So, I don't worry too much, usually, about what level of books DS10 is reading, but I do like for his AR scores to end up somewhere in the realm of reality at the end of the year. Left to his own devices he'll just read Diary of a Wimpy Kid or the Middle School books over and over... both are about level 4. Last year we threw the Hobbit in, but I'm not sure what to add in this year. He's reading the new Miss Peregrin's novel, but I highly doubt that book is in the AR system.

I think I'm going to suggest Ready Player One to him, as the central theme is right up his alley, but I'd love some other suggestions!

Is he accelerated? If not I just started adult books at that age. There are far more books aimed at that age group than there were then though.

Harry Potter, if he has not yet read it. For lovers of fantasy I recommend The Chrestomanci Series by Diana Wynne Jones. (http://www.goodreads.com/series/43763-chrestomanci) Unfortunately this series is not in the AR system. My son liked the Magyk series by Septimus Heap at about that age. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, but only if you son likes that kind of humor. The unfortunate Events have a fairly high lexile level compared to their length.

One suggestion is to have him look through a selection of Newbery Medal books and runners up. Most of these books would be at your son's reading level and are excellent literature on top of it.
Whittington by Alan Armstrong
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I know Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is in the AR system. DD9 read it last year - I believe it was a 5.?. Is there another book besides this one? Please say there is - we really liked it (I read it too)!

I've been trying to talk DD9 into starting the Warriors/Seekers books by Erin Hunter. There are several books in each series and they seem to be fairly popular around our local 5th/6th grade kids. I believe those are anywhere from high 4's to 6's depending on the book.

If he hasn't tried out Harry Potter yet, you can see if he bites on those.

DD9 loved the Lemony Snicket's books last year and those I believe are all mid-6 up to maybe 7.

I'm sure I will think of more and I'll ask DD9 what she has really enjoyed.

I see I was typing at the same time as some others and we came up with some of the same books.

I looked up the Chrestomanci books to see if that might be something our girls would like to try and it looks like they are in the AR system.

Just an FYI - We use www.arbookfind.com to check out levels all the time. We have marked all of our books at home so we know what level and how many points each book is worth. It is just easier for the girls to grab something off the shelves and check it before they decide to read it because they have to get so many AR points per quarter for school.

DS9 really loved the Redwall books. I read the first one and found it really well written. He did, eventually, tire of them and didn't complete the series. But the first 10 or so bought me a peaceful summer without "mooo-ooom what can I read?!?!"

I would recommend these books for all kids regardless of gender. Diana Wynne Jones was a wonderful writer of both young adult and adult fantasy.

I'll have to look up this Miss Peregrine thing for DD!

I would recommend the Mysterious Benedict Society (5.6 to 6.3) books, if he hasn't already read them.

Also Simon Bloom, Gravity Keeper (it's a 4.9 but Simon is a 6th grader and I wouldn't count it out for older, as it's fascinating science-magic) and Simon Bloom, The Octopus Effect (5.3).

The Artemis Fowl books are terrific -- they're 4.something to 6.something.

John Grisham's Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer books are good, 5.somethings. I think Artemis Fowl is considerably more complex than those, so I'm not sure how they rate things.

The Golden Compass series
Redwall
Inkheart/Inkspell/Inkdeath

Awesome list so far! Thank you guys! (He's read Harry Potter, the Golden Compass, Holes, and a few of the Artemis Fowl books already, but y'all listed a ton he hasn't tried!)

The second book in the Miss Peregrine series is out and it's called 'Hollow City'! I haven't read it yet - waiting for DS to finish it first.

ETA: No, he's not accelerated, he's in grade 4...

I asked DD9 last night what has been her favorite book as of late and she told me Inkheart and the follow up books to it (Inkspell & Inkdeath), so another vote for those. These books are 5th grade level, but they are pretty thick books.

I, myself, enjoyed the Golden Compass (Dark Materials) series, but I don't think DD9 has read those yet. I remember thinking she would probably like that series because she read one of the Familiars books by Adam Jay Epstein and wanted to constantly discuss with me the familiars themselves and what they could do. The Familiars books are 6th grade level.

Benedict Society (mentioned by Nautigal) is already on our short list and so is The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.

Septimus Heap
Eragon
The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown
The Emerald Atlas
The Books of Elsewhere
Diana Wynne Jones's books
The Phoenix and The Carpet (this is a series)
Neil Gaiman's children's books

Note--I have not checked reading levels on these, but I think they're in the ballpark. DD has read most of these or has them on ther list.

Ahh, yes, definitely Inkheart, etc. -- although I have only read the first one, and got sidetracked on other things before getting to the rest.

Do they read Where the Red Fern Grows at your school? When I was in school, it was a 4th grade tradition, and in my kids' school it's a 5th grade tradition. It's very sad at the end, though -- our 5th grade teacher has to bring someone else in to read the last bit because it makes him cry too much.

There are other old standbys -- Island of the Blue Dolphins, the Black Stallion books, etc.

Giving this thread a well deserved bump

Thanks for the tip on Artemis Fowl my DD loved it! Got to get more now - looks as though Disney are starting a movie too.

The Miss Peregrine ones are next up on the 'tasting menu' for DD, she is staring Ender's Game now which I hope she will like.

The 'mocking jay' trilogy (hunger games) also had her and her friends' attention for a while.

They're starting movies of Artemis Fowl? Awesome! There's eight more books I can make my son read before going to the movies.

Err...yes, it's actually me who reads all those things I recommended.... A middle-grade book is one of the things I'm writing, so *ahem* "it's research".

It would be hard to not love Ender's Game it is great as is the rest of the series.
DD just read "A Tale Dark and Grimm" and loved probably 5th ish grade. Not sure if it is on the AR list though.