Book recommendations for 9 year old girl, bonus points for funny
May 13, 2013 2:30 PM Subscribe
My daughter likes books with funny, mischievous characters Calvin and Hobbes, Eloise, Judy Moody. What other books might she like?
My daughter loves to read and is currently reading Harry Potter but is stalling out in the middle of book 5. She says she wants to take a break and has mostly been re-reading Calvin and Hobbes and How To Train Your Dragon, and I'd like to get her some new books that are light and fun. Ideally, I'd like to get her books with mischievous characters like Calvin or Eloise since those are her favorite characters but if not, anything fun will do. She tells me she "only likes to read books that have a series."
Here's what she has liked:
- Judy Moody (loves the entire series, re-reads them often)
- Mrs Piggle Wiggle
- Pippi Longstocking
- Judy Blume: Fudge, Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
- Junie B. Jones
- Ramona and Beezus
- Sideways Stories from the Wayside School
- Myth-o-mania books
- Roald Dahl: Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox
Here's what she hasn't really liked:
- Peanuts
- Babymouse
- Clementine
- Ivy and Bean
- Stink (Judy Moody's brother)
- Captain Underpants
Thanks for your help!
My daughter loves to read and is currently reading Harry Potter but is stalling out in the middle of book 5. She says she wants to take a break and has mostly been re-reading Calvin and Hobbes and How To Train Your Dragon, and I'd like to get her some new books that are light and fun. Ideally, I'd like to get her books with mischievous characters like Calvin or Eloise since those are her favorite characters but if not, anything fun will do. She tells me she "only likes to read books that have a series."
Here's what she has liked:
- Judy Moody (loves the entire series, re-reads them often)
- Mrs Piggle Wiggle
- Pippi Longstocking
- Judy Blume: Fudge, Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
- Junie B. Jones
- Ramona and Beezus
- Sideways Stories from the Wayside School
- Myth-o-mania books
- Roald Dahl: Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox
Here's what she hasn't really liked:
- Peanuts
- Babymouse
- Clementine
- Ivy and Bean
- Stink (Judy Moody's brother)
- Captain Underpants
Thanks for your help!
Encyclopedia Brown was always a favorite of mine growing up. I loved the mystery angle and trying to figure out whodunnit.
posted by BrianJ at 2:38 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by BrianJ at 2:38 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Has she read any other Roald Dahl books? Even though they're not a series, when I was her age I basically treated his little novellas like that. (If I read one of them, I just went ahead and read all the rest.)
I think she would LOVE The Twits and George's Marvellous Medicine. Those were my favorites after The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
...And then I always followed up with Esio Trot, The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me just because.
posted by phunniemee at 2:38 PM on May 13, 2013
I think she would LOVE The Twits and George's Marvellous Medicine. Those were my favorites after The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
...And then I always followed up with Esio Trot, The Vicar of Nibbleswicke, and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me just because.
posted by phunniemee at 2:38 PM on May 13, 2013
I read (and loved) The Great Brain series right around the same time as I read a number of the books on her "like" list.
posted by scody at 2:39 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by scody at 2:39 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
I wonder if The Babysitters Club series would hold up - if you can get her going on those, she'll be set for a long time.
posted by something something at 2:39 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by something something at 2:39 PM on May 13, 2013
Dealing with Dragons
I don't really know what age all kids read at effectively, but I was around 9ish and LOVED those books.
posted by euphoria066 at 2:44 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I don't really know what age all kids read at effectively, but I was around 9ish and LOVED those books.
posted by euphoria066 at 2:44 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
If she liked the Ramona books, she might also enjoy the other books by Beverly Cleary. Ellen Tebbits and Otis Spofford both feature fun, mischievous characters, and both books take place in the same "universe."
Maybe Edward Eager?
posted by easy, lucky, free at 2:45 PM on May 13, 2013
Maybe Edward Eager?
posted by easy, lucky, free at 2:45 PM on May 13, 2013
Maybe the Anne of Green Gables series? She might be too young for the later books in the series but the first couple might work. Same for other LM Montgomery series. Maybe Little Women? Five Children and It? Older books for kids are kind of a strange mixture of kids getting into "scrapes" and like, Biblical allusions that went way over my head at that age, but she might like it.
posted by MadamM at 2:48 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by MadamM at 2:48 PM on May 13, 2013
The Mysterious Benedict Society and sequels
Ghosts I Have Been/The Ghost Belonged to Me
Anne of Green Gables for sure
posted by Daily Alice at 2:53 PM on May 13, 2013
Ghosts I Have Been/The Ghost Belonged to Me
Anne of Green Gables for sure
posted by Daily Alice at 2:53 PM on May 13, 2013
Maybe old Nancy comics?
