Books for young teens that aren't fantasy or dystopian or about relationships

[HereComesYourMam]

DS(13) is struggling with the move to YA fiction. We spend ages in bookshops and libraries looking for inspiration but everything seems to be focused on fantasy, dystopia or relationships, and he's not really interested in any of those things. He won't touch classics, and is not too keen on graphic novels.

Surely there must be other stuff out there! I'd be so grateful for any suggestions... maybe something a bit fun? Maybe an adventure series that isn't fantasy? He loved the Mysterious Benedict Society series when he was younger, so if there was something similar but for older kids, that would be perfect : )

Maybe the “I survived” series?

Or James Bond books? There’s a junior version too.

Ask your local librarian they LOVE questions like this.

My daughter likes Holly Jackson - YA Crime.

Agatha Christie or something? Or does that count as 'classics'?

Has he read the cherub series by Robert muchamore? Mine enjoyed those.

Biography or non-fiction perhaps?

Swallows and Amazons? It doesn't need to look like a classic.

The Alex Ryder series?

War and refugee stories - Boy Everywhere, Escape from Aleppo, the Skylarks War?

I see the problem. They are mostly about science fiction or relationships.

James Patterson and Harlan Coben both do a YA series if he likes his mysteries

John Grisham - Theodore Boone series
Malorie Blackman - Pig Heart Boy
Amy McCulloch - The Magpie Society
Marcus Sedgewick - Revolver

Seconding asking a librarian, or at least going to the library and borrowing a few to try!

This may get removed for illegal advertising so if it does I apologise in advance, but I am a YA author and I honestly believe my book sounds like it may work for him. DM me if you’d like to. Apologies mumsnet if this isn’t allowed.

I second the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore.

Even the most reluctant reader will struggle to put it down! I’ve yet to find someone who didn’t enjoy it.

I went through an 'adventure/spy' phase a few years ago...
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz
Cherub (and the Henderson's Boys prequels) by Robert Muchamore
Young Bond series.
When I was an actual teen I liked novels set around WW2 - Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian, Fireweed (by Jill Patten Walsh I think). There was a WW1 series about various friends (male and female) - I think that was by Linda Newberry.

I was going to suggest Terry Pratchett, 'Johnny and the Dead' / 'Johnny and the Bomb'. They are slightly fantastical (time travel) and historical but the style is based quite carefully in small details of the reality of each time. TP was quite close to his journalist years when he was writing them, and so some of the things that happen are loosely based on real events.

I was going to suggest some of the above!

Look for humour - even classics are more digestible with a bit of that.
YA can look in the adult section for a wider range of ideas too.

Maybe The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius? That was a big hit here.
Or Lemony Snicket perhaps?

Mr Lemoncello similar to Benedict Society.

Also non fiction... Like "How to - absurd scientific advice"

These are great - thanks everyone! Lots of ideas to add to my list : )

Simon James Green
Patrick Ness
Holly Jackson
Vincent Ralph

All of those are massive sellers in this age group.

Gerald Durrell?

Definitely Terry Pratchett. So we'll written and really funny. Even my DH who never usually reads loved them. Really popular among that age group as well