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Original poster

Recommendations for read aloud novels for a 13 yr old boy

106 replies

IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 04:47

My son is a strong all rounder academically but his teachers here in the USA after some testing said that he could do with more reading to improve his language arts. I'm sure this is down to screen time and no reading. So DH and I thought it would be a good idea to have a family read aloud each evening to keep his interest. I am hoping you can all give some good suggestions. He is quite analytical and a sophisticated thinker, he surprises me with the interesting things he has to say. He just recently self-diagnosed a medical condition after consulting with Dr. Google. As an American kid I think Dickens will leave him cold. Good characters and a great plot from any genre is fine. He did live in Germany from 2-8 so has lived in different cultures. As we will be reading, plus possibly his 16 yr old sister (although during the school year she is likely to have too much homework) please suggest a good crowd pleaser.

Thanks in advance and very interested to hear your suggestions. Classic American novels might be a good idea. I thought of The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison but thought that could be too dark for a 13 yr old. I enjoyed Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. Some books that come to mind have content that is not necessarily appropriate or interesting to a 13 yr old ( he was 13 in June).

OP posts:
matahairyy · 09/08/2019 04:48

Why not an audio book. Then he’s in charge

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 04:51

We want to do a family activity and need him to do some reading himself rather than just listening.

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Heratnumber7 · 09/08/2019 04:52

Have a look at the City of Ember series.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

13 year olds 16 year olds Children's books
Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 04:52

Left to himself it won't happen or it will feel like punishment. He generally enjoys doing activities with us.

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matahairyy · 09/08/2019 05:07

Christ. Must be the only 13 yo boy in the world who wants story time with his parents.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:24

Wow sarcasm. We're a family that hangs out a lot and talks to each other, never realized that was strange. DH has a half day tomorrow and is taking him and our 16 yr old camping in the mountains, is that also strange? DS is 5' 10" so will be hauling the kayaks around.

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Redcliff · 09/08/2019 05:26

Have you done all the Harry Potter books?

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:28

Well we just had a Harry Potter marathon of the films earlier in the summer (at the kids request) so don't think he'd want to read them right now.

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Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:29

I introduced him to Sherlock Holmes and he binge watched every episode on Netflix over a few days.

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FenellaMaxwell · 09/08/2019 05:30

Are any of you any good at reading aloud? If not, I would suggest an audiobook.

Stories-wise, The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver are very good. If you want classic American novels, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer and Uncle Tom’s Cabin are an obvious jumping in point for the Canon. Although be aware of use of the ‘n’ word. Maybe a bit of Steinbeck - of Mice and Men or maybe The Red Pony? (These are quite dark though so it depends how mature a 13yo)

Non-American classics: Lord of the Flies, Lord of the Rings, Moonfleet, Treasure Island.

Also perhaps Eragon by Christopher Paoloni?

YobaOljazUwaque · 09/08/2019 05:31

The Lord of the Rings trilogy would be great for this - its wonderfully rich writing, excellent for being read aloud (you may need to have a tablet on standby to find an mp3 to read the elvish bits to you) but its usually a bit too heavy-going for younger kids.

ourkidmolly · 09/08/2019 05:32

Unless he's a weak reader, and so needs must, I think reading aloud to your parents of 13 isn't desirable or enjoyable. Would you enjoy it? It's v slow and a little intrusive into the flow. Why not just all read independently and then discuss. I'd personally start with something easy to read but with interesting themes. Like The Outsiders by Hinton.

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:39

Well all I know is right now when he has novels to read for school he likes me to read them with him and discuss them. Can't believe the negative feedback I'm getting for adults and teens reading aloud! Grin Don't you know reading aloud and listening to others reading aloud is one of the best ways to improve literacy? And I'm not talking 5 yr olds, it works for everyone. If he was a great reader on his own his teachers wouldn't be recommending he does more of it. He likes reading with an adult and discussing as we go. Probably as we did this with his sibs and somehow they haven't become dweebs and social misfits. Thanks for the suggestions so far, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is a great idea as I know DH and I have never read it.

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Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:41

No ones going to be forcing him, I know that if I say do you want to read something alone or with all of us, he'll go for all of us.

He is my third teenager, I do have a clue about them.

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matahairyy · 09/08/2019 05:42

Think your snobbery over audio books is interesting

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:47

It's not snobbery, my kids all listened to audio books as young kids. The point is HE needs to read and not just listen. Putting on an audiobook and he will likely play on his phone or fall asleep. Or just won't listen, period. I am not anti audiobooks at all, I just don't see it dealing with the fact that he needs to be looking at writing on a page.

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Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 05:51

Treasure Island is a great suggestion.

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Redcliff · 09/08/2019 05:57

My 12 year old likes Ripley belive it or not and also Guinness book of world records if you want some non-fiction

msmith501 · 09/08/2019 06:06

I'm 54 and recently re-read the Narnia series and was back in love with them. Also re-read the Swallows and Amazons series too (12 books in total) but I think the language and behaviour of some of the characters might be too old fashioned?

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 06:06

Thanks Redcliff, he has hit puberty with a vengeance and cleared out everything in his room that he considered "too young" and some books like that left the building. But non-fiction is a great idea, just maybe something older. He had cancer at 11 so he's quite a tough cookie.

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Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 06:10

msmith501 as an American boy he also has no frame of reference for any "jolly japes" English style. Although he does love modern TV Sherlock.

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Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 06:13

Fenella thanks for your suggestions, many are new to me which is great. I'll also check at school to see what they're reading this year. The last book they read before the summer was The Outsiders.

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TractorTartofThigh · 09/08/2019 06:21

Philip Pullman Northern Lights trilogy?

Original poster
IdaBWells · 09/08/2019 06:22

Tell me more Tractor....

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FenellaMaxwell · 09/08/2019 06:22

Treasure island and Moonfleet are both set in olde worldy English coast, but you could just picture it as quite rural New England coast if that helps? Lord of the Flies is about boys from English Boarding school but the whole thing is set on a desert island - you don’t need any understanding of English school culture.