10 books my 10 year old is obsessed with
My daughter has become quite an avid reader. She devours books before I can even catch the whole plotline from her. I wanted to share some of these titles with you in case you are looking for great books for 10-year-olds. I’m pretty sure she wears out our local librarians looking for the next adventure to go on. These are on different reading levels because she simply reads what she enjoys.
Books for 10 Year Olds
If you are more conservative you may not like some of these titles as I let her read fantasy books and I don’t ban books with a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship in them. I will say that many of these books are fabulous and she has thoroughly enjoyed them.
Harry Potter
I think Harry Potter will always hold a special place in her heart. It was her first chapter book series that she genuinely enjoyed reading without my help. She got lost in the adventure and the magical story. For a time I was sure that everything in my home would be based on Harry Potter. She even wore Harry Potter Mickey Ears to Disney! This is a great series to let your child read or read aloud with them.
What is Harry Potter about?
“Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!”
Land of Stories
I was nervous we wouldn’t find a book series to follow up Harry Potter because she loved it so much. Then we discovered Land of Stories. She has fallen in love with this series. How could you not fall in love with a story about jumping into other stories? Chris Colfer is an incredible author and has definitely captured her imagination.
What is Land of Stories about?
“The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.”
Get your Land of Stories Printable Bookmarks
My daughter even made a video for the More Than a Homeschool Kid Youtube channel to share more about this series.
Fairy Tale Reform School
This is the newest series my daughter is enjoying. She says that this book is a lot of fun because it is a princess but with a strong female role. I have a feeling this will continue to be a favorite. She doesn’t even know there is a third book yet but I have a feeling when I tell her it will be on her library wish list.
What is Fairy Tale Reform School about?
“
Gilly wouldn’t call herself wicked, exactly. But when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run-down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly’s a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself).
Until she gets caught.
Gilly’s sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School where all of the teachers are former (super-scary) villains like the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella’s Wicked Stepmother. Harsh. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there’s more to this school than its heroic mission.
There’s a battle brewing and Gilly has to wonder…just how good these bad guys really are?”
Half Upon a Time
I asked her why she loves this series and she said, “I like twisted fairy tales. I like how you have a constant adventure and barely any downtime. In the first chapter or two, it is a bit slow but the rest is non-stop action.” She checked out this entire series and I see her finishing them really quickly.
What is Half Upon a Time about?
“Jack lives in a fantasy world. Really. He’s the son of the infamous Jack who stole the magic beans from the giant, and he’s working hard to restore his family’s reputation. He finds the perfect opportunity when a “princess” lands in front of him, apparently from the land of Punk, as her Punk Princess t-shirt implies. May is from our world, and she’s utterly confused to find herself in the midst of the fairy tale characters she has read about. But Jack and May have more in common than they realize–and together, they embark on a hilarious and wild adventure in this highly accessible, modern middle-grade fantasy novel.”
Percy Jackson Series
We are reading this series as a family and really enjoying it. My daughter said she loves Percy Jackson because it is very intriguing and it easily grabs her attention. She said she gives up on a book if it takes too long to pick up. It does a good job of getting you into the action quickly. She also loves that there is a character that is dyslexic like her.
What is Percy Jackson about?
“Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.”
Spiderwick Chronicles
This series is a quicker read. It is smaller but it doesn’t sacrifice story to make it shorter. The story is a ton of fun and really captivated her attention. She spin off series based on these books. She says this would be a good book to read if you are a struggling reader. It is a good start before larger books.
What is Spiderwick Chronicles about?
“After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they’ve just moved into, Jared; his twin brother, Simon; and their older sister, Mallory, discover that there’s a magical and maybe dangerous world existing parallel to our own—the world of faerie.
The Grace children want to share their story, but the faeries will do everything possible to stop them…”
Faerieground Series
These are shorter books. They are easy reads and have a really well written fantasy story. There are a lot of twists and turns. It helps to have the entire series because each book ends on a cliffhanger. The last book is a little darker so you may want to screen that one first if you have certain rules with your child.
What is Faerieground about?
“Lucy and Soli are best friends . . . until Soli wishes Lucy away.”
Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist
This series is very much like a young Newt Scamander from Fantastic Beasts. His parents died in a plane crash and his mission is to solve a mystery about different beasts using only a book from a close relative and a little help from a friend. My daughter says this is a really fun series that your kids won’t want to put down.
What is Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist about?
“Nathaniel Fludd’s life has taken a turn for the worst. With his parents lost at sea, he lands on the doorstep of a distant cousin—the world’s last remaining beastologist. Soon Nate is whisked off on his first expedition, to Arabia, where the world’s only phoenix prepares to lay its new egg. When disaster strikes, Nate quickly finds himself all alone.
Will he be able to see the phoenix safely hatched, keep his accidental pet gremlin out of trouble, and rescue his guardian from the Bedouin? If he fails, nothing will stand between the world’s mythical creatures and extinction. Too bad Nate’s not the sort of boy who enjoys adventure . . .yet.”
Kingdom Keepers
If your child is a Disney fan at all you don’t want to miss this series! Take an adventure into the parks after night fall as some of the most famous characters come to life in a really unique way. Some of these can get scary. If you have a sensitive child they may not enjoy it as much.
What is Kingdom Keepers about?
“In this fantastical thriller, five young teens tapped as models for theme park “guides” find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls. Using a cutting-edge technology called DHI–which stands for both Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging–Finn Whitman, an Orlando teen, and four other kids are transformed into hologram projections that guide guests through the park. The new technology turns out, however, to have unexpected effects that are both thrilling and scary.”
Series of Unfortunate Events
My daughter wasn’t thrilled about this series the first time she read it. However, after watching the Netflix series from this book she quickly changed her mind. She had to know what was coming next. These books are smaller so they are easier to fly through. She really enjoyed them.
What is Series of Unfortunate Events about?
“Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odor.”
