Book recommendation for young teen

[sandiegokristi]

My stepson is thirteen years old and an avid reader. I was hoping to get some great book recommendations. He will read anything! He is currently reading Edgar Allen Poe unabridged but prefers novels. Thank you.

[SquibsNCrackers]

Fantasy recommendations: (assuming he's read Tolkien)

Terry Brooks Sword of Shannara
Philip Pullman His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, etc.)
Jules Verne (all) The Mysterious Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days
Allison Croggon The Pellinor Series

"Classics" recomendations:

Arthur Conan-Doyle Sherlock Holmes (complete)
Robert Louis Stevenson Treasure Island, Kidnapped
Mark Twain Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, short stories
Dickens Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations
James Fenimore Cooper Deerslayer, Pathfinder, Last of the Mohicans (these have to hit a person at just the right place and time or they just don't grab ya, so ... grain of salt)
Herman Melville Moby Dick
Nordhoff and Hall Mutiny on the Bounty
C.S. Forester Captain Horation Hornblower
Richard Henry Dana Two Years Before the Mast
Rawlings The Yearling


Is he interested in science fiction? If so,

Isaac Asimov ... I, Robot and Foundation series
H.G. Wells The Time Machine, War of the Worlds
Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

"he will read anything" ... Calvin & Hobbes, Complete Works of Shakespeare

[gradmama]

This is a great list - thank you! I think my dds might benefit this Christmas/b-days.

[sandiegokristi]

Awesome book recommendations! Thank you! My DSS loved the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, so I will definitely be looking into the other sci-fi recommendations. His birthday is January 1st, so I appreciate having so many suggestions!

[katybear mama]

Another vote for Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Eragon/Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (read the reviews to see if it's not "too adult" for your stepson)

I have not yet read Neverwhere, but heard great things about it, along with Coraline by the same author.

Hope this helps!

[KurumiSophia]

Following the excellent sci-fi and fantasy recommendations from previous posts, I'm going to add:

The Dragonrider of Pern books by Anne McCaffery
The Cleric Quintet, The Dark Elf Trilogy, The Icewindale Trilogy, and the subsequent Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore
The novelizations of the Star Wars movies

Does he like comic books? There are several graphic novels out now that collect together some of the best story lines from X-Men, Batman, etc. Manga (depending on the series) could also be a good idea.

[SquibsNCrackers]

Thought of some more fantasy recommendations:

Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave/Hollow Hills/Last Enchantment trilogy
Ursula K. Leguin, Wizard of Earthsea trilogy
Susan Cooper, Dark is Rising series
Cornelia Funke, Inkheart (and others)
T.A. Barron, Great Tree of Avalon series (I haven't read these but have heard good things about them)

Has he read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster? This is called a children's book but I don't think of it that way. It's just a really funny, great read.

Something completely different (and delightful) are Gerald Durrell's books: Birds, Beasts and Relatives; My Family and Other Animals. These are humorous accounts of the author/zoologist's life growing up on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930's/1940's. 5 Stars!

Also, just because he's a boy doesn't mean he wouldn't enjoy Jane Austen or the Brontes ... plus it would make him a great date later on ....

[spring978]

I second
Eragon/Eldest by Christopher Paolini

also anything by Orson scott Card Ender is a good place to start


Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

[ancoda]

Another good fantasy writer is David Eddings. He has several good series.

[operamommy]

I'm going to third or fourth the "Dark Materials" series suggestions. My ds1 (age 12) just began The Subtle Knife after finishing The Golden Compass. He LOVED the first and is really enjoying the second so far.

Also, another vote for the "Peter and the Starcatchers" trilogy. I just discovered the third one at a bookstore the other day and bought it to give to ds1 for Christmas; he's going to be soooo excited.

[SquibsNCrackers]

Just thought of other kind of creepy but exciting reads for this age:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Dracula by Bram Stoker (okay, depends on the family)
Complete works of Edgar Allan Poe

[Nousername]

My son is enjoying the Anthony Horowitz novels--probably fluff, but he zips through them. He also recently enjoyed Crispin, Cross of Lead by Avi and its sequels.