Book Help
Does anybody have any good book suggestions for a 13 year old boy, bored out of his brains? I am desperate. So is he. We would forever be indebted to you. I’m so frustrated with the lack of good books for boys-maybe I’m just not looking in the right places, but how many times can one read the Harry Potter or Pendragon series?
I've got some ideas for you – from my 13-year-old boy. Please be aware I haven't read most of these myself.
The Gatekeepers series by Anthony Horowitz
Edge Chronicles series by Paul Stewart
Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott
The 39 Clues series (various authors)
Dragon Codex series by R.D. Henham
He also likes his Dad's Phule's Company series but I think that is more adult.
Has he read The Hobbit? Jackson LOVED it this summer. It's not intense like Lord of the Rings.
Louis Lamore. Author of a western series my husband loved as a boy. I haven't read them but he can't wait to introduce them to our sons 🙂
My son enjoyed the James Patterson Maximum Ride series.
My boys love the Five Ancestors series by Jeff Stone. It actually inspired them to all learn Chinese. We also loved Endurance: Shacklton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. True story and lots of adventure. The Prydain Chronicles series by Lloyd Alexander is also really good. Michael Vey, Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Anderson has been a recent favorite. Good luck.
My 13 year old nephew is a big fan of the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy. His older brother enjoyed the Inheritance Cycle books by Christopher Paolini (Eragon is the 1st book) and the Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud (The Amulet of Samarkand is the 1st book) when he was 13-ish. I'd also recommend Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series and books by Lloyd Alexander, but he may have read those already….
Second the comment about Louis L'Amour. The Lonesome Gods or Walking Drum are by boys favs.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My 13 year old has read the Last Dragon Chronicles series, the Hobbit, the Hardy boys, the Kane Chronicles series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, Lorien Legacies series,Infinity Blade, the Hunger Games, Calvin and Hobbes…need to get him more, he's getting bored too. Was thinking the Lord of the Rings next, and I read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and thought it would be good for him too.
I remember really liking the series by Lloyd Alexander, The Chronicles of Prydain. (I have that on my list to get for my boys when they get older). (Amazon says they are for 3rd grade and up, but they were in the Teen section of our library growing up) Another interesting series in similar style is The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. Very interesting, but intense Good v. Evil battle. I also highly recommend The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis if he hasn't read them yet.
His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman is great. Also the Belgariad series by David Eddings is AMAZING! There are quite a few books in the series. There is a second series after called The Mallorean. Also great! I read these as an adult and couldn't put them down. My husband read them when he was 13 and loved them so much that when he finished the last book he was so sad to see the characters go that he picked the first book right back up and read them all a second time!
Sorry I repeated some, I didn't see those, but maybe "two votes" will help! 🙂 One more I have on my list to get, a series called The Knights of Arrethtae by Chuck Black, a series written by a dad who was frustrated about the lack of books w/ good male role models for boys. Again, not read but I'm going to be adding to our library soon–with 4 boys, I think it will be a good investment! 🙂
Try the Redwall Series by Brian Jacques. If he likes, there are many!
Second Votes for:
The Five Ancestors
The Secrets of Droon
I got caught up in The Five Ancestors. I have them all and would be willing to loan them to you.
Among the Hidden Series by Margaret Petersen Haddix they are easy quick reads but the kind that you can't wait to read the next book to see what is going to happen.
Encyclopedia Brown or Hardy Boys are always classics.If he reads way abov ehis reading level then he should tackle the Newbery winners.
I won't repeat a bunch that have already been said, but some more that my kids have loved are the Fablehaven series, The Beyonders, Sister's Grimm, Leven Thumps, Eragon. I've read *most* of them as well and have really liked them!
My nephew has really enjoyed the Kane series by Rick Riordan!
I won't repeat a bunch that have already been said, but some more that my kids have loved are the Fablehaven series, The Beyonders, Sister's Grimm, Leven Thumps, Eragon. I've read *most* of them as well and have really liked them!
The Leviathan series (Leviathan, Behemoth, Goliath) by Scott Westerfeld is a good young teen series.
I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation of The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper (Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on the Tree).
As an aside, I noticed your 2013 reading list as I was writing the comment and just had to say that I love the book Lyddie by Katherine Patterson. I read it many times when I was little.
Brandon mull – candy shop war and fablehaven, 39 clues, Lloyd Alexander, Rangers apprentice series, sky ship academy,Eoin colder -airman( the best) he also wrote Artemis fowl series, slathbog's gold by m.l. Foreman, Percy Jackson series by Riordan, Rick Riordan also has some other series as well can't think of the titles.
Here's another vote for the Redwall series.
