Another give-me-book-rec post!

[cahn]

I feel that I ought to know the answer to this, but it is easier to ask you because I know you will have good solutions!

E. needs to read a science-fiction book that is appropriate for her age (12/6th grade/middle grade). If she were two years older I'd give her Ender's Game or Becky Chambers, but she's not. She says she likes fantasy better than SF but I suspect this is at least partially because she hasn't really read much SF, most of the stuff I know about being aimed a little above her head (she's read Dragon Pearl and liked it but is using it for another category). I'd considered giving her a Heinlein juvenile but I think she should probably be just a little older for that too. I also gave her The Martian to look at, which she rejected on account of it being too long :) (If it's something that I think will suit her interests enough, I'll give it to her anyway even if it's long, but Martian was already pushing things a bit -- I'll give it to her in a year or two and I think it'll work better for her then.)

(If there are sentient animals or puzzles to solve that would be a plus, but not required. Another reason she likes fantasy better is because there are more sentient animals, I think.)

Comments

[rushthatspeaks]

Bruce Coville! Both of his SF series are aimed at kids of exactly that age and reading level, and both are utterly delightful, with lots of interesting aliens, realistic kid dynamics, and a gentle humanism that means I will never stop coming back to him.

[cahn]

Ooh, this sounds great. Thank you!