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Original poster

DS hates reading - book recommendations?

37 replies

190190tnt · 05/02/2022 12:16

DS will be 13 soon, hates reading and hoping I can find something he might actually like and want to read. He half heartedly read Diary of a Wimpy Kid. His teacher has said that he needs to be reading more so keen to help him.
Just wondering if anyone else has found a book that hits the spot! Thanks

OP posts:
Seeline · 05/02/2022 12:19

What are his interests and hobbies?

languagelover96 · 05/02/2022 12:24

Interests and hobbies, tell us more.

BookBanter · 05/02/2022 12:28

My daughter is 14 and hasn't enjoyed reading every since she got her first phone at age 12. Won't entertain e-books or audio books. She's only recently started reading some poetry and is becoming quite obsessed!

TBH, i think Diary of a Wimpy Kid is more suited for 8-11 year olds as it is considered middle grade and your son is likely to think he's too old for these.

Take your son to a book shop and let him browse. Browse everything. Fiction and no fiction. Graphic novels, poetry, anime, adult, teen, crime. Talk to him about interesting stories or articles you have read yourself to try and pique his interest.

There's no way anyone here can know what he likes as we don't know his interests. If he likes gaming, does he read gaming magazines?

I think we need to move past thinking that reading must entail reading a physical fiction novel. Stories comes in all types of mediums now. Magazines and newspapers or short stories may be a way to get him interested again in short bursts, as long as they are about something he already has shown an interest in.

sorryiasked · 05/02/2022 12:29

DS liked thrillers/ James bond type stuff and now mainly reads military.
So maybe Charlie Higson or Andy Mcnab (teen titles)
Otherwise try graphic novels?

SarahWoodruff · 05/02/2022 12:33

Does he like factual stuff? Maybe a magazine subscription would get him in the habit a bit more. Some news magazines have junior editions, or he might like a science or history one.

yikesanotherbooboo · 05/02/2022 12:38

Newspapers
Non fiction about their interests
Eg sport, cookery, history, politics etc.
I've read and strongly believe that it is really important for DC to see their parents reading regularly so if that isn't something that happens now, encourage it.
Two of my three became avid readers in their teens .My youngest, in particular, reads a lot of non fiction about his interest .He is branching out into occasional fiction that related to his interest and more recently with audible to wider topics.

BeefSupreme · 05/02/2022 12:39

What are his interests?
Agree with pp, you should take him to a book shop and let him pick out a book that catches his eye.
Magazines, short story collections, poetry or graphic novels might work better for him.

BeefSupreme · 05/02/2022 12:41

Or maybe a non-fiction book that doesn't need to be read from cover to cover so he can dip in and out of it. I did this with my various encyclopedias and almanacs when I was a child.

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2022 12:42

Magazines are a compromise if he doesn’t like books

SalsaLove · 05/02/2022 12:42

He might like Terry Pratchett?

CornflakeMum · 05/02/2022 12:44

How is he with other subjects (not just English/reading)? Can he read OK, or could he be rejecting reading because he finds it difficult?

The reason I ask is because DS2 was a reluctant reader and was diagnosed late at age 11/12 as having dyslexia. He had coped OK with primary level, but it came crashing down at secondary school.
FWIW he later got into reading alongside audiobooks with fantasy books like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings etc.

SirChenjins · 05/02/2022 12:50

Both DSs hated/hate reading at that age and all through their teens - they could sort of be persuaded by ebooks or magazines, but even that was difficult. I’m an avid reader, always have been, but I had to accept that I couldn’t force them to read for pleasure any more than my parents could force me to play rugby or football - both of which my DSs love to do.

If it’s any consolation my eldest DS is now 24 and has returned to reading recently, and really enjoys it. He also went to university, got an excellent Masters and has a graduate position in a large multinational, so his lack of reading didn’t hold him back.

