Good (PROGRESSIVE) novels for children. Need recommendations please!

[Pacifist Patriot]

My 11 year old son is an extremely good reader. For example, he's tackling a translation of The Iliad of his own accord. Clearly this child is taking after his mother rather than his father.

Words Good

Numbers Bad

I'm looking for high quality novels for us to read and discuss. For example, he is reading Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry right now. Wow, you should hear our discussions!

Anything out there you can think of that will expand his vocabulary, entertain him and prod his conscience?

[nomorenomore08]

1. Robert Cormier - 'I Am the Cheese'

Incredibly complex and sophisticated for a YA novel. I read it at the age of twelve, and it blew my mind.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Oooo, and I own a copy. I totally forgot! Thanks.

[PassingFair]

12. Also by Cormier...The Chocolate War

My kids really liked it...pretty dark, though.

[distantearlywarning]

38. Second the rec for this.

It's one of my favorite kids books.

[Richardo]

3. "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Eco parable, very funny and Hiaasen-esque plot and characterizations, just without the swearing and violence. I enjoyed it thoroughly even as an adult read.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. Good one! We did it already. And bless is heart he agreed the book was better than the movie.

[Richardo]

7. Unfortunately I found the follow-up "Flush" disappointing

:shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Way of the Peaceful Warrior--Dan Mellman

It is the one book that my husband read and enjoyed in his life. It gave him a lot of things to think about.

http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/0915811898

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Ordered! Thank you.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. What kind of books does he like? Fantasy? Science fiction? Economics? Adventure?

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. The kid will practically read anything I put in front of him.

Ripped through the Phillip Pullman His Dark Materials trilogy like a knife through melted butter. Is anxiously awaiting the final installment of Christopher Paolini's trilogy (Eragon). So clearly a fan of fantasy.

But also loves mysteries, historical fiction....oh wait, I 've got it.

If someone bleeds he'll read it. Eek!

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Paul Tillich's "The Courage to Be"

:P

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. You are quite the clown, aren't you?

I've been Tillich'ed to death lately on my required reading list. Hey, maybe I can read aloud to him and kill two birds with one boulder.

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. Why are you reading Tillich?

Are you in seminary?

I love Tillich's theology. It's too bad that Barth seems to have come out on top of the Big Four of the 20th century.

[Pacifist Patriot]

17. Seminary? Been there, done that.

This is actually re-reading. I am enrolled in the Humanist Institute. Which might sound strange to be reading the likes of Tillich...and Barth... but there you have it. Though I must say I prefer Pinn and Murry right now.

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. Cool - what seminary did you go to? Were you a pastor at all,

or went into a different field?

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. I think he would very much enjoy The Belgeriad and The Mallorean series by David Eddings.

Each is five books. Very good fantasy literature, well written, and a creatively done world. And accesible, I think, to an 11 year old, especially one who seems as well read as your son.

Lord of the Rings, of course.

He might also like the Rama series by Arthur C. Clarke; a wonderful book called "Pushing Ice" by Alistair Reynolds (science fiction, quite good); The Hitchhiker's Guide books.

Also short stories by Harlan Ellison.

The stories of HP Lovecraft, especially the Cthulhu stuff.

And another fantasy series that seems to be aimed at teenagers, "The Fire Within" bu Chris d'Lacey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fire_Within_%28novel%29

[demmiblue]

14. Lois Lowry...

"The Giver" and "Gathering Blue"!

These are wonderful, thought-provoking books. If you want a discussion... you will have one! They are companion books, but not in the sense that you think. They would provide a wonderful opportunity for your son to compare and contrast two works of literature.

:hi:

edit: spelling

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. The Giver it is. Consider it on the schedule!

[demmiblue]

22. FYI...

I read both books a while ago, however, I just recently reread "Gathering Blue." There was a interview with Lois Lowry at the end of the book, as well as discussion questions for readers.

I also recommend "Bud, Not Buddy." The book may not be as deep as you may want, but Bud is, to me, one of the greatest characters I have encountered in children's literature!

[Taverner]

19. "Butter Battle", "Lorax", and "Sneeches" all by Seuss

[Dr Fate]

20. I read "1984" when I was 11. It read like a sci-fi novel at that age.

That would be my rec.

[Pacifist Patriot]

21. Good point. I read that as a freshman in high school, but that means...

it would be equivalent to my son as an 8th grader. And he is probably a bit more of an advanced reader than I was. I bet he would get quite an education from it. Thanks!

[Withywindle]

34. Also, some classics by Ray Bradbury.

Don't know if I'd call him "progressive" per se, but you can't really go wrong with 'Fahrenheit 451' and 'Dandelion Wine.'

