Books for 11 year old boy

[AliceWhiteRabbit]

Hello,

Please can you recommend some books for my son. He isn't keen on fantasy. He likes books he relate to. So loved Alex Rider.

He's an able reader and has read Holes and The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas which he enjoyed.

I would like to get him some other books to get him hooked again.

So much is fantasy isn’t it. My DS persevered and enjoyed Mortal Engines, House on Chicken Legs. He loves Alex Rider and likes Percy Jackson but again this is not real life.

The Cherub series by Robert Muchamore is basically the same concept as Alex Rider (child spies). Warning - they are more violent with sex and drugs references. (the author himself recommends them as 12+).
If you don't want those the Diamond Brothers books by Anthony Horowitz are hilarious.
Theodore Boone series by John Grisham is quite good.

Hi Petronellis
Thanks for the suggestions. Yes so much is fantasy! I thought the Percy Jackson was quite good as it seems as realistic as farà at could be. So half and half. I might try him on it again.

If anyone has other suggestions that would be awesome thank you!

Thank bookmum08 that's helpful. We've tried the diamond brothers but no success! But will try those again too! With lockdown on we have lots of time on our hands!

Tom Gates Wimpy Kid Diaries. My son loved reading these.

The 1000 year old boy. It’s not a series but a lovely book. It’s obviously a fantasy type book but very much grounded in reality, almost plausible. Me and my son really enjoyed it. The author Ross Whelar has written some other good books too.

Also Danny the champion of the world by Ronald Dahl. Less well known but a fantastic read. Also what about Goodnight Mr Tom although for older children. I read it when I was about 12/13?

Oh and Varjak Paw - another great set of books.

Sorry, I keep remembering the books we’ve liked!

What about

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo?
Wonder by RJ Palacio?
or Jake's Tower by Elizabeth Laird.

The Power of Five also by Antony Horowitz was enjoyed by my son who had devoured the Alex Rider series. It's not about spies apparently but about five children who have a special power/ability.

Cherub series, Skulduggery pleasant series

The James Bond books for children - maybe Charlie Higson? - we’re popular with my Alex Rider loving DS

Train to impossible places?

You are all wonderful. Thank you so much for the suggestions!

When he get reads something he enjoys he won't put it down!

I just need to find that something. You've all made amazing suggestions!

How about Kid Normal or the Tree house books?

Skulduggery Pleasant books are brilliant. My son discovered them at 11 and introduced them to me. Soooo funny too.

A bit different but DC enjoyed reading Agatha Christie at that age - also an able reader. Loved 'Murder on the Orient Express' and still reads a lot of 'whodunnits'.

Would he enjoy autobiographies linked to a hobby or interest? Some of the sports ones are good and DC likes reading about real people.

Skulduggery Pleasant. A bit violent but very funny and there are loads of them. Aged 13 DS2 is just reading the most recent one very happily.

My 12 DS has just finished the Cherub Series. He thought they were fabulous.
Young Bond?

I have an 11yo DS, and he loves Alex Rider- he's read them so many times now!
His absolute favourite books though are the Urban Outlaws series by Peter Jay Black. Alex Rider is a close second.

He too prefers things set in the 'real world' but I'd take that with a pinch of salt if you've actually read any of the Alex Rider books!

Anyway he's a huge reader, and he loves:
Skulduggery Pleasant series
Percy Jackson series
Heroes of Olympus series
Artemis Fowl series
A Series of Unfortunate Events (13 books)
Tintin (rl-ish)
Horowitz's Diamond Brothers (he loves bad puns ) and other stand alone books like Groosham Grange etc
How To Train Your Dragon (still re-read)
Wizards of Once Series (more grown up series from Cressida Cowell)
Tom Gates series (rl, not fantasy)
Last Dragon Chronicles series by Chris D'Lacey
Gods and Warriors series by Michelle Paver (I think he may be ready for Wolf Brother soon too)
Varjak Paw
The Cabinet of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Mortal Engines series (I loved these too!)
Johnny series by Terry Pratchett (though he learnt new swear words there

He's just begun the Tiffany Aching series by Pratchett too, and he is loving them. He's definitely a Pratchett fan!

Yes- many books are fantasy, aren't they? Though I kind of think that is the point!

I don't think he's ready for Cherub series yet. They seem to cover very mature topics.

Evil Genius and sequels by Catherine Jinks. Sort of sci-fi, with lots of gadgets.

Joanna Baker’s Devastation Road -YA mystery.

My 11 DD would recommend Boy 87 and Boy at the Back of the Class.

My son really likes books by Ross Welford and Lisa Thompson.

whattodo2019 has your boy read the Cherub prequel series Henderson's Boys? They are very good - but very intense and lots of violence (they are Second World War set).