Books for 12 year old boy- any ideas?

[tallulah]

My DS3 says he hasn't got any books (find hard to believe with 3 older siblings!).

I've had a look in the shops but most of it seems to be a cheap copy of Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings. We've got the real thing.

Can anyone recommend some books with a good story suitable for a 12 year old boy (above average reading age) that isn't HP/LOTR inspired?

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (sp?) is quite good. My daughter's (11) just read a book called Taylor Five about a clone girl which was excellent.

Has he read Noughts and Crosses by Malory Blackwell? Ds1 (now 15) read it a couple of years ago and thought it was brilliant.
There is a sequel out now too - will look for title.

Oh - it's Blackman, sorry. More titles here . I think ds1 has read read Pigheart boy in English at school too.

This is the sequel - Knife Edge.

Tallulah - what sort of books does he enjoy, if not fantasy? There is a lot of good fantasty fiction out there at the moment, but there's other stuff around too. The following spring instantly to mind:

Eoin Colfer: Artemis Fowl is quite unusual.

Marcus Sedgwick: The Dark Horse is one of the best children's books I've read this year.

Fighting Fantasy books are very popular with this age group too. If you haven't got any of these The Book People have got a very good offer at the moment - 10 for £9.99.

What else? Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines won the Blue Peter book prize recently for the most unputdownable book.

Mark Haddon's Curious incident of the dog ... would be something quite different, but I think would grip a 12 yr-old.

OK I'm finding it very hard to stop here.

Yann Martel's Life of Pi is amazing, and highly entertaining. Not what I was expecting at all.

These are what instantly spring to mind as definite successes, but not in the HP/LotR mould. If these don't appeal, why not post a few of examples of the sort of thing he has enjoyed reading, and we can try and make some more tailored suggestions.

HTH

At that age, and with a higher than av reading age it might almost be time to move onto adult novels. I started reading 'grown up' books at that age.

How about Hitchhikers Guide to the Galexy, and all the Terey Pratchet books?

Um, to second others:

Hoot is good -- just read it and loved it.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

There are new Terry Pratchett kids' books out -- I just read "Wee Free Men". I like Terry Pratchett.

I don't think fantasy/sci fi should be discouraged. There is an I, Robot movie coming out which in all way shapes and forms sucks. Isaac Asimov is a great writer though.. Maybe play on that?

The Dune series is good too.

Oh - Adrian Mole! ds1 has been reading that, on and off and over again, for several years!

I got him the Hitchhiker's "trilogy", in a Pan slipcase, from one of those discount bookshops for only £3.99 at Christmas.

He also loves David Gemmell - endless fantasy sequences - gets them from the library all the time. (A fansite )

For something completely different - the swallows and Amazons series (very good esp the ones set in the Broads)
Robert Heinlin - pick carefully some of his books are very Sexually/regilously (sp) odd
Piers Antony - Xanth is very teenage boyish
Harry Harrison (the Stainless Steel Rat) series is very good
Ian Fleming (James Bond) might be a hit at that age

Just popped back in on the offchance & what a response!

TBH he hasn't read much to my knowledge, (obviously has at school but hasn't shown any interest in reading at home since we gave up the bedtime stories) but has just decided he wants to start!

Thanks for all your suggestions- I will check them out & see if they take his fancy.

Emil & the Detectives by Erich Kastner was one I really enjoyed at that age. Also started on some of the PG Wodehouse books then.

Actually just checked my bookcase as I kept/replaced my favorities. So still have all the Arthur Ransome (Swallows & Amazons) books, all the Narnia series by CS Lewis, Wind in the Willows, Tarka the otter, Jungle Book, Watership Down etc.

Also read Lord of the Flies for the first time about then, scared me rigid (actually it still does).

Would also recommend Phillip Pullmans, Dark Materials trilogy - even though it's fantasy.

What films, Tv does he enjoy as if trying to rekindle an interest in reading might be worth trying a book with a movie tie in. Or maybe a Biography/Autobiography as isn't the new David Beckham one supposed to be good.

Agatha Christie?