Sorry it's Eoin Colfer for Airman and the Artemis fowl series.
not sure if this is a repeat, anything by Brandon Mull. Fablehaven, Candy Shop War, Beyonders, etc. He is a great writer, and not to mention great guy. (I grew up with him and his family. Wonderful people.)
The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart
Peter and the Starcatchers: the backstory on how Peter Pan became Peter Pan.
Well. When I took an elementary education children's literature course a few years ago, I read some classics that I would definitely recommend for a 13 year old. 1. The Black Cauldron (I never watched the movie, but the book is SO good!) 2. Frindle (this one is kinda funny) and 3. Tuck Everlasting (again I never watched the movie so it wasn't ruined for me). Also, if you or Abby want a good book to read (based on true events!), try Charlotte's Rose by Cannon. Oh man I cried in that one. It's about a pioneer girl (12 years old) who ends up taking care of a newborn girl when the mother dies in childbirth, and she carries her across the plains. I think I might go read that one again, just remembering it! 🙂
I second Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series and His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. I don't think Philip Reeve's books have been mentioned. There is a great series called The Hungry City Chronicles and they are pretty cool and steampunk-ish…
didn't read through all the suggestions, but my 13 year old looooves Roald Dahl…and when my older son was about that age, maybe 14 he loved the series The Dream House Kings by Robert Liparulo(I dont know if this one may be a bit 'scary' or too much for him)..not sure of what different kids can handle..I read it and they didn't scare me, but they were different. Even the abridged version of Sherlock Holmes may be something he would enjoy…
I second it for : The Beyonders, Sister's Grimm, Leven Thumps, Eragon, and the 39 clues series. My boys LOVED them all.
I hear you on finding good books for boys! I would second Calvin and Hobbes, most books by Roald Dahl – esp. The BFG or The Witches. James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and both Charlies are good as well. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry is another amusing story and if he (or both of you) is into these genres – Lemony Snicket books or Neil Gaiman books for kids – i.e. Coraline or the Graveyard Book
Our favorite all-time series is Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. Written by a father for his young teenage son because he couldn't find enough good, interesting books for him. Very clean, I've read them all myself. I know your son would like them.
A while back I got my kids to write a list of their favourite chapter books in a number of topics… this post is the result: dozens and dozens of fabulous books that my kids have read and enjoyed – hopefully there is some inspiration in there for you: http://www.se7en.org.za/2011/04/15/se7en-of-the-best-bazillion-chapter-books-a-book-bonanza
I second so many of the books already listed and will add a couple new ones. Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl is one of my favs and as I have introduced it to each of my kids they have loved it too. My kids also read the Charlie Bone series and loved it. And last but not least, has he read many Newberry award winners? There are some great ones. The Westing Game, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, The Giver, to name a few. Okay, just one more…Where the Red Fern Grows. My son read it at about that age and he cried so hard at the end, which made me cry too, but it is a great book! Now a question for you, Do you have any great book suggestions for a boy age 16 who has read just about everything? I'm looking for books that will help him branch out of his fantasy/fiction mode and think a little more about the world. Any suggestions in time for Valentine's Day would be great! 🙂 rkstodds at gmail dot com
I'm going to start bringing home classics for my son from the library- Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, things like that. My son has read and enjoyed most of the suggested books you've gotten so far. My husband wants to find the Great Brain series too.
Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. The best.
Definitely recommend the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan!
and some book reviews with more recs for you
Fantasy for Boys
http://sevenlittleaustralians.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/fantasy-books-for-boys.html
and Books for Boys
http://sevenlittleaustralians.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/boys-and-books.html
I figure he must be a good reader! I am a school librarian and none of the 12-13 year old boys at my school would touch most of the above! Robert Muchamore is popular at other schools for that age group. John Marsden's "Tomorrow when the War Begun" series is brilliant; Frindle is awesome; Michael Morpurgo is a storyteller like no other and I really like the Trouble Twister series by Garth Nix.
John Boyne and CS Lewis and Mrk Haddon are other authors he could try. Also Sally Grindley.
What about the Hardy Boys or Alfred Hitchcock? (memory is foggy as to whether these are age appropriate but I remember enjoying them in my youth :))
Another vote for Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series and I loved when I was 13 The Tripods Trilogy by John Christopher. All his books are great fantasy/sci if books actually. Emma
Hardy Boys & Warrior Cat series. These are great because there are many books to keep him entertained for quite awhile. I just started reading the Little Britches series with my family and we all enjoy it, from my husband all the way down to my four year old. It's like Little House on the Prairie, but for boys.
