Adventurous books for a sensitive 7-year-old.
January 16, 2010 11:41 AM Subscribe
I need books with adventure but not a lot of suspense or overt conflict, for boys age 5-8.
My kids and I are going to be taking a long car trip soon. We usually listen to audiobooks on trips, and my boys (5 and 8) have enjoyed Artemis Fowl, His Dark Materials, the Harry Potter Books, The Dark is Rising, and suchlike. The twist is that on this trip, a 7-year-old friend will be traveling with us, who is very sensitive and would not want to listen to books with a lot of darkness, suspense, or violent conflict. My mission is to find a few books they can choose from that will be exciting enough for my boys without giving their friend nightmares. I have already thought of A Wrinkle in Time. Any other suggestions?
My kids and I are going to be taking a long car trip soon. We usually listen to audiobooks on trips, and my boys (5 and 8) have enjoyed Artemis Fowl, His Dark Materials, the Harry Potter Books, The Dark is Rising, and suchlike. The twist is that on this trip, a 7-year-old friend will be traveling with us, who is very sensitive and would not want to listen to books with a lot of darkness, suspense, or violent conflict. My mission is to find a few books they can choose from that will be exciting enough for my boys without giving their friend nightmares. I have already thought of A Wrinkle in Time. Any other suggestions?
Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book is excellent. It does allude, in a non-grisly way, to the murder of the protagonist's family in the story's opening, and the assassin continues to chase the protagonist throughout the book. However, that is not the focus of the story; his Jungle Book-style (thus the title) adventures growing up in the graveyard, surrounded by a loving adopted family, are really what move the book along. It's written for children, and it shows in the tact Gaiman shows, but it's very smart, funny, and engaging.
posted by teamparka at 11:48 AM on January 16, 2010
posted by teamparka at 11:48 AM on January 16, 2010
On second thought, I just re-read your post again, and considering the sensitive seven-year old along with you, it might be a little dark. My apologies.
posted by teamparka at 11:49 AM on January 16, 2010
posted by teamparka at 11:49 AM on January 16, 2010
James and the Giant Peach!
posted by fullofragerie at 11:51 AM on January 16, 2010
posted by fullofragerie at 11:51 AM on January 16, 2010
When I was a kid I loved Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. There's some witchcraft and threats, but I don't remember any of the protagonists getting seriously hurt--certainly not to the extent of the Harry Potter books. It has been a couple of decades since I've read them, though.
The same author has some other books, like The First Two Lives of Lukas Kasha, which I recall as being adventurous without any significant dark elements at all. Those might be harder to find on audio, though.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:52 AM on January 16, 2010
The same author has some other books, like The First Two Lives of Lukas Kasha, which I recall as being adventurous without any significant dark elements at all. Those might be harder to find on audio, though.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:52 AM on January 16, 2010
Yep, just coming in to suggest some Roald Dahl (esp. James & the Giant Peach and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory), though I don't know if their dark undertones might be a little too dark for a sensitive 7-year-old. (My own eldest nephew was pretty sensitive at that age, and I know he loved Charlie & The Choc. Factory when he was about 7, FWIW.)
posted by scody at 12:08 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by scody at 12:08 PM on January 16, 2010
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I loved the Prydain Chronicles. It's one of those books I've revisited every few years since I was a kid. I wouldn't, though, describe it as free of suspense and darkness.
posted by alms at 12:10 PM on January 16, 2010
I loved the Prydain Chronicles. It's one of those books I've revisited every few years since I was a kid. I wouldn't, though, describe it as free of suspense and darkness.
posted by alms at 12:10 PM on January 16, 2010
How about The Bobbsey Twins? May be more appropriate for the upper end of your range, but I absolutely loved them when I was a kid.
posted by something something at 12:12 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by something something at 12:12 PM on January 16, 2010
Just a note: Do not get the Wrinkle in Time read by L'Engle. It's like listening to a half asleep Diane Rehm.
posted by klangklangston at 12:14 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by klangklangston at 12:14 PM on January 16, 2010
Response by poster: No problem, Sarabeth! I'll save that one for my two!
posted by not that girl at 12:19 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by not that girl at 12:19 PM on January 16, 2010
Happy Hollisters
The Boxcar Children
Swallows and Amazons!!!
Seconding Enid Blyton.
posted by oceano at 12:29 PM on January 16, 2010
The Boxcar Children
Swallows and Amazons!!!
Seconding Enid Blyton.
posted by oceano at 12:29 PM on January 16, 2010
Have you considered the Hardy Boys books? They are pretty mild but still have some action. Usually in the form of fistfights.
