Good Kid's Books for Boys

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mystagogia

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Hi,

Does anybody have any recommendations for good books for young boys. In my own case, I’ve got two, a 7 year old and a 12 year old. The 12 year old poses the dreaded pre-teen “everything sucks” problems, so this and the teen age group are of particular interest.

What are your recommendations?

Thanks!
 
My nephews enjoyed matching wits with Encyclopedia Brown; you could also try something from the Hardy Boys series or “The Chronicles of Narnia”. If all else fails, take them to the public library and let them choose and check out books that appeal to them.
 
QUOTE=Catholic1954;5238040]My nephews enjoyed matching wits with Encyclopedia Brown; you could also try something from the Hardy Boys series or “The Chronicles of Narnia”. If all else fails, take them to the public library and let them choose and check out books that appeal to them.
I have read many types of literature, but not all. Some reading matter may seem obviously harmful, helpful, uplifting, educational, entertaining, etc. The Hardy Boys series is very good in many ways. Murder mysteries always seem a bit morbid to me, but a good purpose to reading matter is to develop the intellect and vocabulary. These and the Nancy Drew stories are generally good, clean, interesting and educational reading. My childhood favorites were written by Thornton W. Burgess, a naturalist, in the early 1900s. The Little House On The Prairie series is excellent for decent reading and for the historical perspective which runs through it. Our childrens’ favorites were the above-mentioned and Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, plus his “Castaways of the Flying Dutchman” series. I have read some of them and they are entertaining and humorous and vocabulary-building.
 
My son (10) likes non-fiction better than novels, so we get mostly science books. Books about spiders, lizards, chemistry, machines, this sort of thing. He also likes science fiction–Isaac Asimov, Star Wars, anything involving robots. As for faith books, I bought one called 131 FUNdamental Facts for Catholic Kids that he really liked. I just set him free in the religious goods store and let him pick what appealed to him. You may not necessarily want to do that in Barnes & Noble if you’re afraid they’ll pick something that conflicts with your family’s values, but if you’re reading together, that may provide an opportunity for dialogue.
 
Father Finn’s Famous Three - are older novels about atholic boys, but really good reading.
Percy Winn
Tom Playfair
and I can’t remember the other one, my kids love them along with many of those already mentioned.
 
How about Gary Paulsen books? He wrote Hatchet, Brian’s Winter* and several others. They’re adventure stories that, in my opinion, will appeal to someone who is interested in the outdoors and wilderness survival. If I remember correctly, they were required reading in my 6th grade English class.

Another idea for the older boy might be to look at the recommended reading list for his grade level and use the authors on the list as a starting point in the library. He might also be getting to the age where mystery writers, like Stephen King, are really appealing.

Within your boundaries of appropriateness, do your best to let him choose. You might be surprised.*
 
I have recently discovered a fanasy series call the Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan. (Recently as a few years ago when I was a college student, I love young adult fiction). The main character is a boy, an orphan, who wants to become a knight but is too small. Instead he gets apprenticed to a Ranger. The story line is quick and interesting,with very funny dialoge, and great characters. The vocab might be a little tough for the 7 year old, but it is a great series with battles and forest adventures.

caveat: I think the adult character swears once in the second book? And the third book is darker and deals with topics like addiction.
 
jilly4ski said:
I have recently discovered a fanasy series call the Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan. (Recently as a few years ago when I was a college student, I love young adult fiction). The main character is a boy, an orphan, who wants to become a knight but is too small. Instead he gets apprenticed to a Ranger. The story line is quick and interesting,with very funny dialoge, and great characters. The vocab might be a little tough for the 7 year old, but it is a great series with battles and forest adventures.

caveat: I think the adult character swears once in the second book? And the third book is darker and deals with topics like addiction.
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This is an interesting thread!
The characters in Thornton Burgess’ books include Unc’ Billy Possum, Sammy Jay, Chatterer the red squirrel, Peter Rabbit, (who changed his name to Peter Cottontail for a while) and lots of others who have a lot to say about the real fauna and flora world in all seasons and situations. A moral is offered at the end or beginning of each episode.
The Brian’s Winter book is one my son Brian read and recommended (and I read); he also read the one called Hatchet. Pendragon and Ranger’s Apprentice are some he reads multiple times. Brian Jaques is an interesting person as a writer and citizen. His Mossflower was read by all three of our children until it actually disintegrated. Hard-covers were later purchased by our youngest to replace their literary treasures!
 