posted by shortyJBot at 2:55 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by shortyJBot at 2:55 PM on May 13, 2013
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
(everyone should read this book, but especially 9 year olds)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:56 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
(everyone should read this book, but especially 9 year olds)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:56 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
these have mischief and hijinks, but may be a little on the young side.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:56 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by j_curiouser at 2:56 PM on May 13, 2013
What about the Boxcar Children? The original 19 books are a little dated but still enjoyable, and the remaining titles are updated but not written as well as the originals and may be a little young for her. The kids in the books aren't really mischievous, but I always liked them because they were independent and resourceful, liked to do things on their own, and often got to visit unusual or interesting locales.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 2:57 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by easy, lucky, free at 2:57 PM on May 13, 2013
Bone, although it might be a little too intense? My kid meter is way off.
posted by Think_Long at 2:58 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Think_Long at 2:58 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
When I was a lad around that age, I liked to read and reread Robert Newton Peck's "Soup" novels. It's not clear if these are real memoirs for Peck, but they might well be; Soup was young Rob's good friend, a swindler and troublemaker of the first order, and adventure followed with every scheme. They're set in depression-era small-town Vermont, so archaisms abound. You want mischief, though? Soup was a Huckleberry Finn in the 20th century.
There are at least 3 Soup books (hmm, Goodreads has 5--I'd better hit the library) , but the chapters are mostly episodic, and very little would be lost if read out of order or whatnot.
Argh, I see someone just beat me to them. Call this a second.
posted by Sunburnt at 2:59 PM on May 13, 2013
There are at least 3 Soup books (hmm, Goodreads has 5--I'd better hit the library) , but the chapters are mostly episodic, and very little would be lost if read out of order or whatnot.
Argh, I see someone just beat me to them. Call this a second.
posted by Sunburnt at 2:59 PM on May 13, 2013
Edward Eager - yes! Specifically, the Magic series; I loved it so much when I was around her age, and I read basically all the other books on her "like" list.
Nthing The Great Brain (Mischievous lead? Definitely!) and Encyclopedia Brown.
Not really a series per se, but I liked The Castle in the Attic and its sequel, the Battle for the Castle. Not a series at all, but she should also read The Phantom Tollbooth as it is my favorite book ever.
Series I also liked:
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Bobbsey Twins (maybe a little dated, but I really liked mysteries)
The Bailey School Kids
The Borrowers
posted by pitrified at 3:03 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Nthing The Great Brain (Mischievous lead? Definitely!) and Encyclopedia Brown.
Not really a series per se, but I liked The Castle in the Attic and its sequel, the Battle for the Castle. Not a series at all, but she should also read The Phantom Tollbooth as it is my favorite book ever.
Series I also liked:
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Bobbsey Twins (maybe a little dated, but I really liked mysteries)
The Bailey School Kids
The Borrowers
posted by pitrified at 3:03 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
She might enjoy Caddie Woodlawn (there's a second book of stories about Caddie and her family), or the All-of-a-Kind-Family series.
posted by mogget at 3:12 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mogget at 3:12 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Emil books by Astrid Lindgren are basically what would have happened if Calvin had been born in rural Sweden a hundred years earlier. Fabulously entertaining, good-hearted mischief throughout. It is a little sad that many of Lindgren's finest creations have somehow been eclipsed in the English-speaking world by Pippi Longstocking (who's great, but she's no Emil), but fortunately it seems that there is a series of Emil books in English translation.
posted by pont at 3:14 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by pont at 3:14 PM on May 13, 2013
Hilary McKay has a series on the Casson Family starting with Saffy's Angel. I enjoyed them immensely and so did my 10yo (boy). This isn't a repetitive series like Magic Treehouse or Boxcar Children. Each book is a sequential story in the life of the family with the emphasis on what's happening with one or the other of the many children. The most recent book written occurs before the others but I haven't read it so don't know whether she should start with this or the first written that I linked.
posted by RoadScholar at 3:24 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by RoadScholar at 3:24 PM on May 13, 2013
The Septimus Heap books are good; there's some similarity to Harry Potter (wizards and stuff), but they are a lighter, easier read and take place in more of a medieval fantasy world.
Rick Riordan's books are another good choice. Based on various mythologies - I think my (10-year-old) daughter liked the Egyptian ones the best, but the Greek books are the best known (Percy Jackson). They are all pretty funny. We went to see Riordan give a talk, and he came across as a genuinely nice guy, so there's that.
