Recommended Reading - 14 Year Old Male

[justjulie]

Suggestions for a 14 year old male who does not like to read? Major ISU project due after the holidays - need suggestions for an engaging book - no science fiction - any ideas are greatly appreciated.

All I have so far is ..

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Colour of Water
Some sort of biography so he can relate it to real life

 

[Kewz1]

My son is 14 and really enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia (all 6 books). We are currently reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and it is a good, fun read too.

HTH!

Kristen

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

No Science Fiction? Good luck. Science fiction is the best hook for boys.

I recommend Ender's Game - the best book for boys that age ever written. It is Science Fiction.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What about history of some rock Bands or sports, biography of Bill Gates or something local?

What are his interests or hobbies?

There are so many things to choose from out there. Bring him to a bookstore or library and have him browse. I love books.

I was just at the library last night. My 14yodd had to finish an essay on the trial of Susan B Anthony VS New York.

 

[justjulie]

Unfortunately he cannot engage science fiction, he's not a big reader but his English course requires a major novel study but there is no list of recommended reading (it would be so much easier if they said you have to read one of the following) ...

 

[justjulie]

He considered To Kill a Mockingbird because it is in our home library but it is required reading for Grade 10 so he doesn't want to read it twice. He's a skateboard fanatic but there are very few biographies of skateboarders - in fact, I think the only one is Tony Hawk and it's hard to find ...

Keep the suggestions coming, I know "we" can figure this out - thanks all!

 

[disynut]

I know you said no sci-fi....how about fantasy? Rick Riordan's books are really good.

Does he like to do outdoor things(hunting, fishing, etc.)? Gary Paulsen is a good author for that type. He's probably read Hatchet, but there are sequels to it---another survival book is Alabama Moon(can't remember the author), supposed to be good, though I haven't read it yet, it got really good reviews.

I'll keep thinking....

 

[mjkacmom]

I gave dd14 The Kite Runner to read (and yes, I read it, and know abut the graphic boy rape scene - it's still a great book), and she also read The Lovely Bones. How about 19 Minutes? It's about a high school shooting. I just finished Roots, but it's a LONG book (but excellent - ds12 wants to read it).

 

[mjkacmom]

I know you said no sci-fi....how about fantasy? Rick Riordan's books are really good.

Does he like to do outdoor things(hunting, fishing, etc.)? Gary Paulsen is a good author for that type. He's probably read Hatchet, but there are sequels to it---another survival book is Alabama Moon(can't remember the author), supposed to be good, though I haven't read it yet, it got really good reviews.

I'll keep thinking....

Ds12 and dd9 LOVED Rick Riordan's books.

 

[LuvOrlando]

'Hunger Games' was fantastic and is extremely popular with that age group, well with many age groups really but I heard about it from my son.

You could also consider 'Tuesday's with Morrie' which is on our district's 10th grade reading list. Luckily, you might be able to find it on CD, I picked it up from my local library and it was very pleasant. The book is about conversations between the author and his mentor which took place during the mentor's struggle with ALS.

Both books are easy to digest, consider morality and are enjoyable.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

How about an epic Western, like Lonesome Dove? It won the Pulitzer, so it should qualify as "literature", though I think that snobs write those lists of books.

 

[NotUrsula]

Hunger Games is also often considered science fiction, though technically it isn't -- it's dystopian fiction (same genre as Orwell's 1984). Reading that one will set him up for nearly 1200 pages, because there is just no way he'll be able to read only the first book; he'll have to keep reading through Mockingjay. However, if the teacher won't allow SF, this series might be disqualified; it would depend on the teacher. (My DS' lit teacher gave him Hunger Games last year -- he now owns all 3 in hardcover, and asked me to put polyester covers on the dust jackets to preserve them. That's how much he loves those books.)

What I would suggest under the circumstances is that you call your library and find out when there will be a YA (young adult) specialist on duty, and take him down there to talk to him/her. Skilled YA librarians know how to interview a kid informally in order to get a good feel for the sort of thing that will appeal, and know their collections well enough to make a match between book and reader. (I'd be happy to help you if I could, but I haven't worked with YA readers in nearly 20 years.)

In the meantime, I'll offer this: the website of the YALSA notable books lists. These are chosen every year by a jury of experienced young adult librarians, both for the quality of the writing and the probable audience appeal. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bbyahome.cfm

Also, I wouldn't restrict him to young adult novels. As someone mentioned, Twain can be very good for this demographic (though of course if Twain was writing now, his best known works would definitely be marketed as YA titles.)

 

[SpecialK]

My 15-year old son read Of Mice and Men over the weekend. Classic but quick might entice a non-reader.

 

[justjulie]

You guys rock - thanks so much - keep them coming! Now we just have to get to the library before all the other students who have ISUs get there and scoop the books!

 

[justjulie]

Is required Grade 12 reading so that is out, unfortunately ...

 

[luvmykids]

My son is 13 1/2 and just had to read The Outsiders for his 8th grade English Class and could not put it down. He also does not read unless he has to although when made to he usually enjoys it.

 

[3smithboys]

I am actually on book 2 of the Hunger Gamer trilogy and loving them! My students were the ones who turned me on to them... can't wait to go back and finish book 2 tonight!!!

 

[englishteacha]

I teach middle school...my boys can't put down Hunger Games. They also love fantasy, like the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan. I can't believe sci-fi is out. Arg. I'd recommend so many books, but they're sci-fi! Some authors that are popular with my kids are Lois Lowry, S.E. Hinton, Gary Paulsen, Chris Crutcher, and Will Hobbs. Chris Crutcher writes tons of books about sports. One I liked a lot was "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes" about a boy who is an outcast due to his weight, and his best friend, Sarah, who was horribly burned and is disfigured. He joins the swim team and makes lots of friends but Sarah feels kind of abandoned. He ponders dropping out of swimming in order to support Sarah. Hence "Staying Fat" for her. It's a GREAT story. Very gripping.

One of my boys is reading a biography of Jimi Hendrix and really likes it, if a biography will be acceptable.

 

[Anne34]

My son is 13 1/2 and just had to read The Outsiders for his 8th grade English Class and could not put it down. He also does not read unless he has to although when made to he usually enjoys it.

My kids all read this in 8th grade and love it. They then watched the movie from the 70's and she fell in love with Rob Lowe. She couldn't believe it was the same guy when we showed her "Brothers & sisters" .

 

[NewCrew42]

My kids loved the Percy Jackson series as well as the Hunger Games.