Book(s) for a 9 1/2 Year Old Boy

Diary of A wimpy Kid are really popoular - my 9 1/2 year old loves them. He is a slower reader and since they are in comic fashion it makes it enjoyable.

You know, there is always the Harry Potter series. There is an underlying concept of good vs evil and the push to do what is right. They are easy to read, and I think 9 1/2 might be a good age to start. It might also be a good treat to allow him to watch the movie after reading the book. If he's having trouble, it will give him something to look forward to. I don't know if they're still around, but I absolutely loved the Encyclopedia Brown books when I was a kid. They are mysteries that a kid can help solve. I hope that helps! Good luck!

When I was 9 I loved the Narnia books - and their positive and uplifting message may be just what this boy needs.

Hi Cathy,
I don't know if this is an appropriate suggestion under the circumstances, but my 7 year old son is totally into Star Wars (as is my 9 year old neighbor boy), which is all about good vs evil. I picked up some level 2 and 3 beginning reader books from Borders for my son which helped him become more interested in reading. We've also watched some of the movies together and we've had good conversations about them afterward.

Best wishes in this part of your (and his!) journey.

check out diary of a wimpy kid... they are so much fun.. both my kids loved them. my son read it in 5th and my daughter in 3rd... they are a small series.. i think just 3 books.. and book one is funny and comical.. check it out.. he'll love it..

Hi C.,
My son finished 4th grade in June, and I spent last school year working in a 4th grade collaborative classroom. A lot of the boys enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, A to Z Mysteries series, if he has a lower reading level, perhaps the Magic Treehouse series.
good luck!

Hi C.~
I can tell by what you wrote about this little boy that you are amazing! What a gift you are giving this child and how lucky is he?! I would love to talk to you about coming on my show. This is a subject matter that needs attention!

This list below is from About.com Many of the authors are well known from conventional books they've written.

Good luck!
Best~
M.

Ages 6 to 10

* Arthur's April Fool; by Marc Brown; Little, Brown & Co., 1990
* Blue Cheese Breath and Stinky Feet: How to Deal With Bullies; by Catherine DePino and Bonnie Matthews; Magination Press, 2004
* Bullying; by Bruce Sanders: Stargazer Books, 2006
* Bullying: How To Deal With Taunting, Teasing, And Tormenting; by Kathleen Winkler: Enslow Publishers, 2005
* Dealing with Bullying; by Pete Sanders; Stargazer Books, 2007
* Don't Feed the Monster on Tuesday; by Adolph Moser; Landmark Editions, 1991
* Don't Sit on My Lunch!; by Abby Klein and John McKinley; New York Blue Sky Press, 2005
* Talking About Bullying; by Jullian Powell; Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999
* Trouble for Trudy; by Teddy Slater; Scholastic Inc., 2007
* Why Do People Bully?; by Adam Hibbert; Raintree, 2005

Ages 9 to 12

* Blubber; by Judy Blume; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
* Bullies are a Pain in the Brain; by Trevor Romain; Free Spirit Pub, 1997
* Do Not Call Me Ishmael; by Michael Bauer; Greenwillow Books, 2007
* Freak the Mighty; by Rodman Pilbrick; Scholastic, 2001
* How To Handle Bullies, Teasers and Other Meanies: A Book That Takes the Nuisance Out of Name Calling and Other Nonsense; by Kate Cohen-Posey; Rainbow Books, Inc, 1995
* Simon's Hook: A Story About Teases and Put-Downs; by Karen Burnett; GR Publishing, 2000
* Stick Up For Yourself; by Gershen Kaufman and Lev Raphael; Free Spirit Publishing, 1998
* The Araboolies of Liberty Street; by Sam Swope; Sunburst, 2001
* When Kids Drive Kids Crazy: How to Get Along With Your Friends and Enemies; by Eda LeShan; Dial Books for Young Readers, 1990
* Why is Everybody Always Picking On Me?: A Guide to Understanding Bullies For Young People; by Terrence Webster-Doyle, Rod Cameron (illustrator); Atrium Society, 1991

Young Adult

* Bullies to Buddies: How to Turn Your Enemies Into Friends; by Izzy Kalman; Wisdom Pages, 2005
* The Chocolate War; by Robert Cormier; Laurel Leaf, 1999
* Ironman; by Chris Crutcher; Greenwillow, Laurel Leaf, 1996
* Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along; by Naomi Drew; Free Spirit Publishing, 2004

Books for Adults

* And Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence; by James Garbarino; Free Press, 2002
* Bullying: Practical and Easy-to-Follow Advice; by Jenny Alexander; Penguin USA, 1998
* Bullyproof Your Child : Expert Advice On Teaching Children To Defend Themselves; Keith Vitali; Skyhorse Publishing, 2007
* Easing the Teasing: A Parent's Guide to Helping Children Deal with Name-Calling, Ridicule and Verbal Bullying; by Judy Freedman; Contemporary Books, 2002
* Mom, They're Teasing me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems; by Michael Thompson; Ballantine Books, 2002
* "Words Will Never Hurt Me": Helping Kids Handle Teasing, Bullying and Putdowns; by Sally Ogden: Elton-Wolf, 2001

Other Resources

Department of Health and Human Services
Online bullying courses and information
http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/bully/bully_fs_parents.htm

National Resource Center for Safe Schools (NRCSS)
101 SW Main, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97204
1-800-268-2275 or ###-###-####
###-###-####

Good Morning C., I would try Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne. My daughter who's 7 year old love these book because it like she goes on adventures. He my like that. Good Luck!

