Uplifting book for 12 year old

[TwigTheWonderKid]

DS is 12 (has 17 year old reading age if this is relevant) For Christmas I've bought him Malory Blackman's Noughts and Crosses, The Lie Tree, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, Running Girl by Simon Mason and Every Day by David Leviathan but I'd like something a bit cheery and life affirming to add to the mix. Any ideas?

Yes, I second my family and other animals by Gerald Durrell.

Whatever you do avoid Doris Lessing!! I read The Fifth Child at that age and felt somewhat traumatised!!

Hoot or Scat by Hiaasen for modern laughs.

DS 13 is enjoying the Jennings series. Old-fashion laughs.

At that age I liked:

Gerald Durrell
Cider with Rosie
A Little White Horse

How about starting him on the wonder of the Discworld books or A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Plus Curious is very funny.

The Graveyard Book and The Ocean at the end of the Lane, both by Neil Gaiman.

Maybe 'my name is Malala' or 'the long road to freedom' (I think that's what it's called -nelson Mandela)

Sorry, should have said he's read Time Travelling with a Hamster, Holes (and pretty much everything else by Lous Sachar) and Wonder.

He doesn't really enjoy Percy Jackson, or any of those kinds of books though he has loved all the Skullduggery Pleasant, Hunger Games and Maize Runner books.

Will have a look at the Pratchett though was hoping for something with more humans in it!

Holes by Louis Sachar? Can't remember if it's hugely uplifting but it's brilliant!
Is Percy Jackson too young?

Wonder is a terrific book - and they've just made a film of it so you could go and see that when he's read it!

Something by Terry Pratchett. ‘Equal Rites’?

Time travelling with a Hamster is a great read.