Things that sprung to mind (probably too old, but to consider):
The Tripods trilogy by John Christopher.
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
I had initially thought of Mercedes Lackey’s Magic’s Pawn series, but those are definitely for older teens. (Male protagonist, 15 in first book, learns to fight and be a hero and also comes to terms with his homosexuality. The series deals with lots of issues of ethics, sexuality, etc. Also has a pretty nasty rape scene in the third book. )
Seconding Phantom Tollbooth! I think Dark is Rising is a little old for the OP’s kid, yes.
I adore Chris Crutcher, and I have read basically everything the guy has ever written, but I do think they’re for slightly older kids. Most of his protagonists are teenagers and are dealing with real-life problems such as abuse (or abuse of a loved one), first love, addiction, things like that. I seem to remember at least one of the protagonists in Athletic Shorts being emotionally abused by his dad, though it’s been a long time since I’ve read it. So unless the OP’s kid is in that kind of situation, I’d advise against it for now.
That being said, I highly highly recommend his books for middle school/high school readers, especially my favorite, Stotan!
Yes, he did, though I think he took great liberties (if you read Fitzgerald’s adult quasi-memoir-novels, Papa Married a Mormon and at least one more whose name I forget, you’ll see a lot of differences – for example, there is a sister who never shows up in the Great Brain books, and nowhere is it mentioned in the GB books that the mom is Mormon; in fact I think it may be explicitly stated that she is Catholic like her husband).
oh, well, ignorance defeated then, never really got that far with the Fitzgerald, (always wanted to be that kid though), again this one is kind of dated but definately scifi “the enormous egg” by oliver butterworth (curse this faulty babbage machine, didn’t think of this one till just now)
If you’ve read them all and are looking for Tintin substitutes, how about the Asterix books? Same format but set in an unconquered part of Gaul 2000 years ago. Great fun as they continually manage to outsmart the nasty Romans!
Or Truckdogs is a great little book by Graeme Case. Weird hybrid dog/vehicles live in a remote town and the juveniles end up having to stand up to the roving bullies who want to steal their fuel!It’s got some pictures of the various truckdogs like the red setter/tractor or the young hero, a Jack Russell/Ute (Aussie for an RV)
Is Roald Dahl too scary for him? There are lots of great boy protagonists in those.
Hmmm. How about The Mad Scientists Club and its sequels? Definitely about boys, but no fighting or anything. Mostly fun adventures with kids using science to figure out how to do things.
There’s also The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet and its sequels, again about boys using science to have adventures.
There’s How to Eat Fried Worms, centered on a boy winning a bet by eating worms. (The book is pretty good. I can’t speak to the taste of worms, though.)
There’s Stuart Little, which I remember enjoying. It’s about a mouse, but at least it’s a *boy *mouse.
Or how about Black and Blue Magic, about a boy who is given the gift of flight. He has some good adventures, including saving two children in a rowboat.
I remember liking The Forgotten Door, too, which is sort of sci-fi, but mostly isn’t.
BTW, dangermom, if you haven’t seen it, there’s a sequel to *Weirdstone *called The Moon of Gomrath. Not as strong a book, I think, but still very, very fun.
I loved the book The Weirdstone of Brisingamen. The only downside to it for me is that scene in the tunnels. I actually had a panic attack while reading it, which was a whole heap of fun. headdesk
If classics are in the conversation I’d suggest The Red Badge of Courage as well.
Homer Price and its sequel, Centerburg Tales, by Robert McCloskey, are about a boy and his friends solving amusing mysteries. Each chapter is a short story. You may remember “The Doughnuts”, about the doughnut machine which wouldn’t turn off.
The Danny Dunn books by Jay Williams and Raymond Abrashkin are humorous science fiction that sound about right.
Born to Trot by Marguerite Henry is about a boy who wants to drive trotting race horses. There’s a story within a story about a famous trotting race horse.
Gordon Korman wrote a series of funny books set at a boy’s school, This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall and its sequels.
Donald Sobol’s Encyclopedia Brown series, about a boy detective, may be something he can read himself.
Try looking at your library for collections about folktales, many of which include stories about young heroes.
And for a book about learning about courage (while probably too intense for him now) I can’t recommend Johnny Tremain too highly. It’s by Esther Forbes.
Oh, hey, something I just thought of, quite a few of the Star Wars novels would fit the bill. Two good examples off the top of my head being “A New Hope” (novelization, of course, of the first Star Wars movie) and the first book of the Young Han Solo Trilogy (it starts with him as a kid, and ends with him getting into the military in his early 20’s).
I don’t think Holes by Louis Sachar has been mentioned yet.
I came in here to recommend that. I just read it to my 9 year old (well, we’re on The Pool of Fire) and he loved it.
Tales of Despereaux by kate Di Camillo is about a mouse that finds his courage. (The movie, according to every kid that has seen it, sucked. The book was awesome.)
Cricket in Times Square isn’t so much about bravery, but adventure and friendship. I thought I would throw this classic out there.
Shakespeare’s Secret. Girl heroine, but a very good read.
Masterpiece Boy hero , finding his own voice, which is heroic enough. ( Lovely, lovely book about a boy and his cockroach. you are tempted, I can tell.
Book of Time and Gate of Days are good reads with boy and girl heroines. ( There is a third book, circle of gold, but I haven’t read it.)
Twenty One Balloons not a boy. But an old man on an adventure. A classic and a must read in everyone’s life time.
There, be Dragons This is the starting point of a three book series. (this is the 3rd one, I haven’t bought it yet.) I’ve read this and love, love, loved it. YMMV. Lots of literary name & place dropping, so it might be suitable to read after reading other Great Classic Works and Stuff. It’s for at least 8th grade and up, but I thought I would put it here for perusal.
The Black Book of Secrets is a nice solid little read that deserves more mentions. ( apparently there are ‘sequels’ in the same universe this story runs in, but I haven’t read them.)
Holes, the book that inspired the movie.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret was recommended by my kids. I have yet to read it, but want too. ( It must be very good, it never goes for cheap on Ebay. dangnabit.)
Valley of the Mist is a picture book for the younger crowd, that I adore ( and really, really should buy before it goes out of print.) Read the summary.
Cabin on Trouble Creek has always intrigued me.
[URL=“http://www.amazon.com/Alcatraz-Versus-Librarians-Brandon-Sanderson/dp/0439925525/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3AQQN0C8XOJ6V&colid=327JHLGM8SLFZ#reader_0439925525”]Alcatraz Vs the Evil Librarians was a complete romp. (apparently a series of sorts, but I have yet to find the other books via the library.)
Between Planets would be a good one, where Don Harvey becomes an insurgent fighting on Venus. Starship Troopers is the most on point. I think Starship Troopers was actually supposed to be released by Scribner as a Juvenile, but the book was rejected by the publisher and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, but I think it was still intended for juvenile audiences. If anything ST is more didactic that most of his other juveniles.
Oh Forgot about that series:smack:of course I think I only read one of them, thats the kid that plays baseball only because its scientific right? or am I conflating different characters from different series (man i feel so old right now)
I don’t know about that, but his schtick is that he’s got a large collection of facts in his brain, and uses it to solve problems that adults can’t (only having to ask one question after they give him all the details). He actually comes off similar to an autistic savant in some ways (albeit very high functioning.)