We’ve been struggling to find new books for my 4th grade son. He loved Harry Potter so we’ve been exploring other mystery series’ and got a list from another group and our summer library reading program recs. He loved the first Stuart Gibbs book and read it all the first day we brought it home from the library. Once you find an author she likes, it’s easy to find their other books and other similar author / genre recs. Some may be too mature like “solve a murder” and not worse than HP IMO, but others are less so, like “solve the case of a missing zoo animal.”
When I was her age I loved historical narration books, like about a girl during pioneer times or a kid’s experiences during WWII. I think there are better modern books on those topics than the whitewashed books I read in the 80s.
Here’s some of his library holds (and he’s only read the last two).
We just came across Stuart Gibbs and his Spy School series. DS is finishing 3rd grade and loves them. He also loved Magic Tree House, Diary of a Whimpy Kid and Wings of Fire.
A few books that my 8 year old has recently enjoyed: - Hatchet - My Side of the Mountain - Paper Wishes - Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales (American history graphic novel series) - Redwood Pioneer - Tom Gates (series) - 13 Story Treehouse (series) - Ranger in Time (historical fiction series) - Children of the Longhouse
A bit easier reads, but very age appropriate -- The Puppy Place series My Weird School series A to Z Mysteries The Purrmaids series
Will she read ebooks? My older DD had a summer where she was reading a chapter book or two a night (because she was in that same in between stage so the chapter books were shorter). I got her to read ebooks from the library, which made life a lot easier.
She might, we did them during virtual school so she could follow along as the teacher read on video.
But I would have to get her a paper white. We’re pretty no tablets before bed and that’s when she reads the most.
We aim for a solid hour of screen free before her “bedtime” on school nights.
I got DS1 the kids Paperwhite and it's been great.