(Again, like last week, it can be hard to draw a line between what is suitable for ‘younger’ and ‘older’ readers because of the variety of tastes and abilities of children. Today I’m looking at what suggestions I have for about age 10+ but won’t include Young Adult (YA) literature. That deserves its own post.)
The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is by famed author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne. This book is his newest release and again takes the reader back to Europe during World War Two – into the home of Adolf Hitler, where the orphan Pierrot has been brought to work; a place of danger, as you’d no doubt expect. I thought The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was great, and so I’d be very happy to pick this one up too.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not! 2016 is the latest in its annual series of ‘weird and wonderful (and icky)’ titles. I think the book trailer will explain better than I can.
I’m reading Atmospheric – the burning story of climate change by Carole Wilkinson at the moment, and we recently went to a local event to hear her talk about environmentalism and how we can all do our bit to help conserve non-renewable energy. The science in the book is broken down and explained well, with the occasional picture and graph. There are also short stories throughout, told by characters living in different time periods, talking about the arduous conditions they endure. I learned something about Victorian times mining from one such story (they had weak stomach muscles from bending over all the time, which makes sense). If you have a tween, or teen, interested in this subject, I recommend this book.
This next title, The Steal like an Artist Journal by Austin Kleon, is one I wouldn’t mind Santa slipping into my stocking (hint, hint). Launched off the mega-success of his Steal like an Artist, The Steal like an Artist Journal is where Kleon offers suggestions, creative prompts (we all know how much I love those!), encouragement and whimsy for creative types. Terrific for someone who loves to pick up a pen and pencil to see where their imagination takes them.
My last choice is Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. You might be familiar with Riordan’s name from the Percy Jackson series of books. This Magnus Chase is the first in a new series, which takes inspiration from Norse mythology. Here’s the trailer.
