What is a great book for an 8 yr old who loves to read?

Question

He's a very advanced reader, looking for new series or chapter books.

You are all bringing back so many memories of books that I enjoyed as a child and had forgotten! Keep 'em coming!

Answer 1

You've already been given many great suggestions by others, but let me also recommend the following books that I've continued to read into adulthood because the stories are so compelling:

"Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls (Perhaps my favorite book growing up. My fifth grade teacher first read this book to me and I've enjoyed reading it many times since).

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake (There are many more by this great author. I'd particularly encourage your son to read Dahl's autobiography "Boy: Tales of Childhood" for insight into his life and the works he's created).

"Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

"James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

"The BFG" by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

"The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman and Peter Sis

"Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery" by Deborah and James Howe

"Bill Peet: An Autobiography" by Bill Peet (a former Disney animator and the author of dozens of books for children).

"From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigburg

"Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume (a wonderful introduction into the world of Judy Blume).

"Lincoln: A Photobiography" by Russell Freedman

"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster (A classic!)

Answer 2

Choose Your Own Adventure books, if they are still in print. I loved them when I was that age! Encyclopedia Brown are really great, too. Boxcar Kids series, Hardy Boys; there are lots of great classics!

Also, this is not a chapter or series book, but I highly recommend Casey at the Bat: a Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888. The best version, in my opinion, is the one published a few years ago and illustrated by C. F. Payne.

May God bless and keep you.

Answer 3

The Lemony Snicketts and a Series Of Unfortunate Events
(collection 12 books in all)

the books are very good and its hard to stop reading and its very appropriate for a child his age. It displays excellent grammar and the books all have a meaning

Answer 4

My 7yr old, who also loves to read just read

Midnight for Charlie Bone
Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

by Jenny Nimmo

They are about this 11yr olf boy who lives with his mother, uncle and both grandma's. His fathers side of the family all have strange powers. Charlie can look into a picture and hear what people are saying. There are more books in this series, she just started them. They remind me a little of Harry Potter, but are easier to read.

Answer 5

The Charlie Bone series and the Molly Moon books are both good. Also, The Wayside School Books by Louis Sachar are really fun.

Answer 6

I loved "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis. The books deliver so much more than the movie.

They may be a little over an 8-year-olds head but if he is an advanced reader, I think he will comprehend enough of it to make him want to go back to it later.

Answer 7

The Inkheart series is good, but might be a little advanced for him. Eragon, the Harry Potter books, the Chronicles of Narnia, The White Mountains. You can also always ask the local librarian (try the children's dept.)

Answer 8

I remember my teacher reading us The Boxcar Children when I was young. They are very good books and it is a series. Here's a little snipit I got from Wikipedia:

The Story
The first book told the story of four orphans (Henry Alden, 14; Jessie Alden, 12; Violet Alden, 10; and Benny Alden, 5) whose parents died. They were to live with their grandfather, but were afraid. Because of this, they find an abandoned boxcar to settle in instead. Within the first book, they meet a man named Dr. Moore, living in a fake Silver City (Possibly Taunton, Massachusetts, sometimes being nicknamed Silver City. However, Silver City is just around the hill from the boxcar in the book, while Taunton is a number of miles away, which cannot be the possible distance from Greenfield, due to the fact that Mr Alden came to field day) who saw Henry win the field day race. Violet Alden became sick and they came to Dr. Moore for assistance. However, as he saw in the newspaper, a man named James Alden was looking for four kids, and would give $5,000 to anyone who finds them. At this moment, Dr. Moore became excited, and called Mr. Alden to come to his house, and he came the same time the four children came in with a sick Violet. He disguised himself as Mr. Henry, as Henry was his middle name. They liked him. Soon, Dr. Moore told them that Mr. Henry was their rich grandfather (James Henry Alden), who had been looking for them. They showed him their boxcar. But then was the time to say goodbye to the boxcar. They didn't want to leave it. They went with him to live in Greenfield, Massachusetts (Some books in the series say Greenfield, Connecticut when there is no such thing). Days later, when Violet was better, the four children were asked to go to Dr. Moore. When they got back, a surprise lay in the backyard. It was the boxcar. He had brought the boxcar to his house after the children had begun living with him because they missed it. Throughout the rest of the books thereafter, the children uncover and solve various mysteries, often while traveling.

Answer 9

The Great Brain
Encyclopedia Brown
Tom Swift
Hardy Boys

All series - That'll do.

Answer 10

I would try the "Wrinkle in Time" books by Madeline L'Engle. They are very popular for kids that are getting into reading novels in grade school. Usually this is about a 5th grade level, but if he's advanced it might be right.