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Original poster

Age appropriate books for advanced reader 13yr old boy

60 replies

Frozentoo · 12/05/2025 21:14

Son is (almost) 13 and an advanced reader. Struggling to find books that are interesting for him that are age appropriate and don't contain sex/go on about relationships/too graphic in violent scenes as lots of young adult books seem to.
He loves crime, spy, thriller types that are more realistic, though did really enjoy the northern lights series and power of 5.
As an idea has recently read all the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham and enjoyed it but read it so quickly - over Easter hols he read at least a book a day! Any ideas?

OP posts:
Annascaul · 12/05/2025 21:30

Mum2jenny · 12/05/2025 21:15

At that age, my dc was allowed to read whatever they wanted.

Yes. How “advanced” a reader can you actually be at thirteen? It’s kind of expected they they can all read fluently long before 13…

BobbyBiscuits · 12/05/2025 21:30

It depends on what themes and authors he likes. But any adult literature should be suitable for a confident reader of 13. He doesn't need censorship of content in written fiction form I don't think.

Pancakeflipper · 12/05/2025 21:28

One of my DS's liked the Robert Muchamore series Cherub and another series he did.

lnks · 12/05/2025 21:27

CurlyhairedAssassin · 12/05/2025 21:26

What about some gothic horror type stuff?

Some Stephen King?

I second Stephen King. DD loves all of his books

CurlyhairedAssassin · 12/05/2025 21:26

What about some gothic horror type stuff?

Some Stephen King?

Original poster
Frozentoo · 12/05/2025 21:24

Brilliant - will try those suggestions - thank you!
Yes, he avidly read all the Alex Riders when he was 9 - that's what got him into reading and he's not stopped since!!

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 12/05/2025 21:24

If he's secondary age and an advanced reader I'd honestly let him choose whatever he wanted. Theodore Boone, Power of Five etc are exactly the type of age that those series are designed for. I would have said an advanced 13 year old reader would be looking beyond that sort of thing, more towards adult genres, some of the classics. I enjoyed some Dickens at that age, has he tried any? A Tale of Two Cities might be a good start.

Needmorelego · 12/05/2025 21:21

Has he read all the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz?
The adult Anthony Horowitz murder mystery books are pretty good (he's done 2 different series at the same time - the Magpie Murder series and the Hawthorn (?) series.
Adult John Grishams aren't particularly violent. He might enjoy those as he's read Theodore Boone.

IndyCymru · 12/05/2025 21:20

Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch books are pretty suitable. They’re detective novels which aren’t too violent and there’s over 20 of them. Ben Macintyre writes spy and historical non-fiction which reads as fiction - he’s a fantastic writer.

Mum2jenny · 12/05/2025 21:15

At that age, my dc was allowed to read whatever they wanted.

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