My son is 11 and has …on his own…checked out some of the classics. Some of them he is reading or has read in school (and will ask his teacher for an extra copy for me to read)
Treasure Island.
Where the Red Fern Grows…

He has checked out from the library:
War of the Worlds (I have not read this yet though)

He is now reading Moby Dick.

I think a PP said to let him decide his reading material (the 12 yo). Just read it along with him too. It sparks great book discussions. Boys usually give one word answers to questions but when you read the same material, you would be surprised at the discussions that follow. I also find it interesting to discuss the book because something he focused on in the book, I didn’t necessarily pick up on.

For the 7 yo:
I read the narnia series to my son at that age. He chose which one he wanted to get into first (we didn’t go in order). I read a chapter a night to him before bed. He enjoyed the half hour we got to spend just he and I. I enjoyed the snuggle time too.

Hope this helps. Bravo to you mom for encouraging them to read.
 
How about the Hobbit and LOTR? You may have to read these to him, depending on the reading level he’s at, but they’re great books. My now 7yo brother was read the Hobbit several years ago and my 9yo brother is being read LOTR.

Also Harry Potter, Diana Wynne Jones (never really got into her books myself, but know people who love them), Lloyd Alexander (same), Hardy Boys, Nicholas Fisk, The Great Brain,…there are so many good books!
 
I love this thread thank you for opening it.

I have seen the book series 39 clues for my reluctant 8 year old reader. I am wondering if anyone here has heard of these and can give me a heads up on these books. I keep coming across them but I am always unsure of these books.
 
Haven’t read the replies, but here are my son’s favorites.

For your older son
Brian Jacques Redwall series–long and pretty high reading level
The Warrior series (about clans of cats)–easier reading level
Percy Jackson series
Indian in the Cupboard (there is also a sequel)
Castle in the Attic and sequel
My Side of the Mountain and sequel
Farmer Boy (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
Vision saints Lives (he’s read all the boy saints! lol )

For your younger son
Magic Treehouse series
Arthur (Marc Brown)
Frog and Toad
Amelia Bedilia series
Beverly Cleary books
Encyclopeadia Brown series

My son didn’t read too well at this age, so I read to him all the time. We read Narinia, King Arthur ledgends, other longer books like Phantom Toolbooth.
 
Wonderful thread!
Charlotte’s Web is great to read to a younger one. Reading to another is a really good way to gain and give respect. It’s truly a shared experience of great value.
 
My 11 year old took an interest in the trailblazer series of books by Dave and Neta Jackson. They are a good series of adventure books where the main characters tend to be boys. The trailblazer books also have good Christian messages to each of them. Also there are the Fabian Windeatt saint books, required reading in our house. Windeatt writes to about a 5th grade level of comprehension while at the same time engaging readers and listeners of most all ages quite well. Our parish priest recently reccomended Caryll Houselander who has written both children’s and adult’s books. After some prodding I finally got my kids to read the one Houselander book given to us. My 10 year old girl and my eleven year old boy quite enjoyed the “More Catholic Tales for boys and girls” . The book is an easy to read series of short stories with good Catholic message.
 
geemom said:
My 11 year old took an interest in the trailblazer series of books by Dave and Neta Jackson. They are a good series of adventure books where the main characters tend to be boys. The trailblazer books also have good Christian messages to each of them. Also there are the Fabian Windeatt saint books, required reading in our house. Windeatt writes to about a 5th grade level of comprehension while at the same time engaging readers and listeners of most all ages quite well. Our parish priest recently reccomended Caryll Houselander who has written both children’s and adult’s books. After some prodding I finally got my kids to read the one Houselander book given to us. My 10 year old girl and my eleven year old boy quite enjoyed the “More Catholic Tales for boys and girls” . The book is an easy to read series of short stories with good Catholic message.
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Gee, Mom!
Thanks for the tips on Catholic and Christian oriented books. I haven’t heard about much of that sort of fare for youngsters. Our youngest is 17 already, but as you say, this sort of good reading can be engaging for other age groups as well. Thanks again for the wholesome recommendations.
A favorite picture of mine, that I took about ten years ago, is of our now 20 yr.-old daughter lying on the couch reading The Book Of Virtues, by William J. Bennett (c.: 1993). This has stories and adages from many cultures and faiths. I can’t find the picture, but it is a great memory anyway. God bless you and yours, always:thumbsup: Colmcille&Kin
 
Our sons have loved Roald Dahl books- there’s James & the Giant Peach and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, of course, but look beyond those, too- he wrote a ton of them and they really are funny, not at all saccharine, and might be appealing in that way for your tween.
 
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