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Jez Keighley asked this question about A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1):
Would you recommend this for a 10 year old ? He likes characters, action and humour ?
David I agree with what most other contributors have said, but wanted to add that I am reading it to my eight year old, as it was one of my favourite books …moreI agree with what most other contributors have said, but wanted to add that I am reading it to my eight year old, as it was one of my favourite books growing up - I read and re-read the series until my copies fell apart. She is a very keen reader. It is a bit dark in places, and a bit introspective, but I think that is good in a children's book sometimes. The book is also quite profound, and in a way that seems to make a deep impression on some readers. My 8 year old daughter is loving it, has printed out a map of Earthsea for her wall, and I've suggested reading something else when we finish but she won't hear of it and wants to read the other three books - even though the second book has a scary cover in my edition! I think these books certainly deserve a place alongside Alan Garner, TH White and the like, and I think the series is even comparable with Tolkein and Narnia. So in summary, I think there is a good chance that these books will strike a real chord with a thoughtful ten year old reader. Maybe not too - but worth the chance.

[For the record I enjoyed Harry Potter but do tend to agree with ULG's assessment - page turning but undemanding boarding school fiction mixed with somewhat derivative wizardy stuff. Earthsea features a school for wizards but is pretty different.](less)
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A Wizard of Earthsea
by Ursula K. Le Guin
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