Challenging to Shop for 11-Year-Old Reader

[Amber]

My best friends kids are all big readers so I usually buy them books for birthdays and Christmas. Her 11-year-old boy is an excellent reader, so has read many of the good books for his age group. He gets bored with books he feels are "too easy". The problem is, some of the content on the higher reading levels, his parents don't want him exposed to. Does anyone have suggestions for books on a high-middle school, early high school level with content for a slightly sheltered 11-year-old? He has read all of Narnia, Harry Potter, Benedict Society, Lemony Snicket and enjoyed those series.

[LauraW]

A lot of the boys I see are devouring Rick Riordan books. I had one 6th grader the other day give me a synopsis of several of them. He and a girl who happened to hear him talking about the books, went on and on about them. Evidently, the boy is considered now to be an expert on Greek and Roman gods. I am a substitute teacher and I often check out the books kids are reading and ask them for recommendations. These have been repeatedly recommended.

Another book I personally enjoyed quite a bit was The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen. I enjoyed the plotting of it especially.

[Linda]

For suggestions on books who can always try:
- teachers of that year level
- school librarians

>> both very very helpful for advanced readers but needing age-appropriate content.

- local librarians (they all have Youth specialists)
- friends/family with kids in the same age range

>> & my fave

- books that help you select other readers based on authors you already like (& they're age bracketed) like Who Next...?: A Guide To Children's Authors. Awesome help - and yes, there's an adult version too.

- 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

& here's some suggestions too:
Rodda Emily
Garner, Alan J. (like Elidor
John Flanagan
Alexander Lloyd
The Children of Green Knowe series
The Indian in the Cupboard
Artemis Fowl

and for an advanced reader that loves adventure you can't go past The Hobbit!

Happy Trails!

[Shannon]

LauraW wrote: "A lot of the boys I see are devouring Rick Riordan books. I had one 6th grader the other day give me a synopsis of several of them. He and a girl who happened to hear him talking about the books,..."

I second Rick Riordan. For Riordan, if he hasn't read any then he should start with The Lightning Thief. He may also enjoy The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. There is also The Ruins of Gorlan This is a series known as Ranger's Apprentice but I don't know which book comes first.

And one more might be the
Midnight for Charlie Bone Charlie Bone series.

I understand that it is hard to find complicated enough stories without content that is not age appropriate and this is why there is so much in the fantasy genre. They tend to be more complicated stories (they have to build worlds and characters with culture, adventure and plot) and often do not have the objectionable content.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Older books, classics, and historical fiction also tend to be a bit cleaner, if you don't mind sword-fights and burglars, etc., (which you've already gotten in Narnia).

I recently discovered exciting & rich stories of Leon Garfield. I also really enjoyed classic science fiction when I was done with Narnia, for example the Robot stories by Isaac Asimov.

Help him stretch and grow beyond casual fantasy - it's fun, but he can dig deeper and explore some rich themes since he's such a good reader.

[LauraW]

And, if he is into world building, Monster Blood Tattoo is one of the most incredible pieces of world building I have ever read.

[Marie]

I also favor Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson..
And if he is into geography and history, I strongly suggest The 39 Clues Series..
♥

[Dena]

I am also a big fan of Rick Riordan. He has several books that are great for that age group. You might also want to look up Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo, by Obert Sky. He also wrote Pillage which was very good.

One series that I thought was absolutely fantastic was the Fablehaven books. Very well done and original.

If he likes older books, one that he might enjoy is The Outlaw Of Torn. Even though the intended audience is adults, I read it as a kid and loved it. It has an awesome story and lots of sword fighting :)

You could also try Hatchet, White Fang, My Side of the Mountain/On the Far Side of the Mountain, and The Call of the Wild

[Shannon]

He may also like Inkheart and the rest of the series. My son didn't like it but that was on audio. Not sure if reading it would make it better?...

[Michele]

Peak
The Sea of Trolls
The Thief
The Ruins of Gorlan
Redwall

[Amber]

Thanks do much to you all. You've given me some wonderful suggestions. I am sure there are many here that will be right in his wheelhouse. Thanks again for your help.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

I echo the votes for Rick Riordan's work.

The Airborn series by Kenneth Oppel is excellent.

Leviathan series is also very good.

Both of those are good adventure books but not too bloody and I don't think there was anything inappropriate in terms of sex or language.

Also, it's a bit on the frightening side at times, but the Skulduggery Pleasant book was great, very witty, too. Excellent audiobook production on that one, as well.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Shannon wrote: "He may also like Inkheart and the rest of the series. My son didn't like it but that was on audio. Not sure if reading it would make it better?..."

Other books by Cornelia Funke might also work, such as Ghost Knight or Dragon Rider (I liked both of them). And while I have not read The Thief Lord, I've heard good things about it.

[Michele]

I loved The Thief Lord!

[Melissa]

My daughter is the same age and she is an advanced reader as well. She likes a lot of the same books as he did. Some of her favorites are Fablehaven series and the Deltora Questseries.

Rick Riordanhas 3 different series that are all quite good, Percy Jackson, the Kane's and The lost hero series.

The Alchemystseries may peak his interest as well.

[Kate]

I think Rick Riordan's series is the best. I am 11 and when I read "The Lightning Thief" I read it just for fun and I didn't have anything else. I could not put it down. I had to read the next book until I finished the whole series. I thought it was over. then I found the follow up series "The Hero's of Olympus." I didn't want to read them until they were finished but I couldn't wait. Finally. I haven't finished his other series "The Kane Chronicles." Seriously amazing great recommendation and a wonderful author.

[Kate]

Shannon wrote: "LauraW wrote: "A lot of the boys I see are devouring Rick Riordan books. I had one 6th grader the other day give me a synopsis of several of them. He and a girl who happened to hear him talking a..."

I third them. They were amazing. Alond with the follow up series "The Hero's of Olympus"

[Anne]

He could also try Magyk
Jinx
The Sea of Trolls
A Wizard of Earthsea
At the Back of the North Wind
The Cabinet of Wonders
The Amulet of Samarkand
All of these are well-written, literate fantasy that are not merely "lite" and are still appropriate for an 11-year old. Most begin a series.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

An older series, but one that my son loved when he was around 11 yo is "The Prydain Chronicles" by Lloyd Alexander. There are five books in the series, and the final one won the Newbery Award:
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Llyr
Taran Wanderer and
The High King

[M.G.]

That's about the age of my boys, who churn through books, so it's great to see everyone's lists. Some of the ones we've loved have already been mentioned: the Redwall series and the RANGER'S APPRENTICE series. Also good for that age are Gary Schmidt's books -- The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now. Also Gary Paulsen's classic Hatchet. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda series is not as challenging as some of the others, but is a humorous contemporary fiction series with spot-on voice that resonates with tween readers.

[Rosie]

Okay how about something from Terry Pratchett - UK author who does have some brilliant books for kids who can read well?
That's if they're into fantasy with clever word-play and thought-provoking topics.
Johnny and the Bomb
The Wee Free Men