Entry point with younger reader

[Beaker]

So, I’m a big Sanderson fan. I even have a class set of Emperor’s Soul I teach sometimes in my English classes. 
 

My 8 year old son is a crazy advanced reader. At 6 he was reading at a grade 7 level. Not sure where he’s at now but it’s a lot. He reads voraciously on his own but we still read longer form stuff together before bed.It’s tricky balancing his reading and comprehension levels along with age appropriate content. I push things from time to time. We’ve read all the Harry Potter series and I have been venturing into some Sanderson with him. We’ve read all of the Alcatraz series, the Rithmarist, we’re on book 2 of the reckoners right now. Maybe we do skyward next? I haven’t read those myself yet. 

I’m going back and forth on an entry point to the Cosmere. Mistborn or stormlight seem the most reasonable choices (unless I’m forgetting something). Elantris maybe? Not warbreaker. 
 

what do you all think? 
 

cheers!

[+Lewis Nethur He/Him]

4 minutes ago, Beaker said:

So, I’m a big Sanderson fan. I even have a class set of Emperor’s Soul I teach sometimes in my English classes. 
 

My 8 year old son is a crazy advanced reader. At 6 he was reading at a grade 7 level. Not sure where he’s at now but it’s a lot. He reads voraciously on his own but we still read longer form stuff together before bed.It’s tricky balancing his reading and comprehension levels along with age appropriate content. I push things from time to time. We’ve read all the Harry Potter series and I have been venturing into some Sanderson with him. We’ve read all of the Alcatraz series, the Rithmarist, we’re on book 2 of the reckoners right now. Maybe we do skyward next? I haven’t read those myself yet. 

I’m going back and forth on an entry point to the Cosmere. Mistborn or stormlight seem the most reasonable choices (unless I’m forgetting something). Elantris maybe? Not warbreaker. 
 

what do you all think? 
 

cheers!

I think I would definitely lean hard towards mistborn over stormlight if you're considering it for an adolescent. My argument being: mistborn generally maintains much firmer lines and definitions about which side is "good" vs. "Bad" and, while severe emotional trauma and some violence are discussed, much less of it is focused on untreated mental illness, self-sabotage, or intentional manipulation and gaslighting by trusted family and friends. I wouldn't be too aghast at either option though. Goodluck!

[Treamayne]

17 hours ago, Beaker said:

I’m going back and forth on an entry point to the Cosmere. Mistborn or stormlight seem the most reasonable choices (unless I’m forgetting something). Elantris maybe? Not warbreaker. 
 

what do you all think?

For Cosmere: Tress of the Emerald Isle is likely the most age appropriate. In short fiction, Emperor's Soul and Sixth of the Dusk should be fine. Ditto with White Sand Graphic Novel.

With themes of childhood abuse and fear of rape, I would not recommend Mistborn for a pre-teen. In fact  would probably recommend swapping in other authors and stories so you can take your time with Sanderson content. Consider Marvel Prose Stories (novelization of comics, like Weapon X, Dark Phoenix, Days of Future Past, Venom Factor), Classics (Watership Down, Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, Narnia, Asimov, Jack London), Diane Duane (Young Wizards Series), Westing Game, Rick Riordan, Ursula K. LeGuin (Earthsea), Shawn Speakman (Annwn, Antiquity Grey), EnderVerse, E. E. Knight (Age of Fire - First trilogy), etc.

Please see the Reading Recommendations thread (link in my signature) for more ideas.

Edited October 21, 2024 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Beaker]

11 minutes ago, Treamayne said:

For Cosmere: Tress of the Emerald Isle is likely the most age appropriate. In short fiction, Emperor's Soul and Sixth of the Dusk should be fine. Ditto with White Sand Graphic Novel.

With themes of childhood abuse and fear of rape, I would not recommend Mistborn for a pre-teen. In fact  would probably recommend swapping in other authors and stories so you can take your time with Sanderson content. Consider Marvel Prose Stories (novelization of comics, like Weapon X, Dark Phoenix, Days of Future Past, Venom Factor), Classics (Watership Down, Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, Narnia, Asimov, Jack London), Diane Duane (Young Wizards Series), Westing Game, Rick Riordan, Ursula K. LeGuin (Earthsea), Shawn Speakman (Annwn, Antiquity Grey), EnderVerse, E. E> Knight (Age of Fire), etc.

Please see the Reading Recommendations thread (link in my signature) for more ideas.

Thanks!

yeah, we’ve read Narnia and all the Percy Jackson stuff. Will check out some of the others. We’ve got a bit before we get through the reckoners and skyward anyways.

theres really only a few bits of mistborn I worry about (the opening scene and some of the straff venture stuff) but it’s enough for me to hold off a bit. 
 

I didn’t even read white sands with him, he just found book 1 and snuck it off my shelf and read it himself haha.

I'm just impatient . 

[Treamayne]

23 minutes ago, Beaker said:

I didn’t even read white sands with him, he just found book 1 and snuck it off my shelf and read it himself haha.

If possible, I recommend the Omnibus - the addition of the Ars Arcanum makes a significant difference.

[Dunkum he/him]

1 hour ago, Treamayne said:

For Cosmere: Tress of the Emerald Isle is likely the most age appropriate. In short fiction, Emperor's Soul and Sixth of the Dusk should be fine. Ditto with White Sand Graphic Novel.

I'll second Tress for a younger reader. I wasn't even thinking about it until I read this, but now that I am, i'd say its the best choice