The first few are just good reads made more interesting because you are learning about ancient Greece and Egypt. And if you can wrap your mind around the fact that all of the kids in the Percy Jackson books were born if a relationship between a human and a god of Olympus. So it introduces that idea of mature relationships, but a lot of people I know who wouldn't let their kids read Harry Potter because of witches, had no problems with Percy Jackson.
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
These can have some teaching moments in them. They aren't just entertaining, but teach lessons of how would you live in this type of situation.
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau there are more, but these are not necessarily a series and the movie is NOTHING like the book
The Giver by Lois Lowry there are more but again it is not necessarily a series
The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins She also wrote The Hunger Games, but this series starts with Gregor, the main character, at 11. She has said she wants to explore the effects of war on children. By the end of the series he is about 14 or 15.
My nephew recommends "Incarceron" by Catherine Fisher. This is a 3 book series.
Brandon Mull's books are good.
I guess the real question is: What type of books does he like? If he is into magic, he might like the Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage.
Good luck.
If he is a mature reader, which I imagine he is, he might like to read The Book Thief by Mark Zusak. I'll leave it to you whether it is age-appropriate or not, but it is a fantastic read.
I see most of the books I was going to mention have already been shared in previous comments so I won't repeat. I will say that occasionally I will google "boys reading list" and see what I find. I do not homeschool but often find good recommendations from homeschoolers when I search for boys' book lists. Its a challenge to find quality books for my 3 boys.
I also highly recommend the Little Britches books- like Little House on the Prairie for teenage boys. Love those books. Did anyone else recommend Lois Lowry's The Giver? Very thought provoking.
What about Madeline L'engle's series? We read that when I was in school. CS Lewis is good, the Red Pony, Call of the Wild by Jack London. Hardy boys is good. Also there is a new book called Wonder that is very good.
If he likes Sci-Fi, check out Heinlein's Starman Jones, Have Spacesuit Will Travel, Farmer in the Sky, The Rolling Stones…they may be available from ebay or Amazon if not from the used bookstore. So many libraries nowadays get rid of old books that you can't just go to the library and get them anymore. Even if they are by well-known authors.
Little Britches series by Ralph Moody – true story of a 'real' boy growing up in Wyoming (I think). TinTin series by Herge – comic format, but so entertaining, even for older kids. Historical fiction by G. A. Henty. Classics – Jack London, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson.
I'd suggest Dianna Wynne Jones–everything I've read from her has been great, and she's written dozens of books, so enough to keep anyone busy for awhile. (Power of Three, Chrestomanci Series, Fire and Hemlock–which has references to many other great books within it). I also liked Lloyd Alexander (Chronicles of Prydain) and Susan Cooper (The Dark is Rising series) around that age. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and that entire series is also very good. The parallel series, Ender's Shadow is also reasonably good, and many other things by Card (Pastwatch, Enchantment).
"Airborn" and "Skybreaker" by Kenneth Oppel were favorites of my sons when they were younger. Also "Hatchet", "Brian's Winter" and "Brian's Return" by Gary Paulsen. Good Luck!
My son just read interstellar pig and singularity by William sleater. They are both science fiction and he really loved them. My brother in law read them in 7th grade and turned him on to them. Hugo cabaret was another book he loved.
Sarah, I missed this post! I'm being lazy and not reading thru the comments, so I apologize if these were recommended.
My absolutely, all-time, #1 fav book for boys (and the entire family) is
Hatchet. We listened to it and then my son had to read it. Then he read all 4 later books.
Artemis Fowl
The Outsiders (Billy just read this at school.)
I'll add more as I think of them. Of course Harry Potter and Narnia – most of those I read out loud to the kids. If he can't tackle something like Lord of the Rings – getting them on audio is a great alternative. (That's how I read them….and it's hours of listening.)
Some of Sam's favorite non-fantasy books have been the My Side of the Mountain series (there are three), The Sign of the Beaver, and Where the Red Fern Grows- all are about boys coming of age and growing up through taking on responsibility. Maybe he's already read these, but I had to make sure:-).
Another resource I would suggest is Sonlight's website. You don't have to order from them but you can get incredible lists of book suggestions based on age by looking through their curriculum cores. Some are Christian, many are not- ALL are excellent. I trust them completely.
Here are a couple blog posts I wrote on this theme. Be sure to check out comments for more ideas:
http://www.owlhaven.net/2012/11/26/christmas-books-for-teens-preteens-and-reluctant-readers/
http://www.owlhaven.net/2011/05/29/good-books-for-boys/
My son is 11 and just read "The Limit" with his school's "Boy's Book Club" and really enjoyed it. He's reading "Just Deserts" by Eric Walters for this month's selection and he's enjoying that. He's read other books by Eric Walters and has enjoyed them too.