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:31 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:31 PM on January 16, 2010
(Maybe save A Wrinkle in Time for your kids? It'd be right up their alley, but the whole book's about a dad in peril and omg that planet with the people with their brains stolen and all of the kids bouncing their balls in unison creeps me out to this day!) I love the Roald Dahl suggestion - but not The Witches which is (ha!) quite scary. Maybe The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe?
posted by moxiedoll at 12:49 PM on January 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by moxiedoll at 12:49 PM on January 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd say stay away from both Roald Dahl and L'Engle, both of whom can be really, really creepy at times, either through thematic stuff or imagery (I'm with moxiedoll--that scene about the kids bouncing their balls all at once still gives me the shivers. And Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has all sorts of dark kid deaths!).
I'd go for older books. The Boxcar Children sounds great, as would be Half Magic or just about anything else by Edward Eager, or just about anything by E. Nesbit. And maybe the Indian in the Cupboard? I remember that one being tame and fun, but I haven't read it since I was ten.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:01 PM on January 16, 2010
I'd go for older books. The Boxcar Children sounds great, as would be Half Magic or just about anything else by Edward Eager, or just about anything by E. Nesbit. And maybe the Indian in the Cupboard? I remember that one being tame and fun, but I haven't read it since I was ten.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:01 PM on January 16, 2010
another vote for the Phantom Tollbooth.
posted by lucy.jakobs at 1:01 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by lucy.jakobs at 1:01 PM on January 16, 2010
Oh, and is melancholy okay? If it is, you might go for some E. B. White, though it really depends on how "sensitive" this boy is, because his books are often really, really sad.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:09 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:09 PM on January 16, 2010
Try the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It's a cute storyline, and although it has suspense, adventure, and drama, I very much doubt that it would upset a sensitive child at all. They were recommended to me by a friend of mine who is a children's lit scholar.
posted by theantikitty at 1:17 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by theantikitty at 1:17 PM on January 16, 2010
Michael Chabon's "Summerland" is rated as 9-12, but bright younger children might enjoy it too. Suspense, lots of baseball, very little scary stuff, IIRC.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:43 PM on January 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:43 PM on January 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
P.S. You might want to check out the answers I received to this question, though perhaps more for your own boys than for the 7-y.-o.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:45 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:45 PM on January 16, 2010
What about the Fudge books (e.g.) by Judy Bloom? They're not super adventure-laden, but they're quite funny (if I'm recalling correctly), which might be as good as adventurous in terms of keeping the kids interested in listening.
Uh, here's a disclaimer, just in case: upon perusing the amazon reviews, it seems like these books (or at least the one I linked to) aren't good if you want to maintain the kids' belief in Santa. Also, something about where babies come from. One reviewer says, "Although light and funny, it casually throws in some revelations that you may not be ready to explain, like where babies come from, and the existence of Santa Claus."
posted by sentient at 2:00 PM on January 16, 2010
Uh, here's a disclaimer, just in case: upon perusing the amazon reviews, it seems like these books (or at least the one I linked to) aren't good if you want to maintain the kids' belief in Santa. Also, something about where babies come from. One reviewer says, "Although light and funny, it casually throws in some revelations that you may not be ready to explain, like where babies come from, and the existence of Santa Claus."
posted by sentient at 2:00 PM on January 16, 2010
The Bruno and Boots series by Gordon Korman. Lots of misadventures and nothing more threatening than a bumbling headmaster. Bonus points because he wrote the first book when he was in middle school. Everything I've ever read by him has been great. "No Coins, Please" and "I Want to Go Home" are two others by him that I specifically remember being excellent.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 2:05 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by thekiltedwonder at 2:05 PM on January 16, 2010
Seconding The Boxcar Children. I devoured that series when I was a kid.
Also, how about Tom Swift? The second series was my favorite, but that was 25 years ago.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 2:14 PM on January 16, 2010
Also, how about Tom Swift? The second series was my favorite, but that was 25 years ago.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 2:14 PM on January 16, 2010
Another vote for the Boxcar Children!
posted by aka burlap at 2:27 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by aka burlap at 2:27 PM on January 16, 2010
Not "adventurous" in the traditional sense, but I recommend the Bruno and Boots books by Gordon Korman.
posted by 256 at 2:35 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by 256 at 2:35 PM on January 16, 2010
nother vote for Phantom Tollbooth and adding Pippi Longstocking. Man I love strong girl heros!
