Teen Boys enjoy a little more darkness and intensity to their adventure. In these stories, conflict and adventure abound. However, I enjoy these books, because they include the stories boys enjoy, but avoid heavy use of violence or evil. Also, the young James Bond is a completely moral character (unlike his adult counterpart).
Click any of these covers for more details:
For other ages and interest, see my other summer reading lists.
Hi Libby,
You have a great list of page turners for teens and young aduls – I also love your images.
The real question that needs to be answered is: are the books we give our teens and young adults stimulating enough to encourage boys to read and can they relate to them?
I found in Australia there were insufficient adventure books for the post-modern teenage boy that not only challenged them to read more but also inspired them to further themselves in creative adventure.
To fill the void I wrote a trilogy with an unlikely teenager who became the hero he never wanted to be but what a nation needed. The novels, Only The Brave Dare, Canyon and A Rite Of Passage see Scott Morrow have to battle with Russian drug Mafia; a life and death situation during a canyoning incident and warring motorcycle gangs. From all this a hero emerged.
The books are based on real life where today’s teenager would feel right at home participating in the events the books are based on. They also fire up boys drives to do more outdoors and learn new skills to have a lot more fun.
I took the teenage book challenge to a new height when I wrote Finding Thomas, which is about a near death experience. Here a teenage boy ‘dies’ on the operating table but is revived. He can now see and talk with spirits and teams up with the dead son of his father’s boss to stop both men being murdered by a rogue cop.
Finding Thomas pushes the boundaries in relation to life after death and again, what would the teenage reader do in the circumstances presented.
Please keep up the good work with your lists of top books for teenagers to read as parents need a good guide for their children too.
Christopher
http://www.christopherholcroft.net