Seconding the Mysterious Benedict Society books, and The Phantom Tollbooth, which my daughter loved.
If she's gotten through 5 Harry Potter books, I think Encyclopedia Brown, Magic Tree House and Boxcar Children are going to be too easy.
My 10-and-a-half-year-old is currently reading (and quoting nonstop) an omnibus edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. It may be too early for that, but it is a good thing to have on the shelf.
posted by jeoc at 4:19 PM on May 13, 2013
Rick Riordan's books are another good choice. Based on various mythologies - I think my (10-year-old) daughter liked the Egyptian ones the best, but the Greek books are the best known (Percy Jackson). They are all pretty funny. We went to see Riordan give a talk, and he came across as a genuinely nice guy, so there's that.
Seconding the Mysterious Benedict Society books, and The Phantom Tollbooth, which my daughter loved.
If she's gotten through 5 Harry Potter books, I think Encyclopedia Brown, Magic Tree House and Boxcar Children are going to be too easy.
My 10-and-a-half-year-old is currently reading (and quoting nonstop) an omnibus edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. It may be too early for that, but it is a good thing to have on the shelf.
posted by jeoc at 4:19 PM on May 13, 2013
2nding Dealing with Dragons, and also adding Ella Enchanted!
posted by firei at 4:28 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by firei at 4:28 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, I just remembered the Katie John series (set in the early 1960s, I believe), which I also loved around the same age.
posted by scody at 5:38 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by scody at 5:38 PM on May 13, 2013
When my daughter was 9 she enjoyed:
1. The Penderwicks -- it's a fantastic, witty book. There are a couple of sequels but the first is the best.
2. The Popularity Papers
3. Finally, if your daughter's in the mood for something light and silly and endlessly serial (there seem to be a zillion of them) my kid at 9 and 10 got a kick out of the My Weird School books by Dan Gutman.
posted by third rail at 6:11 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
1. The Penderwicks -- it's a fantastic, witty book. There are a couple of sequels but the first is the best.
2. The Popularity Papers
3. Finally, if your daughter's in the mood for something light and silly and endlessly serial (there seem to be a zillion of them) my kid at 9 and 10 got a kick out of the My Weird School books by Dan Gutman.
posted by third rail at 6:11 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
If your daughter is able to enjoy Harry Potter, give Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books a try (first one is Wee Free Men). The Nac Mac Feegles should fit the bill for funny and mischievous, my kids love em.
posted by mattu at 6:51 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by mattu at 6:51 PM on May 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Please, please, please get her Gordon Korman's Bruno and Boots books. Delightfully funny mischievous characters spread across (wow, apparently) seven books. Fun fact, the debut Bruno and Boots book was written when Korman himself was only 12!
posted by telegraph at 7:26 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by telegraph at 7:26 PM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
What's for Lunch, Charley? One of my favorites as a child!
posted by Oriole Adams at 7:39 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by Oriole Adams at 7:39 PM on May 13, 2013
Terrible, Horrible Edie and the other Cares family books by E.C. Spykman. Filled with great characters, especially Edie who is a holy terror.
posted by OolooKitty at 7:40 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by OolooKitty at 7:40 PM on May 13, 2013
Freaky Friday and Billions for Boris and Summer Switch by Mary Rodgers. I'm 40 and I kind of want to go read them all again right now. And then I'll read Harriet the Spy again.
posted by artychoke at 8:40 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by artychoke at 8:40 PM on May 13, 2013
TINTIN.
posted by chiffonade at 9:29 PM on May 13, 2013
posted by chiffonade at 9:29 PM on May 13, 2013
Oh yes, Tintin! I devoured those endlessly for so many years. I think Bone would be good too, though it does start to get more serious partway through.
I'm mildly surprised no one has suggested Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. They are very funny, which here means "amusing if only because you can congratulate yourself on your own life being much better than that of these poor unfortunate orphans".
And absolutely Yotsubato. The main character is probably about 4-5, but has friends who are about your daughter's age and older. It is HILARIOUS. The kind of books I read when I'm sad to cheer up, or happy because I'm happy, or pretty much anytime. I'm trying to think of some sample anecdotes to sell you, but I'd just ruin them cause there's so much in the facial expressions and the timing. They are made of awesome.
posted by Athanassiel at 9:55 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm mildly surprised no one has suggested Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. They are very funny, which here means "amusing if only because you can congratulate yourself on your own life being much better than that of these poor unfortunate orphans".
