I asked 8, 9, and 10 year-old boys to name the best books they’ve read lately. They said they love these books and think other kids would definitely like to read them, too. I bet there are at least a few on this list that will hook any 8-10 year old in your life. Don’t worry about the quality of the literature … just get them reading. We know that the more they read, the better they get at it. Notice that many of the choices are series books, so you can keep feeding their addiction. And if these books are too hard for your child to read independently with ease, get the audio book!
Andrew
8 years old
Clearwater, Florida
My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Caeden
8 years old
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Bad Guys (series) by Aaron Blabey
Dog Man (series) by Dav Pilkey
Colton
8 years old
Greenville, North Carolina
The Library of Doom (series) by Michael Dahl
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) by Jeff Kinney
Jimmie
8 years old
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) by Jeff Kinney
Spiderman: Attack of the Heroes by Rich Thomas Junior
Cason
9 years old
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
Little Shaq (series) by Shaquille O’Neal
Carter
9 years old
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Star Wars Jedi Academy (series) by Jeffrey Brown
Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
Cian (Aidan’s twin brother)
10 years old
Wilson, North Carolina
The Mysterious Benedict Society (series) by Trenton Lee Stewart
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Aidan (Cian’s twin brother)
10 years old
Wilson, North Carolina
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
Champ by Marcia Thorton Jones Lupica
Jackson
10 years old
Alnmouth, England
Wings of Fire (series) by Tui T. Sutherland
Young James Bond (series) by Charlie Hilgson
Henry
10 years old
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Percy Jackson (Series) by Rick Riordan
Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
More Resources:
http://www.boysread.org/books.html
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/boys-and-books
Reaching Struggling Male Readers
Selecting Books for Upper Elementary Kids
Contact:
Elizabeth Swaggerty
Reading Education Professor at East Carolina University