SirChenjins · 05/02/2022 12:51
  • Not ebooks - audiobooks
DelphiniumBlue · 05/02/2022 12:54

I think my boys liked things like Divergent and the Hunger Games at that age, also the Morris Gleitzman series Once. One of them liked Halo and the Warhammer books, and Harry Potter if he hasn't read that series yet.
If you can find a series that they like, that's the way to go.
Robert Muchamore are books aimed at that age group, DS3 loved them, and there are loads of them!

trumpisagit · 05/02/2022 13:06

Cherub series has been a favourite of Ds14 for a while. Its a biggish series and he's reading them for a second time having started in y7/y8.

Original poster
190190tnt · 05/02/2022 13:26

Just wrote a long reply and it disappeared!
Thanks for all the suggestions, sorry I should have given more info, he is into gaming, PS4. He loves sci fi, comedy, Stranger Things, Young Sheldon etc not into sport...he has a variety of books including factual ones like Guiness Book of Records, Ripley's unbelievable, etc. I'm a book lover so bit sad that he doesn't get the same joy and escapism that I do from reading but as a previous poster said I have to accept it's not his thing. In primary school he did read but only when he had to, now it seems since secondary, he doesn't even want to do the minimum. He has agreed to audio books, but his teacher really wants him to read books and I agree, it's too easy for him to switch off with audio and it's not the same as the written word, but I'd be happy for him to listen to audio alongside reading!
He isn't very happy at school, finding it hard fit in, been bullied so this isn't helping. I havent picked up that he has difficulties with reading but if i ask him why he doesn't like it he says 'it's just words on a page - boring'!
Thank you everyone for your replies, I will look at the book suggestions you've given me - am thinking the magazines and graphic novels suggestions might be good to start with Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
190190tnt · 09/02/2022 16:06

#EwwSprouts
Thanks Smile

OP posts:
Skinnydog · 09/02/2022 16:16

Exactly the same in our house and similar age, every Xmas my do moans books are a waste of money but I continue hoping that at least they either spark an interest or if he changes his mind he has something to pick from. At Xmas as an example I bought diary of a wimpy kid plus the journal, Guinness book of records and two I picked up in lidls think one was Sherlock Holmes’s and a comic from work. Personally I say anything that keeps that spark he may never get into it or he may come back to it. Just out of interest I’m a reader and dh actively avoids lol

jebthesheep · 09/02/2022 16:31

Might not be a fiction type of guy. Mine won’t do novels but loves bbc science focus magazine and books on computer stuff, history, space phenomena like black holes and satire .... doesn’t matter as long s it’s funny or interesting to him. Sometimes fiction just doesn’t do it but following their interests might. A magazine might be a more tempting prospect than a book to start with - music, esports or regular sports could be candidates- you know him best

FlickyCrumble · 09/02/2022 16:37

Have you considered reading to each other? I was going to suggest a page each of a book which I do. Then I thought actually just get him to find the stupidest or grossest piece of writing and swap stories.

trumpisagit · 09/02/2022 18:39

If he likes gaming Ready Player One might be good. Unfortunately DS1 watched the film, so now says he doesn't need to read the book.

DS2 loves The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time, and Matt Haig's To be a Cat.

PurgatoryOfPotholes · 10/02/2022 02:20

If he likes comedy, maybe funny books are the way to go. Tom Holt, Bill Bryson? We were talking about a book called The Falcon's Malteaser by Anthony Horowitz on another thread.

Sci-fi: Doctor Who spin-off books?

MyOtherProfile · 10/02/2022 02:26

So many teen boys aren't interested in fiction. My son loved the Cherub series and nonfiction / information books around his hobbies.

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 10/02/2022 03:12

Your son might not like the more old style of writing, but have you considered books like
"The Day of the Triffids", "1984", or another John Wyndham one, "The Midwich Cuckoos"?
I really want to encourage my very bright 10 year old Granddaughter into reading for pleasure, not just because school says she has to, but I don't think she is old enough for the ones I suggested above. I was a voracious reader of Enid Blyton at my DGC age, but I think that the "experts" don't think she was a great author. I just know that from Noddy, to the Famous Five, I loved reading her novels, and I believe that whatever, or whoever, instigates a love of reading in someone, it almost always has to be a good thing?