Someone asked today about books for teen boys, and I got to thinking that some of you might have the same question.
Teen boys are probably the hardest group to find great, engaging books for.
Here are a few off the top of my head...
Historical Fiction: Healing Water by Joyce Moyer Hostetter and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Futuristic: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (These are all the rage and they'll keep you turning pages, for sure, but they are violent. I recommend them for 14 and up), Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, The City of Ember Trilogy by Jeanne DuPrau, The Giver by Lois Lowry
Sci-fi: The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (has some irreverent language, for sure, but none of the really bad words. I'd recommend for 12 and up.)
Harry Potter! And the knock-offs that are actually really good: The Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Classic Series: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Narnia is very accessible-not as difficult as most classics)
Quick and Easy: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
Here are a few off the top of my head...
Historical Fiction: Healing Water by Joyce Moyer Hostetter and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Futuristic: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (These are all the rage and they'll keep you turning pages, for sure, but they are violent. I recommend them for 14 and up), Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, The City of Ember Trilogy by Jeanne DuPrau, The Giver by Lois Lowry
Sci-fi: The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (has some irreverent language, for sure, but none of the really bad words. I'd recommend for 12 and up.)
Harry Potter! And the knock-offs that are actually really good: The Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Classic Series: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Narnia is very accessible-not as difficult as most classics)
Quick and Easy: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
How about you? Do you have teen boys in your life? What are their favorites?
***Check out the comments. There are many, many, many more great ideas there...and, shhh, don't tell the boys, but girls will like these books, too.***
No teen boys here, but my husband reads YA novels a lot. One series that's appealed to him is the Ranger's Apprentice series. He also likes a couple you mentioned: Lord of the Rings and Hunger Games.
ReplyDeleteAnd I remember my brother liking Redwall when we were growing up.
I have yet to read any of these ... Hunger Games is next for me, though! I've heard it was amazing!
Oh! And for younger teens (or preteens): The Mysterious Benedict Society. I think boys AND girls would enjoy that one!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth. Those are all books that have been reviewed here. And, yes, Hunger Games is awesome.
ReplyDeleteOur boys (and my DH) have enjoyed, the Fablehaven series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, and of course there's the Artemis Fowl series. Those are the most recent, I'll have to ask them when they get home.
ReplyDeleteMy teen read a lot before high school, and now only has time to read for teachers.
ReplyDeleteMy tween however, has a voracious appetite for books. He's loved the ones you mentioned and those in the comments. I'll add the rest of the Giver trilogy, the Eragon series, The Outsiders, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time (about 10 books), Leven Thumps Series by Obert Skye, the Storm Testament series by Lee Nelson(his Aunt gave them for Christmas and he tore through them), The Pen Dragon series by DJ MacHale, The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare, Holes, The Hatchet and other Gary Paulsen books.
How could I have forgotten Percy Jackson?! These books really move the plot along quickly. Lots of action. My oldest son also likes an out of print, choose your own adventure series called Lone Wolf. He wanted (and received) the last book in the series for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the Leven Thumps series ... it's a really fun series. Also, the Alex Rider series is great for boys. The Alex Rider series are kind of a teenage James Bond plot line, so they've captivated my YA-reading nephews.
ReplyDeleteI have a few to add to the list. The Maze Runner by James Dashner is awesome. His book was listed as one of the best books for young adults last year by B&N, which normally wouldn't mean anything to me, but because I loved the book, I think it's cool. Also, Elantris by Brandon Sanderson is amazing. Anything by Sanderson is amazing, but his Mistborn series does have some violence in it, not gory, terrible stuff, but some.
ReplyDeleteAwesome suggestions here! Keep 'em coming! You're all fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI read the Heir Trilogy (Warrior Heir, Wizard Heir, and Dragon Heir) by Cinda Williams Chima this past fall, and I absolutely loved them. I have no doubt they'd appeal to teen boys. They were awesome.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many great ones listed here, and so many more that I need to read (soon)! Then when my boys reach the tween/teen years I'll have some fabulous suggestions to give them:).
I read "The Hunger Games" and loved it! I'm 15 (and I'm a girl!!) I think it would be a really good idea if you mentioned that girls would like it too (if you want to) I love your site thanks so much!!
ReplyDelete~Kit
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a great read for teen boys and clean too! I would highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteThe Chonicles of Ancient Darkness is a great series from British author Michelle Paver (tween and up). Also The Theif(trilogy, #4 out in March!)by Megan Whalen Turner,the Montmorency Series by Eleanor Updale, The Book of Mordred by Vivian Vande Velde and lastly The Sea of Trolls (trilogy) by Nancy Farmer. It should also be noted that my daughter has enjoyed all of these books as well.
ReplyDeleteAwesome list!
ReplyDeleteI commented earlier saying anything by Brandon Sanderson, but I thought I should specifically say his Alcatraz series. The titles of the books are lame and the covers are lame as well, BUT the stories are awesome. These books (three so far) would be perfect for young teen boys, or even older boys who just want something fun to read. He wrote the first Alcatraz book after his Mistborn book. He needed something light and fun to write and came up with Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians. The books are hilarious and are very popular at our house with my husband and I. My son is only 3, so he's not a great judge of books yet:)
ReplyDeleteMy 11 year old just read The Alliance by Gerald Lund and really liked it. It was thought provoking for him. We had a good discussion afterwards. We are also getting the hunger game books from the library and looking forward to it. I'm working on getting him into some historical fiction-he's starting with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Any other suggestions?
ReplyDeleteMy son's favorite book of all time is The Transall Saga by Gary Paulsen, he has read it numerous times. He also loves the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. I got him to read The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer and he really liked it. (He doesn't like too many books. He's really picky.)
ReplyDeleteThe Fablehaven series is great! I've read it as well per my son's request. He is also trying to get me to read FarWorld which he says is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteLooking for books aimed specifically at boys aged 11-18? Try Christopher J. Holcroft's Scott Morrow adventure series.
ReplyDeleteThe books, Only The Brave Dare, CANYON and A Rite Of Passage, follow teenager Scott Morrow as he and his group of friends taken on a group of war hardened Russian Mafia; fight the raging elements during a major canyoning accident and finally take on a group of warring biker groups.
The books are fast paced and gripping yarns adults will love too. They are full of fun, adventure and suspense - not profanities.
Check out Only The Brave Dare and CANYON at www.poseidonbooks.com and A Rite Of Passage at Amazon. All books are published as paperbacks and ebooks.
If you want to hear excerpts and read the reviews from youths, go to www.christopherholcroft.com
Christopher
The website for author Christopher J. Holcroft has been updated to:
ReplyDeletewww.christopherholcroft.net