11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi, I just wondered if other parents could recommend some good authors, we read lots but always on the lookout for new ideas. I have a year 3 boy who likes Rick Riordan, Lemony Snicket, Harry Potter series etc, as well as the Famous Five at the moment, and a year 1 girl who likes awful books, such as the rainbow fairies collection *sigh*. I feel like we're in a bit of a rut (especially with my daughter's reading choices) and would welcome suggestions to add a bit of variety to our reading! I am hoping my son will sit the 11 plus in a few years, so any recommendations for authors or books that would both interest and challenge him would be great!

Thanks in advance

There are a few other threads like this. I'll see if I can find some & link them.

Thanks, I did search but maybe not well enough!

My list would be
any thing by Eva Ibbotsen - she wrote some lovely books for younger and older children, Ali Sparkes, Angie Sage- Septimus heap series are great for an adult to read to children I loved them, Elizabeth Laird (my son really enjoyed Crusade) Paul Stewart and Chris Ridell - far flung adventures & Muddle earth & Chris Ridell - Ottoline series
DD loved horrible histories from about age 6 and was still reading them at 11 so they were good value
Secret Series by Psuedonomous Bosch and Mysterious benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Found one eventually by looking through my old posts. There may be others too.

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 38&t=15647" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anthony Horowitz - Alex Rider series, and the Diamond Brothers for example are good for boys about that age. I only have boys though - so can't help too much with things which will appeal to girls.

My daughter too loves Anthony Horowitz.

Roman Mysteries

Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries series might be something you could try perhaps? And then if they like the Roman theme move on to the slightly more challenging Rosemary Sutcliff books on Roman Britain - The Eagle of the Ninth, The Lantern Bearers and Sword at Sunset.

A few more old threads on similar subjects:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... f=5&t=7629" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... =38&t=7110" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... =18&t=2789" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... ?f=1&t=437" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... f=1&t=8860" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I feel for you regarding those dreadful fairy books. Dd2 spent the entire year 1 devouring them. There are loads and they seem to have no plot. I was glad when she moved to Jacqueline Wilson only to become dismayed that she wouldn't read anything else. In year 5 she moved on to a variety of authors, thank goodness - but when she isn't feeling well, I notice she goes back to Jacqueline Wilson.

But those fairy books - they're awful