I was reading Agatha Christie at that age, I think.
Glory ,'Potential'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
The Westing Game or The Tattoed Potato and Other Clues or any other book by Ellen Raskin (I'm not sure what age level they're at though). The Sally Lockhart books by Philip Pullman are good too.
Jesse, as was I. It was the quirks that caught me: Poirot's mustaches and morning chocolat, Ms. Marple being all pink and inexorable. But I really loved the Tommy and Tuppence ones best at that age. Not sure why.
Enid Blyton is good for a precocious reader who likes mysteries.
If you want contemporary, I'd strongly recommend Wendelin Van Draanen's Sammy Keyes Mysteries. I think the first one is either Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man or Sammy Keyes and the something Hotel.
Sammy is a total hoot. She is a 7th grader who always finds herself in trouble and at the center of something that needs solving.
I remember enjoying 1 minute mysteries around then, if that's what it's called.
And The Westing Game! Good call.
But I really loved the Tommy and Tuppence ones best at that age. Not sure why.
Me too! I reread one recently and still loved it, actually. It's because Tuppence is the best -- she's all cute and independent and capable and fun.
Actually, I need kid present book recs, too. My cousin is 6, but a really good reader. He read the first two Harry Potter, but they got too dark for him. Lemony Snicket ditto. My aunt mentioned things like Superfudge, but now I figure everyone else will get him that. I was thinking Phantom Tollbooth, but I wonder if he'll get the jokes?
He likes fantasy, Jesse?
As long as they aren't scary, I guess.
Maybe some Roald Dahl, Jesse?
Tommy and Tuppence were cool...very happening for 1925 or whenever...and there was a show, on pbs with a Francesca somebody... my one junior high friend and I got a big kick out of them. Yeah, I was softer-side Willow, then.