I have a nine year old cousin who is not a reader. She doesn't like to read because she knows she's not good at it, and her parents and school haven't really fostered reading for pleasure - she sees it as work and it's put her in a state of anxiety. Her family have asked for help from mine, and I want to get her addicted to something. It doesn't need to be challenging, or brilliant or complex, just fun and gripping. My problem is that I'm a bit out of date. I keep up with YA books, but not with books for younger kids, so all my suggestions are things I read at that age, like Paul Jennings, Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton (obviously I didn't read much contemp lit even then). Can anyone recommend fun books for girls around that age?
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
13 years ago
Sun Apr 10 2011, 08:53pm
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
I have a few recommendations:
Jeanne Betancourt's Pony Pals novels- I was particularly fond of them and was always borrowing them from my school library.
Bonnie Bryant's Saddle Club books- again, the same as above.
Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest- despite the fact it seems aimed at a male audience, girls love them. The amount of times girls in Year 3 were borrowing them when I helped out my school library a few years again was astonishing.
One last suggestion from me at the moment- have you considered Justin D'ath? Most of his books are aimed at a young audience, and are rather amusing to read.
Edit: Another one- Tashi books were always good fun.
And I can't believe I forgot one of my all time favourites: Annie Dalton's Agent Angel series, formerly known as Angels Unlimited. However, they're not the easiest books to find, but I know that occasionally larger Dymocks stores have them in stock.
According to my sister, her year 7's are all into Paul Jennings short stories and Goosebumps books, so you may not be as out of date as you think.
I also really like the Patricia C Wrede Dealing with Dragons books - they're simple and fun. Also, you could try Jane and the Dragon by Martin Baynton - there's a modern TV animated series based on the book that is really good too - the tie-in might help.
The wee free men by Pratchett could be a good book to use - but it might be a bit too old for her.
The snow spider series by Jenny Nimmo could also work. It's about a boy who is trying to discover if he is a celtic sorcerer. It won a few awards.
Blyton is good, because a lot of her books are packaged as novels, but are really a lot more simple inside. (But you know I would always advocate our lady Enid).
Like Arwen I would definitely recomend Deltora Quest. I read it at about that age and for about a year my brother and I were obsessed with it. As a result, our copies are a little bit worn, but they were my lifesaver at that age.
Another good series, if you want something a little bit more girly, is the Fairy Realm series, which coincidently is also by Emily Rodda.
Good luck.
Try the 'Jane Blonde' series.. I read them at about that age, and just passed them to a 9 year old I know. God luck in your mission :)
Thanks, guys. I was considering Rowan of Rin, but I'd forgotten about the Deltora Quest books, because I never read them myself. I know they're very popular, though. Emily Rodda is so good.
Wanderer Ward
13 years ago
Wanderer Ward
Dreamscape Artist
When I was younger I was obsessed with the Animal Ark books by Lucy Daniels. I haven't seen them in a while, so maybe they're not in print anymore, but if she likes animals they may be well worth finding.
Well I think possibly the Skulduggery PLeasant series. They're not that challenging, have action and a bit of humour too. :)
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
13 years ago
Mon Apr 11 2011, 09:52pm
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
Thanks to something someone said recently, I thought of Lemony Snickets' Series of Unforunate Events. I read them a few years ago and wished I'd found them many years before that.
