Book recommendations (fantasy for a 9 year old and his mother)

[arkessian]

I have a 9 year old nephew with (probably) Aspergers. He and his mother love fantasy and are listening to books while she crochets and he knits (loom knitting).

I'm looking for age-appropriate book recommendations. They've worked their way through a lot of David Eddings (eek) and his mother is considering Anne McCaffery (I've pointed her at a few reasons I'm not wild about that choice either....) 

Harry Potter comes with its own author-baggage but the content is IIRC less problematic. I shall suggest The Hobbit...

What else ought I suggest?

Comments

[marthawells]

I'd suggest Stephanie Burgis' books, The Princess Who Flew With Dragons, Snowspelled, etc. It's more age appropriate but I've read some and enjoyed them too. Kwame Mbalia's Tristan Strong books and Last Gate of the Emperor. Greg van Eekout's kids books like Voyage of the Dogs or Cog. Jenn Reese. Ursula Vernon.

I feel like there's some obvious ones I'm missing, but if I think of anymore I'll come back.

[sartorias]

The Rick Riordan series are aimed a younger readers with brisk pacing and plenty of humor, and don't carry that baggage.

[graculus]

Diana Wynne Jones is probably going to be a good choice - I'd suggest starting with The Lives of Christopher Chant, as the first of the Chrestomanci books, or with Howl's Moving Castle.

As someone else has recommended, the Rick Riordan Presents series are worth checking out - they're all written about different cultures, but by authors from that culture as he's really used his influence for good.

[arkessian]

Thanks all and keep them coming! There are a lot of winter nights coming up that will need brightening with books.