Book Recommendations

[Peggy Lane]

Hobocamp, Lana Turner's daughter wrote a book dealing with why she killed Lana's boyfriend, as well as a general look at Hollywood in the 1950s. It's a fabulous book and tres soapy.

[Margo]

This belongs in the Gift Suggestion thread in spirit, but the theme fits this thread perfectly. But no worries, if I don't feel like I've gotten enough attention, I'll post it in that thread as well ;D

I need to buy gifts for my mother's friend's twin nine-year-old daughters. We ganged up on her and squeezed out information about the girls' tastes - one is getting painting supplies and books, but the other needs "fantasy books", like Harry Potter but for younger kids. Now, I think Harry Potter is not too "adult" for nine-year-olds, and both girls are freaking smart, so I think what she means is "lighter in tone".

I love dark stories (in all media), so woefully inappropriate things come to mind: The Golden Compass books, Narnia (again, too serious, and with too many religious underpinnings), and A Series of Unfortunate Events - I haven't read that one, maybe it is light.

So what would you guys recommend as a fantasy series for a pre-teen that's light in tone? I've met those girls - they're very mature for their age, so the books shouldn't be for younger kids. I've thought about Dragonriders of Pern, but also haven't read it, so all I know is the title and that it's fairly popular. Anything else?

[Deleted]

Do they like older books, Margo? Because Five Children and It by E. Nesbit and its sequels - The Carpet and the Phoenix and The Story of the Amulet are pretty great, and they don't get too dark. They're about a hundred years old, though. Four kids first meet a "sand fairy" who grants wishes (and is extremely cranky), then the Phoenix and a magic carpet, then an amulet that takes them through time. Some of their opinions are a bit dated, but nothing like as bad as, say, The Famous Five, despite being fifty years older. Edith Nesbit was pretty progressive.

I'd also really recommend any of Terry Pratchett's kids' books - the Bromeliad (Truckers, Diggers and Wings), and the Tiffany Aching books from Discworld (The Wee Free Men, A Hatful of Sky and Wintersmith). They get a bit dark in places, I suppose, depending on how you judge these things, but Tiffany is only nine in the first one, and she's an awesome character, very brave and resourceful. Great stuff for young girls.

[Carolinian]

Margo, There was a Tomato Nation vine on that very topic recently, you may be able to cull some ideas from the readers' comments.

I had a similar conversation with the parents of a precocious 8 year old. I suggested the Edgar Eager "Half Magic" series (which he'd read), The Borrowers series by Mary Norton, and Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web by EB White. (The last two aren't a series but they are wonderful books.)

[Margo]

I have talked to the girls' mom myself and cleared things up. It turns out that they refuse to read Harry Potter because everyone else does. So it's the opposite of what I thought. The girl who likes books has read and loved everything (or almost everything) by Tamora Pierce, so this gives me much more to go on. In light of that, The Golden Compass seems more appropriate. I'll go reread the Tomato Nation vine (thanks - it has excellent recommendations) with that in mind, and keep looking through Amazon lists. But if anyone has any more suggestions, feel free to throw them at me

[Deleted]

Ahh, gotcha. Well, I would strongly recommend Terry Pratchett's kids' books, in that case, including The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. Plus even the adult Pratchett books are pretty easy to understand at all levels, though very literate and clever, and his kids' books are a good intro to that world.

Additionally, Coraline by Neil Gaiman is great. The Artemis Fowl books are very entertaining. And The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper is wonderful. And she might like Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, which is a sort of swords-and-sorcery fantasy aimed at younger readers. And the book (NOT the film) of Ella Enchanted is good fun. Mr Erinnyes recommends the Abarat books by Clive Barker, but I haven't read them myself yet, so can't say for sure.

Hope that helps, Margo.

[chiquita]

I'll second the vote for the Artemis Fowl series. Adventure & humor; what's not to like?

[Deleted]

Lena Anthem, I'm thirty one and I read YA fantasy. I plan to be forty, and fifty five, and eighty three and reading YA fantasy. The hell with age labels, I say! A good book is a good book.

[livviebway]

I'm looking for a book recommendation. I'm going to China this summer for a family vacation and I'm looking for a good book I can read as an introduction to Chinese history and culture. I actually love non-fiction (history geek here), but the less dry the better, please. Any recommendations?

[Deleted]

Amy Tan, maybe? Though her books are fiction.

Margo, the 9 year olds might really like Diana Wynne Jones.