And absolutely Yotsubato. The main character is probably about 4-5, but has friends who are about your daughter's age and older. It is HILARIOUS. The kind of books I read when I'm sad to cheer up, or happy because I'm happy, or pretty much anytime. I'm trying to think of some sample anecdotes to sell you, but I'd just ruin them cause there's so much in the facial expressions and the timing. They are made of awesome.
posted by Athanassiel at 9:55 PM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
What about The Last Dragonslayer series by Jasper Fforde? It's suggested for ages 12 and up, but it's less intense than the later Harry Potter books. Here's a breakdown of Things About the Book which parents may be interested in before handing it to their kids. I personally rate it higher in overall quality than they do, but what can you do?
posted by Eumachia L F at 1:09 AM on May 14, 2013
posted by Eumachia L F at 1:09 AM on May 14, 2013
I think she'd really like the Anastasia Krupnik series. I adored them at her age, and for years after. They're very funny and smart. To the extent that at thirty-(cough) this has given me the notion that I'd like to read them again...
posted by billiebee at 1:42 AM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by billiebee at 1:42 AM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Slice of life books with a spunky, funny, female character: the Clarice Bean series by Lauren Child, who also writes the picture book/cartoon series Charlie and Lola.
One of the great things about this series is that Clarice Bean is totally obsessed with her heroine, Ruby Redfort, a Bond-esque 13-year-old spy girl in a series of books. And now Lauren Child is writing the Ruby Redfort books as well! So much fun.
posted by clerestory at 2:06 AM on May 14, 2013
One of the great things about this series is that Clarice Bean is totally obsessed with her heroine, Ruby Redfort, a Bond-esque 13-year-old spy girl in a series of books. And now Lauren Child is writing the Ruby Redfort books as well! So much fun.
posted by clerestory at 2:06 AM on May 14, 2013
The Just William stories are great. Very, very specific to their era and location, but brilliant.
posted by Acheman at 3:19 AM on May 14, 2013
posted by Acheman at 3:19 AM on May 14, 2013
Seems like she might be the right age for stuff like Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume. Both Spinelli and Blume have fairly deep catalogs, but those two are the hijinks type characters that standout in my memory from around that age.
Although if she's gotten through that much Harry Potter, she might find those too easy.
posted by dogwalker at 4:40 AM on May 14, 2013
Although if she's gotten through that much Harry Potter, she might find those too easy.
posted by dogwalker at 4:40 AM on May 14, 2013
Yes to Gordon Korman, and not just the Bruno and Boots books, but also the following (if you can find them):
No Coins Please
I Want to Go Home
Who Is Bugs Potter?
Our Man Weston
He's got a bunch of other terrific ones, too, but some of them are set in high school so may be less appealing -- these ones are more solidly middle-grade.
posted by cider at 6:15 AM on May 14, 2013
No Coins Please
I Want to Go Home
Who Is Bugs Potter?
Our Man Weston
He's got a bunch of other terrific ones, too, but some of them are set in high school so may be less appealing -- these ones are more solidly middle-grade.
posted by cider at 6:15 AM on May 14, 2013
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:17 AM on May 14, 2013
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:17 AM on May 14, 2013
Seconding both Just William and the Emil books. I loved Emil and the Soup Tureen.
posted by tavegyl at 9:06 AM on May 14, 2013
posted by tavegyl at 9:06 AM on May 14, 2013
I loved a book called Pongwiffy at her age, about a witch who didn't want to fit in with the rest of the coven. I think it was a series.
Jacqueline Wilson is massively popular here with her age group - Girls In Love might be a bit old for her, and some people find the books a little depressing as some of them centre around adoption or divorce, but Tracey Beaker is very very funny.
She might also like comic book characters like Minnie The Minx.
posted by mippy at 9:37 AM on May 14, 2013
Jacqueline Wilson is massively popular here with her age group - Girls In Love might be a bit old for her, and some people find the books a little depressing as some of them centre around adoption or divorce, but Tracey Beaker is very very funny.
She might also like comic book characters like Minnie The Minx.
posted by mippy at 9:37 AM on May 14, 2013
I loved the Bunnicula novels as a kid - Celery Stalks at Midnight and Howliday Inn,
posted by parakeetdog at 1:24 PM on May 14, 2013
posted by parakeetdog at 1:24 PM on May 14, 2013
My nine year old daughter really likes the Mr Gum series and anything by David Walliams.
And she recently laughed her way through Jeeves in the Offing by PG Wodehouse, but that might not apply to all nine year olds.
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets at 3:02 PM on May 14, 2013
And she recently laughed her way through Jeeves in the Offing by PG Wodehouse, but that might not apply to all nine year olds.
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets at 3:02 PM on May 14, 2013
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posted by something something at 2:31 PM on May 13, 2013 [6 favorites]