Dark Life by Kay Falls.
It's about a group of people that have gone to try and colonize some farms underwater of the coast of New York since there is no more arritable land left. There's plenty of fun boy adventures – including pirates and x-men like super powers!
Holes by Louis Sacher, my brother loved that book!
The Crispin trilogy by Avi is great. Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Crispin: At the Edge of the World, and Crispin: The End of Time. My oldest read them when he was 12.
Authors: Gary Paulsen, Madeleine L'Engle, Lois Lowry.
Titles by other authors: Holes, The Red Pony, My Friend Flicka.
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George. My son read this book several times when he was in his early teens.
Great suggestions so far! I would also add anything by Jack London, Old Yeller & Savage Same by Fred Gipson. A great read aloud is also Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn.
Obert Skye's Lemmen Thumps series- five books. My ten year old started it last week too. So far- so good.
I HIGHLY recommend the Peter and the Starcatchers series by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, written as prequels to the classic Peter Pan story (where did Captain Hook come from, how did they all get trapped on that island, where did Peter learn to fly, etc). I think it was actually written for kids a bit younger than 13, but my husband and I enjoyed them! I would say it's in the same vein as Harry Potter with lots of adventure and imagination to keep people of all ages entertained.
Ridley Pearson has also written some other young adult novels. I don't know as much about them, but they're supposed to be great!
The Fablehaven and Eragon series are both so fun! If he like Harry Potter he would LOVE these! Good luck!
have him read 'okay for now'. then you read it. you will both LOVE IT!!
My son Jake is a huge fan of The 39 Clues books, the Eragon series and the Alex Rider Stormbreaker series – hope that helps!
I would say to try out this website also
http://www.boysread.org
My son read Tim Tebow's book (the kid version) and really enjoyed it
My 13ish boys have enjoyed the Redwall series, the Gideon trilogy by Linda Buckley-Archer, Little Britches, the Narnia series, and the Roman mysteries by Caroline Lawrence. I'm enjoying reading everyone's suggestions as I've never heard of some of these and will be looking into them.
I'm making notes on these great suggestions. They'll come in handy in a couple of years. 🙂
What about Alexandre Dumas' books? The Count of Monte Cristo is probably my favorite, but they're all dood adventure stories.
Check on the Conspiracy 365 series. You can purchase it on Amazon (where you can read reviews), or from an Independent Usborne Books Consultant (http://u3243.myubam.com/search?q=Conspiracy+365). My family has loved all of the Usborne Books that we have purchased for years now. In full disclosure I am a consultant, but I typically sell to school libraries and friends & family only.
In addition to the Conspiracy 365 series they have fantastic non-fiction books that my school aged children love.
So many great suggestions. Im a half hearted blogger and my last two posts were based on how to find good reads for kids. I have mostly girls but my oldest is a boy and before he had an iphone, he read all the time. There is a link from the Heights school (Catholic all boys school) on my blog which is an invaluable resource for great reads. Also, the sonlight catalog is wonderful. I would let the kids go through that and circle what appealed to them and then try to find those books at the library, save for Christmas, etc. If I havent lost you in my lengthy comment, I would like to know if you are on goodreads.com? A wonderful option for suggestions! I have been keeping track of our family reads for 3 years and it is really helpful when the kids want to know what so and so read when they were their age. If you look at my page, my son is categorized as "Eldest". Take a look at the dates and know that he is 17 now so your son might be interested in what Eldest read 3 years ago. . . Please let me know if you join!
Happy reading!
I liked anything by Lloyd Alexander when I was that age. 🙂
Has he read the Percy Jackson books? Or the Kane Chronicles, also by Riordan? My boys also love Fablehaven and The Mysterious Benedict Society. And it's a little higher reading level, but really great, he might like the Shannara books by Terri Brooks, too.
Oh, and my boys also love Peter and the Starcatchers and the rest of the books in that series as well.
My son just devoured the Indian and the Cupboard series.
I didn't read all of the comments, but I love having my kids read some of the older books. Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys, both by Wilson Rawls are both fabulous books for boys. Also a book my husband read in Jr High and recommended to me was called A Day No Pigs Would Die. I don't remember the author, but it is a pretty heavy coming-of-age story. Great to read together and discuss. My husband isn't much of a reader, so anything he recommends is usually excellent. Good luck!
Gary Paulsen books are great for boys. …Hatchet, Brian's Winter, etc.
Alex Rider (Horowitz). Highly recommended by a friend.
His Dark Materials trilogy (Philip Pullman) – I understand this has been banned in some US states and the mind boggles. It's as blasphemic as Harry Potter (ie NOT) but significantly better written and more gripping. Awesome books.
