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I asked my 8 1/2 year old brother what he wants for Christmas, and he told me "a big, long book". He has been reading stuff like the Hardy Boys a lot (which he can get easily at the library), but he goes through them so quickly...about one a day. I can't think of any longer books that would still be at his reading level. Any suggestions?
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Redwall is really good I have read all of them and enjoyed them all. start from the beginning though.
Posts: 30 | Registered: Nov 2007
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I loved the "My Teacher is an Alien" series, has he read those? That was my littlest brothers favorite at about 8 or 9 as well. Narnia is another good selection, if his reading level is up to it. The language in Narnia is brittish, and just a tad antiquated.
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If he's whipping through Hardy Boys at a rate of one-a-day, I'd support giving him a challenge like a Narnia. He's obviously a rather good reader who could really use and enjoy something to stretch his brain.
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The Cat Who Wished to be a Man by Lloyd Alexander. There is a paperback that collects five of Daniel Pinkwater's books together, including the Snark Out Boys and the Avacado of Death. It is FANTASTIC. The first several Oz books are pretty great, too.
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If he really wants a big, long one give him Don Quixote. Something to strive for. :-D
Do you know what reading level he is actually at? The reason I ask, rather than just saying Hardy Boys, is because he may very well be far beyond Hardy Boys in actual reading ability, he just hasn't had the opportunity.
Of course... as the others said: REDWALL!
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I wouldn't worry about reading level. I mean, don't get him A Tale of Two Cities or anything, but think more of what kind of book he likes (and that he wants a big long one) rather than what you think he can read.
Even if he can't get through it now, it can be a great incentive for him to expand his vocabulary, etc. I know I was given a few books above my level as a kid and knowing they were on my shelf just waiting to be read definetely sped my way there and opened numerous doors in terms of literature.
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Yeah, interesting story that actually came up today during thanksgiving dinner.
When I was in whatever grade it is that we were supposed to be learning to read (I honestly can't remember) I was behind. Far far behind. So far behind that I qualified for a private state funded tutor 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.
Eventually something clicked and I started to be able to read. Then my mom bought me The Hobbit (and the rest of LOTR) for Hannukah because I was so excited about being able to read. I worked hard and was able to read and understand the words soon enough, and by the time I was in 3rd grade I was reading at "a 12th grade reading level" whatever that means. My point is that with reading "level" doesn't really matter, and that if you can read one thing if you work harder then you can read anything else. It is just the complexity of the ideas, not the words, that pose challenges.
I know I said Don Quixote jokingly, but maybe it isn't such a bad idea. Probably would get a few laughs out of him.
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Somewhere between third and 5th grade (I think closer to 5th grade) I read Brave New World and the LOTR series(which i mean to re-read... still). and I strongly dislike it when people scoff at me and say chidingly, now how much could you have possibly gotten from those at that age. (This was posted because it goes along the theme of, push the reading level, try something challenging). I think when i was around 2nd or 3rd grade i would stay up reading for 4 hours of so every night (until 2 am) and read entire goosebumps books in a sitting, then wake up with plenty of rest for school the next morning. Those were good times.
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Wow, thanks for all the suggestions! We've already done LotR, Narnia, Wrinkle in Time books, and Eragon as read-alouds. And I just learned earlier today that they read Redwall, too. (After I went and bought it, of course.)
So I just went to B&N today and browsed the "young adult" section, looking for stuff I thought he'd like. I ended up choosing Fire Within...it's part of a dragon trilogy, and it's looks like something he'd be able to read. Seeing all those fantasy books reminded me how much I miss reading at school. :-/
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