Fantasy Recs for 11-y.o. boy?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Sorry, feel compelled to ask: why? What did you think was disturbing? boycott? For content, or..?

The "Golden Compass" books are as much from an atheist worldview as the Narnia books are a Christian one. Not to mention the numerous references to sex and love affairs. (Although, granted, mostly in the last book.)

[dickloraine]

"The letter for the King" by Tonke Dragt was one of my childhood favorites. It is not classic fantasy but more a medieval setting but not in our world.
If he hasn't read it, the hobbit could be nice. In one or two years he maybe wants to read the lord of the rings anyway (which could be appropriate right now too.)

[dickloraine]

Argh, you asked just for series. So here a series: The Dragonlance books. I loved them as a teen, now I don't understand that anymore. But they are easy to read, very light novels. And there are many many books in the series.

[drofgnal]

Aside from what's been mentioned, I'd recommend the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull.

[meeera]

Can't believe I forgot to rec the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix.

[Pablo]

My eleven year old son, a fan of Rick Riordan, also enjoyed:

The Vampirates series, by Justin Somper (site)

The Books of beginning series by John Stephens (site)

[Barcey]

If he likes the Percy Jackson series you might want to try John Flanagan's Rangers Apprentice series. I understand that he wrote them originally for his son. They aren't magical fantasy but more heroic fantasy.

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I'd mentioned, perhaps in the other thread, that I'd asked the parents if he'd read Narnia. At 11, he's possibly now too old for them--I seem to recall reading them when I was 8-9, but if he hasn't, I might buy them for him. And yes, the same is my question about Wrinkle in Time--there seems to be a general consensus that this is also aimed at 8-9 y.o.'s, isn't it?

Given that I've only read the first of the Narnia books and my kids started reading the series around 10 or 11 and then were still reading them in their teens, I don't think they're too young for him. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe you've got 4 children entering Narnia. The kids are 13, 12, 10, and 8 when the book begins -- so your friend's son will be reading about kids his age and several years older.

And I think I'd say the same thing about Wrinkle in Time. While the story can be enjoyed by a younger kid (8-10 years old), it's not too young for a tween. In fact, in the first book, Meg Murry is a high-schooler and by the time of A Swiftly Tilting Planet, the youngest (Charles Wallace) is 15 years old.

One thought is that reading these books as a tween, it's all about the adventure. Re-reading as a teen or even adult, one gets more of the philosophical message.

... and I'm still thinking about how to describe the creepiness I felt with the Golden Compass books.

[burnafterreading]

when i was around that age - or a bit older - i read and thoroughly enjoyed:

Terry Brooks - Shannara (original trilogy) & Kingdom Of Landover series
Forgotten Realms - a bunch of them, usually trilogies, i think i read 2-4 sets

[Hitch]

There's too many of you guys to really multi-quote without utterly driving Wolfie nuts (apparently, multi-quoting screws up the thread view, or something), but thanks to you all.

@Paul: thanks. So, it wouldn't faze me, but it might faze his parents, thanks.
@Dickloraine: I vaguely recall reading some Dragonlances when I was reviewing for Sphere. That sounds like a good idea, too.
@meera: OMG, of course.
@Pablo: thanks, those sound like EXCELLENT books for him!
@Barcey: I don't think "magic" is a requirement; I think that it's simply the heroic quest part, if I read him right. Hell, I'm such an old reprobate I'd give him Dune, if I thought I could get away with it (for younger readers, it's all Hero's Journey, really; people don't start to read beneath the layers on that book until their 3rd, 4th or 5th reading and a few years on them). I think those sound excellent.
@HampshireNanny: thanks for the in-depth thoughts. I think both sound like good places to start. I can assess his reading level better as I go.
@Burnafterreading: lol, Brooks is already in my plan for that very series, thinking that in 2 years, it could lead into LOTR. And I think Forgotten Realms, coupled with all the other suggestions I got here and on the other thread, would be excellent.

Thank you all. Thanks much for the insight as much as the suggestions.

Hitch

[Nyssa]

The Rick Riordan series is called Percy Jackson and the Olympians . If he enjoyed those he will most likely enjoy the other Riordan series as well. In fact there is a spin off to Percy Jackson called The Heroes of Olympus (link takes you to the series page on GoodReads).

I also highly suggest the series NERDS!(NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society)
My children (especially both boys - eldest started at age 9 when the first one came out, youngest is now 11 and has read 3 of them back to back) and I enjoy it.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

The Rick Riordan series is called Percy Jackson and the Olympians . If he enjoyed those he will most likely enjoy the other Riordan series as well. In fact there is a spin off to Percy Jackson called The Heroes of Olympus (link takes you to the series page on GoodReads).