Swallows & Amazons series, i particularly liked Peter Duck and We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (Arthur Ransome). Old-school British books but timeless adventures.
The older Roald Dahl books are good.
Mossflower – can't remember the author, Jacques???
There's a series set in Ancient Rome by Caroline Lawrence, they are really very good.
Books by Bryce Courtenay, he is an Aussie author, I found his books stunning to read.
Agatha Cristie? Some cracking crime novels there.
Percy Jackson is well thought of.
Jack London is good.
I will try and remember the author of my favourite book at that age which is about a boy who ran away to the Catskills to live like Thoreau, 'My side of the Mountain' It's upstairs (my own copy) and I can't wait for my son to read it. A real coming of age novel, it won several awards.
Hiawatha (Longfellow) is poetry but not in the way that is off putting, I had a tape of it being read and the rhythm of that book and the story are awesome….'by the shining big sea water…. ", really evocative writing.
Tolkien – you can't retread The Hobbit too many times!
My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
Will check my son's bookshelves in the morning. He is 7 but a mind bogglingly good reader, so I search out good quality literature that challenges mentally without being inappropriate. I have bought several books in 'advance ' as well that I am waiting for him to grow into.
As you can see a lot of the books are pretty 'old' but I feel are really so well written that they never truly age, and you can pass them off as history 😉
I really don't like all this teenage pulp-fiction focussing on vampires, I can't see what the fuss is about, maybe I'm getting old?! 🙂
Happy reading!!
Ps Janey is a HONEY!
Oh and how could I forget?! Michael Morpurgo is a very famous writer here in the UK, I think he was/is the Children's Laureate writer and writes books that tackle interesting subjects from the point of view of a child or animal – he wrote Warhorse. All his books are wonderful, we are just starting a Dog called Shadow about the current war. Great teaching books about difficult subjects. We don't let my son read them to himself as he is emotionally very young for them, but brilliant to provoke discussion. Highly recommended.
My son (soon to be 12) started the Alex Rider series and loves it! His first choice is always historical fiction and non-fiction, but this series of spy mysteries really hooked him in!
The Maze Runner series by James Dashner was one I read this summer (and I'm a grown 30-something with 2 littles of my own… ha ha) and I really enjoyed it. Barnes & Noble says it's for ages 12-17: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maze-runner-james-dashner/1030996581?ean=9780385737951
You have a thousand books here but here is a list from my fav author, scroll down her left nav for her book lists for teens. http://www.tamora-pierce.com/recbooks/index.html
Also, the back roads, the perks of being a wallflower. These are serious books, mind you.he may not be ready.
I would mention a lot of what others have recommended, but won't repeat for sake of time. I tried to skim through, but didn't see anyone recommend Jules Verne. My son is almost 12 and loves his books.
I am a sixth grade English teacher and here are some popular titles with boys in my classes:
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikelson (one of my very favorites)
Charlie Bone series
Divergent & the sequel Insurgent
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Red Pyramid
The Graveyard Book
James Patterson's new series-the first book is titled, Middle School, The Worst Years of my Life
Wonder
The Wednesday Wars
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (another favorite of mine)
As a teacher (and mom of two boys), I love seeing boys reading! Makes my heart smile.
I'm taking notes for my 9 year old boy, there are some great ideas here, Thank You!
The Brother Band Chronicles by John Flanagan
I recommend "The Chronicles of Narnia," The Hardy boys and I've heard the Percy Jackson series is awesome, although I myself have not read them.
I cannot keep the book Soldier X on my classroom library shelves! I had to buy two more copies because the boys like it so much. (I teach 7th and 8th grade language arts.) They also like the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham.
Probably a little below that reading level but my kids enjoyed The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathon Rogers
Here is a link to an excellent article about the current lack of great books for boys. I'm sure your find some gems in the author's list at the end of the article.
http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/711
cue for treason
the secret fiord
My side of the mountain
Percy Jackson series
I saw one suggestion for the 'Little Britches" series by Ralph Moody. This is an amazing auto-biographical series based on Ralph's life in the American west of the early 1900's. Excellent!!!
I know I'm late to this book recommendation party, but I taught 8th grade English for 8 years until I had my first baby and now I'm a stay-at-home mommy to her and her baby sister. I didn't have time to read through all the other comments, but here are ones that I love:
Stick and Whittle (Sid Hite)
Touching Spirit Bear (Ben Mikaelsen)
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (Kimberly Willis Holt)
Wednesday Wars (Gary Schmidt)
I don't care too much for science fiction, and I definitely don't like bad words, so these fit into those categories.