C.,

I read many responses, I am a mom with a very reluctant reader (he will tell you he hates to read!) however he loves, Nate the Great series. If this boy is having a hard time reading this would be perfect for him, some of the books that were recommended would be hard for him, and then turn him off to reading, ie Harry Potter, Narina, even Magic Tree house gets to be the same after awhile. But Nate the Great are detective stories, that even I have to think about to figure out "who did it" they are fun. The Diary of the Whimpy Kid is also a good series. Good Luck.

Best of luck! We love the Junie B Jones series. It is based on a girl but she is not really that girly. You may want to try easing him into books by doing some of the books on cd first. The actress who reads the Junie B Jones books is great. She really makes you want to hear more. There are some other mystery type series that are good too. Like Cam Jansen & Jigsaw Jones. You may want to check with your Children's Librarian.

Diary of a Whimpy kid series are great for his age. I am sorry but I can't get past the Grand Theft Auto video games for his age. My son who is now 24 played them when he was around 18 and I thought they were disgusting. If he already lives in a violent environment these types of videos are the last thing he needs which I know you realize. I work with children as well in a different capacity (I own a preschool) I can only imagine how challenging your job must be trying to help children with such dysfunction in their lives. I only come across it once in a while and it is heartbreaking. I take my hat off to you for the great work that you do you are obviously a very special person.

Hi C.. Before I decided to stay home, I was an elementary school librarian. I've seen that, sometimes books can connect with kids like nothing else can. Check out www.guysread.com for some great ideas and good luck--what an opportunity for both of you!

Hi C., I have a 10 year old boy who is a reluctant reader but the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are some he's actually read on his own. I've also had him read My Side of the Mountain, My Teacher is an Alien, The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, A Wrinkle in Time. You might want to try Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down. It's a series of short stories, so they are a quick read. Good Luck!

I'm not sure if this will help or not - though here is a listing of books that my nephew (same age as your boy) had to read for school.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Cricket in Times Square(Chester Cricket and His Friends) by George Selden and Garth Williams

Abe Lincoln Crosses A Creek by Deborah Hopkinson

Gully’s Travels by Tor Seidler

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

A View from Saturday by El, Konigsburg

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

Maniac Maggie by Jerry Spinella

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Mauggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff

Notes From a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Sachar

Stuart Little by E. B. White

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blump

The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

maybe one of these books will spark some interest?

My nephew does also enjoy the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books as well.

Good luck!

My friend just ordered a series of books called Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney for her nephew and niece. They are in 2nd and 3rd grade and in a similar situation. Hope this helps you.

C. - I think you are doing a wonderful job! Keep up the good work - more people like you are needed. My daughters who are now 16 and 13 loved the Magic Tree House books when they were younger. They also, have a lot of history in them and it will keep his interest Also they are not too difficult to read - I really think your new friend would enjoy them. Best of luck! A.

Hi C.,

My little cousin loved the Animorphs series, which is about a group of kids who can morph into different animals. There's also the Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, which is about an incredibly intelligent young man who gets into criminal trouble with various mythical creatures. You could also start him on Harry Potter as the earlier books are too terribly long.

Good luck!

There is a great catalog called Chinaberry that has a huge selection of kids books with terrific reviews. They have a website and, since they are a small company, I bet they would answer any email that you send to them. Good Luck and God Bless you for helping this young man!

D.

The Hank Zipser/Zipzer series by Henry Winkler would be a great start. I used to teach fourth grade and they loved the books. It's easy reading and very funny. The chapters are extremely short. The Magic Tree House series was also a big hit and not difficult. They're mysteries which the kids enjoyed. A bit meatier than the other series I mentioned.

One more...There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom. I think it's by Louis Sachar. It's also funny but deals with the subject of bullying. It's about a boy who is hated by everyone and is a bully. At the end he learns how to make friends and be kind to other. Again, my fourth graders loved it as a read aloud book.

I would recommend that you check out the book store near your home. They have some wonderful books on Bullying and they may help your charge to understand it is not acceptable. With regard to other books the book section for pre teen would be great to provide him with outdoor adventure stories young male adventures and perhaps something of friendship. I wish you the best and at 61 you should be very proud of your continued dedication to helping children improve their life. Warm regards,

Take a look at Where the Red Fern Grows. Both my boys loved that book around that age.

P.S. I meant to mention also the movie "How to Eat Fried Worms," which involves bullying. (I haven't read the book, but it's evidently quite different, without the bullying theme.) Anyway, it turns out that the main bully in the movie is bullied by his older brother, so it might be useful for your situation. And that aside, the movie is fun!

Dear C.,

I have to say, my boys (now 13 and 15) really loved the Captain Underpants books. They're a bit gross, but I think that's why they appeal to boys! Also, there are lots of drawings, so the reading part isn't too heavy going. You should also take a look at the Goosebumps series--mild horror stories, so they also have that appeal of the semi-subversive.

Since his reading isn't too strong, I would certainly read aloud to him as well. It's a good way of letting him enjoy literature that he couldn't read comfortably on his own. (The Harry Potter books are probably in this category right now.) A great book, with lots of recommendations, is "The Read-Aloud Handbook," by Jim Trelease. One book my younger son and I loved is "Hoot," by Carl Hiaasen. It's about a boy who rides his bike everywhere, and ends up saving the day for some endangered owls. Also a little subversive, but in a good way. Hiaasen's web site (www.carlhiaasen.com) describes it thus: "Three middle schoolers take on greedy land developers, corrupt politicians, and clueless cops in this mystery adventure." We also liked Hiaasen's "Flush," and I see he has a new one, "Scat."

My older son also really enjoyed "The Dangerous Book for Boys," "The American Boy's Handy Book," and field guides to insects, reptiles and amphibians, etc.

Good luck with it!

M.