A few of my friends have children (about 10 yrs old) who never caught onto the Harry Potter craze but were anxious to spark their interest in reading. Warming them up with a few choice flicks (Avatar the Last Airbender, Spirited Away, Princess Bride), they were willing to take the plunge and try a few books that I recommended. The funny result was that the parents enjoyed the novels as much as their kids did. Here's a few that caught their attention that stray from the Harry Potter route:
The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix
(Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen)
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
(The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate)
I was depressed to discover that talks and progress of a film adaptation of The Amulet of Samarkand has sputtered to a resounding halt after the early passing of acclaimed filmmakers Sidney Pollack and Anthony Minghella. I still wonder if this film will be picked up again, or if any studio will attempt The Abhorsen series.