I also highly suggest the series NERDS!(NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society)
My children (especially both boys - eldest started at age 9 when the first one came out, youngest is now 11 and has read 3 of them back to back) and I enjoy it.

I think he's actually reading Heroes of Olympus right now. I think (I'm a dreadful great-aunt) that that's the book (in the series)I got him for Xmas. (That explains why I got a bit confused when I saw another "book 5" or something like that, on Amazon--I conflated the two series as all being Percy yadda.) I didn't know that he was such a voracious reader until I saw him over the holiday; his folks aren't. Nor is his sister. Such a lovely surprise!

I thank you for the NERDS; I hadn't heard of those, and they sound like a hoot. I shall investigate and seek parental approval thereof.

Hitch

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I think he's actually reading Heroes of Olympus right now. I think (I'm a dreadful great-aunt) that that's the book (in the series)I got him for Xmas. (That explains why I got a bit confused when I saw another "book 5" or something like that, on Amazon--I conflated the two series as all being Percy yadda.) I didn't know that he was such a voracious reader until I saw him over the holiday; his folks aren't. Nor is his sister. Such a lovely surprise!

I thank you for the NERDS; I hadn't heard of those, and they sound like a hoot. I shall investigate and seek parental approval thereof.

Hitch

Glad to help.

It is fantastic that he loves to read!! This is especially true seeing how its not "practiced" much within his immediate family. You are being an awesome great-aunt, IMO, by supporting his love of reading.

There is nothing overtly negative in NERDS. There is "mild" violence, mostly towards the end of the books, as the the issues near resolution.

I hope they make it to the approved list, it really is a fun series!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Glad to help.

It is fantastic that he loves to read!! This is especially true seeing how its not "practiced" much within his immediate family. You are being an awesome great-aunt, IMO, by supporting his love of reading.

There is nothing overtly negative in NERDS. There is "mild" violence, mostly towards the end of the books, as the the issues near resolution.

I hope they make it to the approved list, it really is a fun series!

Nyssa:

I'm sure that they will. I checked them out, and don't see anything worrisome. PLUS, I mentioned to the parents that "Compass" mightn't suit them, so now I seem trustworthy. (MwAHAHAHAHAHA...)

Yes, it IS awesome. I was dead pleased. My husband is the big reader in that family, albeit all non-fiction, but voracious nonetheless. I'm omnivorous--pretty much everything, although without other plot elements, romances don't really fly for me. I'm a big devourer of fic and non-fic alike. I'm delighted to spend a few pennies buying him books. It's NOTHING, really, when you think how it will enrich his life. My folks were big readers, and fed my reading habit throughout my childhood, no matter what. BEST thing that they ever did for me. (Although, whew!, me finding and reading that Harold Robbins book when I was 12-13 was probably a bit much...but they didn't know I'd seen it...)

Hitch

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Nyssa:

I'm sure that they will. I checked them out, and don't see anything worrisome. PLUS, I mentioned to the parents that "Compass" mightn't suit them, so now I seem trustworthy. (MwAHAHAHAHAHA...)

Yes, it IS awesome. I was dead pleased. My husband is the big reader in that family, albeit all non-fiction, but voracious nonetheless. I'm omnivorous--pretty much everything, although without other plot elements, romances don't really fly for me. I'm a big devourer of fic and non-fic alike. I'm delighted to spend a few pennies buying him books. It's NOTHING, really, when you think how it will enrich his life. My folks were big readers, and fed my reading habit throughout my childhood, no matter what. BEST thing that they ever did for me. (Although, whew!, me finding and reading that Harold Robbins book when I was 12-13 was probably a bit much...but they didn't know I'd seen it...)

Hitch

LOL - I had a similar experience, at around the same age, with Robbins while staying with one of my Aunts.

I try to be omnivorous but am definitely a Speculative Fiction fan - my main love being Fantasy. Romance tends to be hit-or-miss with me (usually miss) and I don't really read much in the way of Nonfiction.

We too take great pride in supporting the love of reading with our children and the children in our extended family. They all receive book related gift cards every Christmas and on birthdays, even though (for our children) we purchase books regularly throughout the year.

As to additional recommendations:
My 11 year old son really liked the Maze Runner series, however he warns that it is quite violent, in the fact that there are many deaths (and one or two of those scenses are gruesome).

Both that son and his twin sister are enjoying the Middle School series; they've read the first 4. It is realistic fiction, however, instead of fantasy.