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

[sartorias]

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