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leight leight
 
February 10, 2009 07:05 AM

If you could recommend any great captivating books to a teen boy - what would they be?

I'm always looking to find books to recommend to my 15 yr. old son that will expand his horizons. He just finished Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions". What books made a difference in your life as a teen that you'd recommend?
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sylvia sylvia
 
 February 11, 2009 10:57 PM
My boys started out loving the Artemis Fowl books and then of course the Harry Potter series. As they got to be 15 they started reading the Dresden Files ( Harry Potter on steroids ) and when they were 15 to 17 they tore through anything written by Lee Child.

I was worried about them missing out on the classics and so I have given them books by Shakespeare ( started out with kid versions which helped - and they actually seemed to get it ), then Mark Twain, Hemingway, Crane and other american lit authors. The classic that they loved the most was Beowulf - they totally could picture it because of the video games they had been playing. That was the one that surprised me the most.

But for fun they love the action, sci-fi/fantasy books. My oldest son is currently reading the Watchmen.

PS All of these books pretty much deal with mayhem and monsters. So if you have a more tender hearted teenage son then I would recommend the Shadow Children Series and Peak.
Source(s):
Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)

Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, No. 1)

Watchmen

Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1)

Peak

Asker's Rating:
• Thanks so much for all the answers... Sylvia - I particularly appreciated your answer because it gave such a great breath and scope of books...and the links are great. My son is a big Potter fan and Fowl fan...and you reminded me of some more classics we'll have to make sure he reads.


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bernz bernz
 
February 18, 2009 01:38 AM
Samuel Clemens (writing as Mark Twain) was certainly one of the best authors the USA has ever produced, particularly with respect to satire, which is a very important genre for becoming a sophisticated thinker.

His writing has the rare ability to make me actually LOL after having become so jaded by modern culture (especially people who type LOL a lot). ;-)

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hobinrood hobinrood
 
February 10, 2009 08:22 AM
The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden

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kra2us kra2us
 
February 10, 2009 08:47 AM
Enders game, Enders Shadow, and Shadow of the Hegemon by orson scott card.

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leight leight
 
February 11, 2009 11:17 PM
He loved Ender's Game and he's reading Ender in Exile right now...thanks so much for the suggestions.

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chattrbox9... chattrbox9...
 
February 10, 2009 09:37 AM
boot camp- todd strasser
jude-kate morgenroth
you dont know me-david klass

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drmatt drmatt
 
February 10, 2009 03:35 PM
The Crystal Cave series by Mary Stuart

A GREAT take on the Arthurian legend.

http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Cave-Arthurian-Saga-Book/dp/0449911616

ALSO...

The Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony
This one starts with On A Pale Horse, which is about Death (and how he gets his job) and goes through other immortals such as Time, War and Earth, and Evil. Great great series and certainly gave me a different viewpoint of these topics.

http://www.amazon.com/Pale-Horse-Incarnations-Immortality-Bk/dp/0345338588/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s;=books&qid;=1234280047&sr;=1-1

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leight leight
 
February 11, 2009 11:19 PM
Many thanks for the recommendations. I'm not familiar with either of these series...and they sound right up his alley. Thanks again!

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kaji kaji
 
February 10, 2009 04:11 PM
Robert Heinlein novels. Hand him a copy of "Starship Troopers" or "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".

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bernz bernz
 
February 10, 2009 05:31 PM
Second for 'Ender's Game', but if he is ready for SERIOUS reading, he should get the 'Foundation (Trilogy)' by one of the greatest SF masters, I. Asimov. The story is awesome, both in scope and concept, and the writing -- well, I already mentioned the author's name. :-)

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irishsteph... irishsteph...
 
February 11, 2009 10:56 PM
I would recommend Stephen King's newest book of short stroies called Just After Sunset. It's not scary (honest - VERY unlike is early work), and also not racy (if you get my meaning) but very thought provoking. And hey, when I was a teen, that's how I got into reading. I read King's Skeleton Crew and then Salem's Lot, and after that, I read everything I could get my hands on!! I was.... 14 when I started reading his stuff - I'm 35 now, and read every night without fail.
Something else that kind of made me read more - cheesy, yes, but worth looking into is comic books - they give you a sense of drama and something to always look forward to each month. I'm an X-men fan (Marvel Comics). Wildstorm Comics has some cool art and interesting storylines that a teen boy might be into. Hope that helps!!
Source(s):
My own mind and experience and Wikipedia.


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