every book they complete. They need to complete a certain number of raffles for the quarter & get extra credit.

So far he's liking it but I'm not sure if I'm doing him a disservice by recommending the books I have. A lot of them are longer than what his classmates are reading. He loves, loves, loves reading. He doesn't really want to read the easier books. He said they don't have that much going on in them.

Does anyone have any suggestions for good but short books for pre-teens? He's read the Hunger Game series, all of The Lightning Thief & every off shoot sequel to that.

I was thinking of having him read The Outsiders or Catcher in the Rye but am wondering if they're too advanced for him. I haven't read them in ages but I think he'd like them.

Then for my 9 year old, she's finished the Harry Potter books, Lemony Snicket, is re-reading The Mysterious Benedict Society...I have Little House in the Prarie up next for her, followed by Nancy Drew. I was debating reading The Hunger Games with her too.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. I would hate to see them start to hate it because they aren't getting enough "credit" in school for it. Any suggestions?

I'm not keen on emailing his teacher because I really don't want to be "that parent".

Re: Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

As a high school English teacher who just happened to stumble on this post, I just have to say... I wish I had your kids in my classes NOW.

As far as what your son might read, I'd say The Outsiders (and the other S.E. Hinton books) would probably not be too advanced -- I know we have them on our seventh grade curriculum. Catcher is on 10th grade for us, so I'm not so sure about that one. I'll keep thinking, though, to see if I can come up with anything else.

Has your daughter read the Beverly Cleary or Judy Blume books? Those were my all-time favorites when I was her age. Also, how about E.L. Konigsburg (Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) or Madeleine L'Engle (A Wrinkle in Time)? Or C.S. Lewis? I think I was her age when I read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. (If your son hasn't read L'Engle, actually, he'd probably really like her, too.)

I love questions like these.

Re: Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

Thanks for responding!

The reason I thought he'd like Catcher in the Rye is he is about as negative as Holden Caulfield. I'm hoping it's just the age as everyone says but I'm not sure.

I'll look into the ones you recommended. She has read Beverly Cleary& some Judy Blume.

Are there shorter books for my middle schooler? With the assignments & these raffles, my husband is convinced that our avid readers are going to hate reading soon. He's definitely more behind on finishing books but I suspect it's the books we (or I) have picked. He flew through the James Patterson Middle School ones.

Message edited 3/13/2013 10:34:10 AM.

Re: Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

What about Witch & Wizard by James Patterson. It's VERY much like Harry Potter and may be a little to young for your son, but might be just right for your daughter. It's a series, not sure how far it's gone.

For your son... there's also the Eragon series, The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials Series), The Narnia Series, The Maze Runner series, and the Uglies Series.

Hope he enjoys some of these reads! I absolutely LOVE seeing kids get into reading like this!

ETA: Just saw he already read the James Patterson books. Also, as far as him hating reading... I doubt that will ever happen. I'd just worry that he'd get bored with his school reading (though we NEVER read books like The Hunger Games in school!). I hated reading as a kid and when I grew up and was able to read whatever I wanted, it was like a whole new world opened up. I never knew I could enjoy reading so much and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I wasn't pushed to read what I wanted to read. It was "Here's the books you'll be reading." and that was that. So I think it's great what you're doing and that he's so interested in them!

ETAA: OH! Ender's Game! I loooooooved this book and so did my DH. He read it when he was around your son's age.

Message edited 3/14/2013 2:04:48 PM.

Re: Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

Jodi Picoult just wrote a cute young adult book with her daughter called "Between the Lines." Your daughter may enjoy that. Anything by Kate Dicamillo is great too (I had to read The Tale of Despereaux for one of my elementary education lit classes and loved it).

Bridge to Terabithia is an amazing book as well.

Has your son read anything by Ridley Pearson?

Re: Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

I'm writing a middle-grade book now, so I"ve been picking some up for age appropriate research. One that I just read was The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. I think it was one of the top books for last year. Sort of horror/mystery if they like that. Protag is a 12 year-old girl.

My favorites at that age were Nancy Drews, The Hobbit, THe Dark is Rising series, The Indian and the Cupboard series. There was also a series, So You Want to be a Wizard that I loved. I will always remember those books--started my love of reading and writing.

Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

the maze runner, divergent, the uglies series, witch and wizzard by james patterson, curious incident of dog in nighttime

Elementary & Pre-Teen books & question for any teachers

I have a friend with a 5th grade son who's an advanced reader. I gave him Al Capone Does My Shirts (there is a follow up, Al Capone Shines My Shoes) and he loved it. It also might be appropriate for your daughter.

He also read the Blue Balliet mysteries and loved them- Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3 and The Calder Game. They have been described as The DaVinci Code for kids because art figures prominently.