Readers of YA: a question

[newsboyhat]

Those of you who have heard me talk about my brother know that he's not a voracious reader. I'm doing my best to suggest books he might like, only in recent years realizing that he might not like what I do, and not force any books upon him. Shocking, I know.

When he was in his early teens, some of the books he's read and enjoyed on his own are ttyl

Comments

[sartorias]

I ad success with reluctant reader boys with MacHale's Pendragon series. The writing is rough (I think) but the guys loved the stories.

[newsboyhat]

Thank you! I think you've mentioned those before, and I forgot... will find. And maybe read them myself.

Also, I spoke to a teen girl yesterday who was telling me that she just finished re-reading a book she first read when she was 11, and it was even better than she remembered. Imagine my squee when I asked her what book it was and she answered, Crown Duel. I've told her to go find A Stranger to Command. Thought you might like to know that!

[sartorias]

Thanks! :-) Another guy author who has a funny voice is Gordon Korman. Much better writer than MacHale, imo, but MacHale is super popular with the high school aged guy reader. He might be a bit old for Brian Jacques--but maybe not.

[penmage]

Ditto on the Gordon Korman, though Korman's earlier, and best stuff might be a little young for him, but hilarious for all ages. Try Losing Joe's Place, maybe.

[asakiyume]

I only know for a younger age--my son's 13 -_-

But I thought it was really interesting that he didn't think much of the guy in romance novels--it's precisely the problem that women have with women in boys'-own-adventure-style SF or Westerns, etc.

Speaking of A Stranger to Command, might he like that? Or is it too thinky?

[newsboyhat]

I know! He is a bit unusual among boys his age in that he prefers a bit of romance in his books (doesn't like action as much, he prefers novels focusing on social situations... maybe because he is lacking in that area).

I think I've tried giving him Stranger, to no avail. He's read Crown Duel but said the court half was too complicated. He's the opposite of me in that way, I love political intrigue and I think that overloads him.

[lnbw]

If he likes science fiction, give him Good Omens and Ender's Game. Both technically adult books, but I read the latter when I was 12 (and it's sometimes marketed as YA now anyway). Good Omens is hilarious. Ender's Game is more serious, but I'd still give it a try.

Of real YA, how about some Madeleine L'Engle or The Witch of Blackbird Pond?

[rachelmanija]

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series sounds right up his alley, though possibly it's a bit young. No romance so far, though.

Sarah Cross's Dull Boy is a Superman/X-Men retelling with the serial numbers filed off, light and funny and with an understated romance.

Perry Moore's Hero could be described almost exactly the same way (but more of a "every DC comic ever" retelling) except that the protagonist is gay.

I would also try Scott Westerfeld's Peeps - Leviathan is historical, so that may have been the element he didn't like. Peeps is a funny, light, contemporary vampire novel with a male lead.

I have reviews of all those on my LJ if you want more details, tagged by author: last name first name.

[newsboyhat]

Thank you so much! I'll definitely check those out... especially Dull Boy. I hope you found the missing pages!

[rachelmanija]

The publisher mailed me a replacement copy. It turned out that while, needless to say, those pages filled out missing information and had a couple good scenes, my judgment of the book overall didn't change: fun and fast-paced, but very slight.

[penmage]

I also really loved Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrigan.