Children's Books discussion

Recommendations? (Appoligies if this is in the wrong place, I've never commented on GR before.)

For dad to read to son. Boy is 8 but maybe we can read slightly above age level (The Hobbit, Wrinkle in Time), just not looking for certain adult themes (death of a parent is fine, gore and sex no). So this ruled out Ready Player One.

I was hopeing for something cyberpunk, but would love ANY science fiction for this age level I've heard that cyberpunk definitionally is violent. I don't buy it or I don't care. I'd love a book about a boy or girl that 'jacks' into a corporate mainframe to stop the corporation from integrating magic into their 'netbots'--whatever you want to call it, there's no reason this has to be violent at the level I'm trying to avoid. I'd call it cyberpunk; but hopefully you know what I mean. That said, if humanity never thought to write 'cyberpunk for 10-year-olds, I'd appreciate ANY science fiction at this age group. Heck, any recommendations at all, if you cant think of science fiction.

Thanks!

Not sure if his work is translated in English, but Tais Teng wrote some action-packed sci-fi for kids (8 to 12).
Loved his books at that age.

Jenny Nimmo's Charlie Bone series perhaps.

I haven't read it but The Angel Experiment is sci-fi for tweens. It might be too old for your kiddo though.

Nephew #2 (11) is into dragon fantasy books. I'll ask if he has any interest in sci fi if I get a chance to talk to him. He's not a talker unless his teenage sister is in a mood.

Thanks everyone for your recs! These are great!

Andre Norton wrote a couple of series quite a few years ago but they still hold up pretty well.

Star Ka'at, 1976
Star Ka'at World, 1978
Star Ka'Ats and the Plant People, 1979
Star Ka'Ats and the Winged Warriors, 1981

They are all about two kids who become involved with an alien race of cat people.

And the Magic series, some of which your son might dismiss as being for girls (Octagon Magic, Lavender-Green Magic and Red Hart Magic) while the others should be OK.

Steel Magic, 1965
Octagon Magic, 1967
Fur Magic, 1968
Dragon Magic, 1972
Lavender-Green Magic, 1974
Red Hart Magic, 1976
Dragon Mage, 2008

a new one that fits your criteria beautifully is Happy Town, by Greg van Eeekhout https://www.bing.com/search?q=greg+va...

The True Meaning of Smekday SF alien invasion, exciting w/ themes that might be a bit too complex for an 8 yo. One of the most recent serious (but funny) SF for middle grades.

The Forgotten Door Short but memorable, the theme is again more complex, but is presented clearly. One of my favorites when I was younger but I think it holds up.

User Unfriendly and others by Vivian Vande Velde Cyber-something marketed to young teens. Technologically probably a bit dated but they sure are exciting.
(I don't think of cyberpunk as being specifically violent, or as being niche at all, so I don't know whether that tag fits these books.)