Short books for my 14yo son

[MerylSqueak]

My son is not a keen reader but wants to read 'adult' fiction. I want to build up his concentration and focus, which are poor. I've said I'll get him a small stack of things to try that are short but interesting for him to try. He doesn'treally have a clue what he'd enjoy. He's suggested Metamorphosis and 1984. I've suggested Animal Farm and Kurt Vonnegut. I've given him these.

I would welcome any other suggestions for enjoyable, shortish books for unmotivated kids who want to feel adult.

Check the content of these to check you’re happy, of course, as some have themes of sex / violence / mental health / suicide / horror

A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
The Trial, Franz Kafka
War of the Worlds, HG Wells
The Time Machine, HG Wells
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
The Drowned World, JG Ballard
The Call of the Wild, Jack London
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson
The Stranger, Albert Camus
In Watermelon Sugar, Richard Brautigan
Norwood, Charles Portis
Fat City, Leonard Gardener
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe
The Pearl, John Steinbeck
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger

Some more modern options:

We the Animals, Justin Torres
Treacle Walker, Alan Garner
Train Dreams, Dennis Johnson
The Silence, Don Delillo
Mapping the Interior, Stephen Graham Jones
Ring Shout, P Djeli Clark
Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal
Annihilation by Jeff Vandemeer

Thank you very much. There's lots I don't know there.

Graphic novels are great - my DS has just worked through a bunch of Shakespeare, and Maus. He is now reading Noughts and Crosses. Graphic novels are quick and rewarding, so might be a good way to grab his interest.

H. G. Wells?

Sorry, I see someone has already suggested Wells!

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut but it has a fairly heavy theme and some sexual references in it too so you may want to read it first to see if you're happy with him reading it.

At 14 I was still reading Harry Potter books I think and the Twilight saga too! They're not short though and the latter is clearly for a female audience.

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger is great too, again sex references.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon.

Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Themes of racism, sexual violence, violence etc though.

I used to read lots of random graphic novels from the library at that age too. I liked female superheroes like Wonder Woman and Catwoman being a girl. Maybe take him to a library to browse them?

Thank you for you suggestions. I might get him Maus for his birthday.

His started on Of Mice and Men today. I know he'll do it for GCSE but it's a start.

I think there's lots of great fiction aimed at young people. I read it myself sometimes as I work with children and like to be able to suggest things. It's just that he doesn't want to do so.

I don't know if you can still get them, but when the green mile by Stephen king was first released it came out in about 6 installments of mini books. My mum got them for my brother probably for a similar reason.

Check out Quick Reads. Adult themes by well-known and new authors, generally about 100 pages long. https://readingagency.org.uk/get-reading/our-programmes-and-campaigns/quick-reads/

Posted too quickly! Quick Reads bring out 6 new titles a year at £1 each. Many older titles on Amazon, usually about £2.50 each. Also Book Shots are good for young adult readers.

Thank you for your suggestions. I really appreciate it.

Would he want to read something like the Jack Reacher novels? I know they are not short but they are fast paced and are page turners. My son didn't enjoy reading but loved Harlan Coben books. I wonder whether you're focusing on literary fiction when the goal should be just to get him reading something he enjoys.

I'll have a look at those, thank you.

I think this driven by him wanting to be able to put in his twopennorth with certain of his peer group. There will certainly be kids that are reading literary fiction. I think that's what is driving it.

I just want him to read. I don't think, for example Kafka is the most entertaining for his age but it's the sort of thing he wants.

Holes by Louis Sachar - amazing timeless classic page-turner that has aged well. One of my sons'all time favourites.

Young Samurai The Way of The Warrior, by Chris Bradford (it's the first part of a series - an easy, exciting read and if he likes it there are 8 more very similar books that come after it!). Set in 17th century Japan

The Letter to the King by Tonke Draft - again, very easy, very exciting

The first 3 Earthsea books by Ursula Le Guin (the later ones get quite adult as far as I recall? But the early ones are great for older kids/ teens)

Second the first three Earthsea books - they're not long (but pack a lot in).
Sherlock Holmes short stories eg Silver Blaze?

Thank you for your suggestions. He's enjoying Of Mice and Men!

Have you thought of trying audio books as well?

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian is very good
James Patterson "Bookshots" eg Killer Chef
DS enjoyed the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

(The Earthsea books don't get adult in the usual sense of that term, no)

Some good shouts there. Thank you

Try the young adult section in your library. Ours has a really wide range including graphic novels, manga etc.

Glad he's enjoying Of Mice & Men. Lots of great suggestions already. I can remember my DS enjoying Holes at about that age.

Day of the Triffids I think had worn well. It's quite an easy read and entertaining. Should help him build up his concentration for reading.