And they say young people's literacy is sliding...

[brixtonbrood]

Guardian Children's Books section has a list of top ten alternate histories in children's books here

It includes such kidslit classics as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Man in the High Castle, Watchmen and The Difference Engine. I'm suddenly feeling a lot less smug about my Smalls' reading record.

Comments

[smallbeasts]

Now there's a summer reading challenge for the kids. That must be worth a good handful of scratch & sniff stickers from the library. They can tackle Cloud Atlas over Christmas.

[nojay]

Does that mean "The Man in the High Castle" was the first YA Hugo winner (in an alternate universe, of course)?

[celestialweasel]

Maybe I am out of touch but I think The Difference Engine has rather more fairly explicit description of sex with prostitutes than I would expect in a children's book.
(also the hardback I had of it had the most acidic paper in a hardback I have ever bought new)

[brixtonbrood]

Yes, the "OMG is she actually offering to do that!! I thought that was only a thing invented in naughty French novels!" scene was the one which leapt to my mind as well.

[celestialweasel]

Also 'this groundbreaking graphic novel helped launch geek culture:' WTF?