posted by Redhush at 3:00 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by Redhush at 3:00 PM on January 16, 2010
Following PhoBWanKenobe's suggestion of E. Nesbit's stories: since they are in the public domain, many of them are available for free download from Librivox. Since Librivox is a volunteer enterprise, the quality of readers and recordings varies, but here are some Nesbit stories that I think are particularly well done:
Karen Savage's reading of the novel The Railway Children
Ruth Golding's readings of the short story collection The Magic World and the novel The Magic City
Cori Samuels' reading of the short story collection Nine Unlikely Tales
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:04 PM on January 16, 2010
Karen Savage's reading of the novel The Railway Children
Ruth Golding's readings of the short story collection The Magic World and the novel The Magic City
Cori Samuels' reading of the short story collection Nine Unlikely Tales
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:04 PM on January 16, 2010
I was going to suggest the Narnia books then thought about the Aslan sacrifice . . . maybe not. Is Robert Louis Stevenson too much? I loved Treasure Island and Kidnapped at this age. I also really, really liked The Prince and the Pauper, which I don't recall as having anything really scary or violent in it.
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by bearwife at 3:18 PM on January 16, 2010
Another vote for the Boxcar children.
I love the Percy and the Olympians series, but it has people dying and creepy enemies and angry gods and I would not recommend them for a sensitive seven year old.
Your kids would probably like them though!
posted by kylej at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2010
I love the Percy and the Olympians series, but it has people dying and creepy enemies and angry gods and I would not recommend them for a sensitive seven year old.
Your kids would probably like them though!
posted by kylej at 3:38 PM on January 16, 2010
Terry Pratchett has written wonderful books for kids (and adults), but for your listeners, I'd recommend his stories about the Nomes, tiny people who move too fast for humans to see and live out generations in a British department store. The adventure begins in Truckers, when the Nomes must move from their long-time home ("Final Sale: Everything must go"). Brave Masklin wants to find a way. Pratchett's books are funny as well as adventuresome; Truckers is followed by two others, grouped (in the US) as The Bromeliad Trilogy. Tony Robinson is the reader of the abridged audio book, and he's great -- with a wonderful voice and quality for Pratchett's work. You might have to order the audio book from the UK, but I see both abridged and unabridged audio Truckers are in the Itunes store for download.
posted by Bet Glenn at 4:57 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by Bet Glenn at 4:57 PM on January 16, 2010
The swiss family robinson
posted by nestor_makhno at 5:07 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by nestor_makhno at 5:07 PM on January 16, 2010
nthing the swiss family robinson! great book with action/adventure but nothing that would create nightmares (unless he has a thing about living in trees?!)
posted by latch24 at 6:20 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by latch24 at 6:20 PM on January 16, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you; these suggestions are just the kind of thing I was looking for, a great mix of books I'm familiar with and hadn't thought of, and books that are new to me. I welcome more, if any are forthcoming--we don't only read/listen to books on car trips.
posted by not that girl at 6:23 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by not that girl at 6:23 PM on January 16, 2010
They might like Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson, which (despite the cover) is a really classic adventure story with fairies. There's also Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta, which is sensitive and funny, but very active.
posted by headspace at 6:27 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by headspace at 6:27 PM on January 16, 2010
Maybe The Whipping Boy? I remember reading and loving it when I was about seven....
posted by emmling at 7:31 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by emmling at 7:31 PM on January 16, 2010
Blatant self-link: over at pinkwater.com, we have a number of Daniel Pinkwater's books available for download, as read by the author. I don't think any of them would be particularly disturbing to a sensitive 7 year old.
posted by greatgefilte at 8:32 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by greatgefilte at 8:32 PM on January 16, 2010
Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book and Jungle Book 2 fit your bill. I have read them 4 or 5 times in the past few years (first with the kids, then by myself). Kim, also by Kipling, is a good read, but perhaps a little too mature for that age group.
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 11:32 PM on January 16, 2010
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 11:32 PM on January 16, 2010
Like PhoBWanKenobi, my instinct is to go with older books. I'm nthing the Narnia series, The Boxcar Children, The Swiss Family Robinson, & books by E. Nesbit.
I'll also recommend The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Peter & Wendy by J. M. Barrie, and The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.
Not sure how you define "adventure," but I remember loving The Mad Scientist Club books by Bertrand Brinley. The kids pretty much stay in the same town, and there isn't a fantasy element, but they had a lot of crazy schemes that were totally fun.
(And like others have mentioned, I'm not sure I'd go with A Wrinkle In Time for the sensitive 7yo. It's an excellent book, no doubt about it -- but I distinctly remember being extremely creeped out by IT to such an extent that I did have a few nightmares.)
posted by paisley sheep at 12:12 AM on January 17, 2010
I'll also recommend The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Peter & Wendy by J. M. Barrie, and The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.
