Book ideas for 12 yr old boy - not a big reader, not into fantasy/sci fi

[natczer]

Everyone was so helpful on my last thread I'm asking for more advice for my nephew. He's just 12...not a massive reader and we're trying to encourage it. Not into a sci fi/fantasy. Has loved Diary of Wimpy Kid, Ahn Do Weirdo, Treehouse series. Looking for something in a similar vein perhaps but for this age bracket?

Adrian Mole?

My son has just turned 13 and he’s been reading books from the Cherub series for the past year.

www.muchamore.com/cherub-test-2

‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar might be a good one.

I read the first few of those when they came out and used to recommend them @TheReluctantCountess, but there’s a bit of an issue with the underage sex aspects, and the author is now regarded as a bit of a dubious character.

Fair enough. I’m just pleased that it’s got my son reading again, and I know lots of kids at my school read them - the sex aspect is probably a draw for many of them!

Yes, I understand, I didn’t think twice about it when I read them, but if you haven’t read them yourself you might be a bit surprised by some of the content in a children’s book.

The most graphic book we had in school was Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’.
“Is it in yet? Are we doing it?” 😆😆😆

Toto the Ninja Cat by Dermot O'Leary and Dog zombies Rule by Tom Gates are the only 2 books my ds age 12 has enjoyed reading in years!

'When I was Joe' and the 2 that follow on are a really good read, I enjoyed them myself as well

Sorry to hijack, Herocomplex, I bought those books as a set for ds12 for Christmas. What kind of sex element is in them?? I read reviews that raved about them and they sounded great. Thanks.

I’m certainly not a censor, my kids all read them. There’s a description of two of the characters having sex, (I think in Mad Dogs?). Obviously the themes in the books are all around infiltrating crime networks including trafficking children from care homes.

I think most twelve year olds will have heard and seen much more explicit stuff!

I read a lot of what my kids did, so we could talk about it, I could recommend the good stuff, and because lots of young fiction is really enjoyable!

Thanks for that! I only just remembered to check back.

How about:
Biggles
The Machinegunners
Colditz
The Great Escape
All reality based, admitedly war stories.
Also Simon Scarrow - Roman series
Eagle of the Ninth - Rosemary Sutcliffe

The boy who biked the world
Middle school series - James Patterson
Theodore Boone series - Grisham

I couldn't get my boy to read without forcing him or bribing him until he read the book 'Hoot' by Carl Hiaason, now he reads about an hour every day, its the book that got him hooked on reading. Strangely enough, a month after finishing it his teacher chose it as the book to read to the class....

Alex Rider?

Would a ghost element be ok? It's not really sci-fi or fantasy (if you mean fantasy realm rather than non-realistic). The Lockwood books are really good. Very action packed and suspenseful!

Hello

There's a book called 'The Wolf and the Goats' on Amazon written by 'Juned' . The story has a great message and is not your usual wolf loses against the weak.

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It's free on kindle.

The story teaches the importance of team work and togetherness. Great illustrations too.

Hope you like it as much as I did.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/109014198X?tag=mumsnetforu03-21