Edgar Rice Burroughs, particularly the Barsoom (Mars) books ... there's a movie coming out next March. :)
Tom Swift, Jr. (good luck finding those anywhere except the web)
Dinosaurs, Prehistoric Mammals (just about any of the new books will be fine, but lack the "wonder" of the Roy Chapman Andrews books from the 50s), the Ocean, Ships (naval, ie: sailing ships, early liners, etc.), Ancient History (pick an era: Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Phonecian), Middle History (Age of Exploration, Industrial Revolution), Current History (but pick and choose with care... look for histories not political speak... unless that's what you want to teach your kids).
Ellery Queen, Agatha Chritie, S S Van Dine... ie. Mysteries
L'Amour, Mulford, Grey, Fox Jr... ie. Westerns
War related like Caiden, Carrel, Catton (samples... different wars) depends on the child
Romance (list too expansive, and some get too steamy, but early Harlequins are fun)
Original Juvenile (Blyton, Burnett, Baum, Twain...) Nostalgia which allows of parents explaining the PC differences these days (unless you opt for the ABRIDGED VERSIONS and thus rob the child of an important learning)
As can be seen, I'm a reader, have been a reader, wish all were readers.
The political stuff from Aristotle to Suskind is probably a bit much.
And, tragically, Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, and Bacon are probably a bit advanced for that age-group.
But I do like that first suggestion best. Edgar Rice Burroughs... if not Barsoom, then Tarzan, or anything else he wrote.
