Books for a 10 year boy who doesn’t really love reading

[Jonsa]

I am hoping to find a book or author that sparks his interest, so he picks up a book himself, without me having to ask.
He is an average reader, and I am looking for books that will slightly challenge him but won’t discourage him, due to complexity.

My dc are girls but dd2 has got her whole class hooked on the Warrior Cats books. I think it's because they role play it at break times. Comic books might appeal?

One that my "non reader" loves is Adam Kay's Incredible Inventions. Short sections about everyday inventions like toilet paper and toothbrushes (I've only looked at the bathroom section) but they sit there and giggle through it.
Another set that we are working through together is "science quest" books which is almost a choose your own adventure book and leads you through application of science (they also have maths and history) to solve a problem within the story.
If they like comic books have you tried the Asterix series?

Horrible Histories - find books that are linked to tv he watches or video games he plays. If he loves football there are loads of fiction and non fiction options (our local library even has a display up because of the Euros).

Also maybe consider getting a short subscription to something like The Phoenix magazine, could pique his interest in more comics like Bunny vs Monkey. Another option is Beano.

Take him to a proper bookshop, let him wander the kids department while you look at other shelves... There's a chance out of boredom he'll start picking books up, and find something he's curious about.

PS. My DS goes straight for comics and graphic novels first, despite being an excellent reader. It does sometimes annoy me to have to push other options (you're missing out on so many good books!) but he recently got into the Alex Rider series* of graphic novels... and by book 3 he was bringing home the original book versions because he wanted more of the story.

*These are actually pretty dark and violent, I'm not personally recommending them.

Graphic novels also the Phoenix comic/mag is brilliant. Stealth reading!

@ladybirdees why is that "stealth"?
It's just reading.

Didn't mean anything by it. Just that it's more appealing to reluctant readers as there are more visuals mixed in with the reading.

Diary of a minecraft zombie was the only series of books my daughter ever read. But she also played minecraft. To be honest her reading and writing really took off by reading Roblox in game chat. Not that i would admit that to her teachers..

I second these. The 13-Storey Treehouse and its sequels were a huge hit with DD who "hated reading"

The Demon Headmaster
How to Train Your Dragon

They are both long series with several follow on books if the first goes down well.

Have you tried him on Tin Tin, or the Asterix books? They often appeal to a ten year old humour.

Some great suggestions, do you take him to the local library? I would try to make it a habit, when he finds a book he likes them look for similar, ask the librarian too. Libraries will be starting their summer reading challenge so he might want to take part in thay and it can help develop the habit of daily reading during the school holidays. Good luck!

My son at that age used to enjoy Percy Jackson, Michael morpurgo (animal tales) captain underpants, beast quest and manga books. (Dragon ball series). Also one punch man (manga again)

He also suggested frostheart and the land of roar

What are his interests? Maybe books on things he likes. My 10yo DD dosnt like reading but I’ve bought her books related to her favourite tv show and characters which she’s excited about getting but is still reluctant to open them. However, she’s more willing to read these books than the usual school ones or other kids books we have on the book shelves and we have a lot to choose from.

If your DS likes Fortnite, I bought this for a friend's son at Christmas, he loved it.

Fortnite book

My DS is a big reader, at the moment his favourites are the Bunny VS Monkey books by Jamie Smart, they’re written in comic book style, I sometimes hear him laughing out loud at them 🤣

Subscribe to The Phoenix? Last Kids on Earth series.

My child, same age, has just ‘graduated’ from the Beano to ‘how it works’. He loves the beano still but we have hundreds and they are ‘samey’. The whole family enjoys’How it works’. The reading is more challenging and the range of topics is broad covering science, history and geography.

bookwise, my child is more non-fiction than fiction but he reads and rereads the Wimpey kid books. He also loved Charlie Higson. Worst. Holiday. Ever.

DS used to love the Stuart Gibbs series at that age. There are a couple of different themes iirc.

Me three. Son loves them and even (otherwise reluctant writer) wrote a fairly illegible fan letter to Andy Griffiths in Australia, who clearly deciphered it and wrote a proper reply. Very impressed with the personal touch and the tree house stories are very tuned into 8-10 year old humour.

https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/books-for-children/andy-griffiths-terry-denton-treehouse-book-series

Jamie Smart has a good range of books Inc. Comic strip type books (hilarious and clever according to my youngest).

What about Manga? Dragonball might be a good start?

James Bond, the Fleming originals not the useless versions for children. They’re well written and exciting.

My nephew was a reluctant reader but enjoyed the Beast Quest books although I understand that they are quite samey.

I second the graphic novels like Investigators.

Also non fiction that can be dipped into like Listified or the Guiness Book of World Records.

Artemis Fowl
Diary of a wimpy kid
Percy Jackson
Redwall

The obvious choice would be Harry Potter!