My 9-year old son's class (mostly high readers) have loved the Wings of Fire series by Tui Sutherland (There's 10 so far in the series, mythical books about dragons). They can be kind of gory, but it doesn't seem to bother the class. What I have loved about them is how they showcase the different strengths and characteristics of each character. While there are several characters that are very academic and highly intelligent, there are others who are brave, funny, positive thinkers, etc. I thought it was an excellent choice for gifted kids to learn how to appreciate non-academic strengths.