Not sure how you define "adventure," but I remember loving The Mad Scientist Club books by Bertrand Brinley. The kids pretty much stay in the same town, and there isn't a fantasy element, but they had a lot of crazy schemes that were totally fun.
(And like others have mentioned, I'm not sure I'd go with A Wrinkle In Time for the sensitive 7yo. It's an excellent book, no doubt about it -- but I distinctly remember being extremely creeped out by IT to such an extent that I did have a few nightmares.)
posted by paisley sheep at 12:12 AM on January 17, 2010
I thought of some more. If you can track them down, the ESP McGee books are a lot of fun.
Also the Three Investigators were fantastic.
For something a bit different that involves your kids solving mysteries, you could try Encyclopedia Brown (entirely text based) or Hawkeye Collins & Amy Adams (each story involves a picture).
posted by thekiltedwonder at 8:12 AM on January 17, 2010
Also the Three Investigators were fantastic.
For something a bit different that involves your kids solving mysteries, you could try Encyclopedia Brown (entirely text based) or Hawkeye Collins & Amy Adams (each story involves a picture).
posted by thekiltedwonder at 8:12 AM on January 17, 2010
Stuart Little. My seven-year-old, who sounds a lot like your traveling companion, liked it. There are audiobook versions out there, but I don't know which ones are good.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:57 AM on January 17, 2010
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:57 AM on January 17, 2010
Oh, and a year or two ago he liked the Dragon Slayers' Academy books. Again, I don't know how the recorded versions are -- but the books are good.
(I love a lot of the books other people are recommending, but I think maybe they don't remember how dark they are. The Moomins are wonderful but sad and creepy; The Whipping Boy is about a kid who gets beaten regularly.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:04 AM on January 17, 2010
(I love a lot of the books other people are recommending, but I think maybe they don't remember how dark they are. The Moomins are wonderful but sad and creepy; The Whipping Boy is about a kid who gets beaten regularly.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:04 AM on January 17, 2010
The How to Train Your Dragon books are very popular, and now would be a good time to read/listen to them as the movie's coming out later in the year. They're funny and I don't think they contain much more than "mild peril". The audiobook's read by (former *sniff*) Doctor Who David Tennant, who is generally excellent.
You should also be OK with the younger Dahl books - particularly George's Marvellous Medicine and The Giraffe the Pelly and Me (I had both of those on tape as a kid, and I loved them).
Otherwise, I'm inclined to agree with going for classics like Swallows and Amazons, Secret Seven (a bit less suspenseful than Famous Five) and Stig of the Dump (boy meets and befriends cave man at the dump, they have adventures).
Bit UK-centric here, sorry, but it looks like they've enjoyed British/Irish books before, so I hope that helps.
posted by featherboa at 4:03 PM on January 17, 2010
You should also be OK with the younger Dahl books - particularly George's Marvellous Medicine and The Giraffe the Pelly and Me (I had both of those on tape as a kid, and I loved them).
Otherwise, I'm inclined to agree with going for classics like Swallows and Amazons, Secret Seven (a bit less suspenseful than Famous Five) and Stig of the Dump (boy meets and befriends cave man at the dump, they have adventures).
Bit UK-centric here, sorry, but it looks like they've enjoyed British/Irish books before, so I hope that helps.
posted by featherboa at 4:03 PM on January 17, 2010
"One Hundred and One Dalmations" by Dodie Smith (the novel, not the Disney version). It's exciting but has a cosy safe feel.
posted by y6t5r4e3w2q1 at 8:41 PM on January 17, 2010
posted by y6t5r4e3w2q1 at 8:41 PM on January 17, 2010
Seconding the Bruno & Boots & Encyclopedia Brown books.
Adding in The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Runaway Ralph, by Beverly Cleary. Her Henry Huggins books are good too.
How about Sideways Stories from Wayside School?
posted by SisterHavana at 8:58 PM on January 17, 2010
Adding in The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Runaway Ralph, by Beverly Cleary. Her Henry Huggins books are good too.
How about Sideways Stories from Wayside School?
posted by SisterHavana at 8:58 PM on January 17, 2010
I used to love the classic Rover Boys series. Frank Peretti's Cooper Kids series might be good too if you're not averse to light-handed Christian themes. Both are high on adventure and low on the dark and scary. The Magic Tree House books might be good too!
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:37 AM on January 18, 2010
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:37 AM on January 18, 2010
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