Can reading be an EC?

mathmom
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:53:37 +0000

Mathmom is here. Mathson is another example of a kid who got 800s on the CR due to a lifelong habit of reading. He read the usual suspects: lots of sci fi and fantasy (indluding some fantasy that’s aimed at girls such as Tamora Pierce’s books). He doesn’t read anything that would be considered literary for pleasure.

For middle school age boys good choices might be:
Card’s Ender series (mentioned above)
David Weber (military sci fi)
Star Wars books (especially those written by Timothy Zahn - younger son swears they are better than you’d think)
Zahn has written some stand alone novels - I’ve read the Dragonback ones - fast paces adventures - enjoyable though not earthshaking
The Artemis Fowl books
Tamora Pierce (though it’s all spunky heroines)
Lord of the Rings
John Christopher wrote the Tripod books - they are good
The forever War - Haldeman I think
Larry Niven
Diana Wynne Jones - clever fantasy - some aimed at younger kids, but many more grown up books as well
Turner’s Thief series is top notch - I loved the setting for this unusal fantasy
Robin McKinley - spunky heroines appeal to the girls, but my boys loved her books

On the non sci-fi fantasy front - I really liked Bloor’s Tangerine. (Which has a sports angle.)
Historical fiction lovers might like Rosemary Sutcliffe’s books set in the Roman Empire mostly.