Need book recs for an 8 year old girl and 11 year old boy

[redjo]

You guys did such a great job the last time I asked for kids' books recommendations that I'm still working off that last list. But I need recs for both my niece and nephew this time so I thought I'd ask again. I'm browsing Amazon's age ranges and there's so many titles I don't recognize. Hell, I want to buy them for *myself

Comments

[mpacket]

for the 8 year old girl - we really love the Clementine books.
for the 11 year old boy: Hotel Under The Sand by Kage Baker

=)

[redjo]

Great recs, thanks. :)

[dancingwolfgrrl]

11-year-old: Cricket in Times Square, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Louis Sachar's Holes, The Phantom Tollbooth

8-year-old: hm. Are they old enough to read the Encyclopedia Brown series? I also had an absolutely freakish obsession with the All of a Kind Family books at that age.

[redjo]

They're both pretty advanced readers, I bought Dylan three of your four recs last year. :) The only one missing is Holes, so I'll look that up on Amazon.

I bet she *would* like Encylopedia Brown, I'll check with her parents about whether or not she's into *any* series books.

[dancingwolfgrrl]

Did I recommend them last year, too? I bet I did :)

I also recently liked Bud, Not Buddy for the bigger kid, although it's a little heavier hitting and very American-history focused. If he doesn't mind books about plucky girls, he might be old enough for Terry Prachett's Wee Free Men or Tamora Pierce's Terrier. Or Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants!

Nate the Great is the younger version of Encyclopedia Brown.

[redjo]

I think you did. :) Ooh, Terry Pratchett, that's a good possibility. I wonder if he's too young for Good Omens? Probably. I was looking at Tamora Pierce, and sent a query off to his parents as to whether he's okay with heroines. :)

[dreams_of_wings]

for the 11-year-old, I just reread Lloyd Alexander's Westmark trilogy -- Westmark, the kestrel, and the beggar Queen. They totally blew my mind right at that age. You might also like the House of the scorpion, by Nancy Farmer.
For the eight-year-old, I recommend the Chronicles of chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones, or the enchanted Forest series, by Patricia C. Wrede. Oh, and following up on the Encyclopedia Brown recommendations, what about the great brain books?

[redjo]

I am TOTALLY getting her Dealing with Dragons! I think the Great Brain books look a bit young, she's quite a mature reader for her age.

[candle_light]

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. Greek demigod children having adventures, set in the modern day. Percy Jackson also has ADD. It's a wonderful series and my kids have loved them.

[catya]

Yep, those!

For the younger one, the warriors books?

[redjo]

I saw those on Amazon. You think they're too young for the 11-year-old?

[redjo]

Bought those for the nephew last year, and he *loved* them. I'm looking for more series like that. :)