If he liked His Dark Materials, he should check out the Earthsea books by Ursula K. LeGuin and the Dark is Rising books by Susan Cooper.

I strongly second the Madeleine L'Engle recommendation.

[Richardo]

35. Excellent suggestion - Martian Chronicles and his short stories...

:thumbsup:

[VenusRising]

23. Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Swiss Family Robinson

The White Mountain Trilogy

The Homecoming

Z for Zachariah


Those are the books that I can remember reading for my gifted class in 5th/6th grade. We all read at much higher grade levels, so this list might help.

[grace0418]

24. I liked the Madeline L'Engle books when I was young. A Wrinkle in Time is one of them.

Don't remember exactly what age level they are at, but I enjoyed them. I also really loved Slaughterhouse Five (Kurt Vonnegut) but don't know if that would be appropriate for your son.

[riderinthestorm]

25. "Holes" by Louis Sachar or "The Thief" by Turner

"Watership Down" by Richard Adams. My daughter read "The Things they Carried" (forgot the author) when she was 12 and loved that - it's written by a pretty famous Vietnam vet who chronicles the items that the guys in his platoon carried during the war and it is fantastic but may be mature for your son's age. You might want to read that one first and then decide whether it's right for him yet.

Trying to think of "boy" books rather than girlie ones... heh!

[FloridaJudy]

26. The "Dark Materials" trilogy by Pullman

The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. Lots of good meaty issues in there to discuss.

[Pacifist Patriot]

27. He ripped through all three books in less than two weeks.

[FloridaJudy]

28. The kid has great taste

If he likes fantasy I recommend the "Dragonrider" series by Anne McCaffrey. Much better written than that Eragon nonsense, but much along the same lines (boy/girl adopts baby dragon, they grow up together and have many adventures). He's probably a bit too young for George RR Martin's "Song of Fire and Ice" series, which has lots of (non-graphic) sex and (very graphic) violence, but I bet by the time he's an adolescent he'll love it. I rather envy him: by the time he's old enough to read it, the last book should have been written, and he won't have to wait between installments. Since the books have a cast of hundreds, it's easy to forget who's who when it's been months or years since you've read the previous books.

Tolkien, of course, is the great granddaddy of fantasies, but the "Lord of the Rings" series is rather heavy going for a pre-adolescent. He'd probably enjoy The Hobbit, and save the others for middle/high school.

[fudge stripe cookays]

29. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

We read it in 7th grade and it is one of the few sci-fi type books I've ever read (tried to read) and liked.

It's post apocalyptic, of folks trying to survive after a nuclear holocaust.

[CreekDog]

30. Huck Finn

no wait ummmm. i'll get back to ya. :eyes:

[Pacifist Patriot]

33. He read that one two years ago.

[riderinthestorm]

31. Two more "boy" book recs from my 11 yr old daughter

1. Armegeddon Summer by Jane Yolen. It's a Ruby Ridge situation but portrayed from the kids' perspective. My daughter(s) likes pretty much anything by Jane Yolen who writes really well for this age group imho.

2. The Saint of Dragons by Jason Hightman. It's basically about BFEE and other transnationals who work above country loyalties towards greed and avarice and malice. The story is told from the perspective of a boy and his father who fight the dragons. I'll just post a bit from the intro:

"Dragons are real. And they have evolved. They exist in the world and are every bit as evil as they ever were. It is only their appearance that has changed....they are secretly responsible for most of the worst fires you hear about, using their wicked magic for no reason, burning buildings for sport.

"They live hidden away in luxurious apartments in New York, London, or Paris, underground in Beijing, or in the sands of Egypt, in boats anchored in Venice or Tokyo, or inside water caves in Africa or South America. They back organized crime, military dictatorships, and cruel multinational corporations...'"

"To make matters worse, they have the ability to cloud people's minds so that they don't see them in their true form."

[lightningandsnow]

32. "The Twinkie Squad" by Gordon Korman

It was my favorite book from the time I was 7 or 8 years old, until my junior high years. And I still read it occasionally.

It's an easy read, but it's a fun book with a great message.

[Lorien]

36. The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander

The female character Eilonwy (sp?) is every bit as strong as the male characters.

[Arugula Latte]

37. How about "Farenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

Huck Finn should also start some conversations.

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. He read Huck Finn a couple of years ago. Bradbury is an excellent suggestion!

Thanks

[GoddessOfGuinness]

39. My almost-10 year old has started reading Animal Farm.

He's really enjoying reading and discussing it with me.

[dembotoz]

41. the harry potter books

then remind him that some folks claim they are sinful.