Book recommendations for 13 year old boy

[PersisFord]

Please help me with book recommendations for my nephew. He was always a completely voracious reader but is struggling to find things that grab his attention but that are reasonably age appropriate. He particularly likes adventure stories, but he's too old for Alex Rider and the like. When I have looked at adult books for him there is a surprising amount of low grade sexual violence which I dont think he needs to read. Same with torture. He also likes fantasy but isn't into romance at all, which is again difficult.

He has read every percy Jackson and the spin offs about a million times
He likes the Skandar books
He liked the Eragorn books
Loved the Hunger Games
Liked the Inheritance Games but they got a bit samey and too much romance
Liked Skulduggery Pleasant
Not keen on Terry Pratchett (i think he is a bit young and the humour doesn't work for him)
Liked Lord of the Rings "ok"

Any thoughts very welcome! He has asked for books for Christmas (just like his auntie!) but I just dont know where to start.

Have a look at Robin Hobb. I haven't read her books myself, but DH loves them - he's well in to his fantasy. I'm not sure if they might be too "adult" though.
How about The Hobbit? Again, not cup of tea, but DH prefers it to LOTR.
Or Phillip Pulman's His Dark Materials series.

The graveyard book- Neil Gaiman ?

Thank you!

Dark Materials is a surprise no - he liked the first one but think it got a bit surreal. Ive seen lots of Robin Hobb books in thr library, I'll get one out and investigate, thank you

Neil Gaiman is a good shout. Ill ask my sister if he's read it. He has definitely read the Hobbit and liked it!

I sympathise OP, it’s a difficult age, even browsing in the library or bookshop we’re back and forth between the kids and teen sections feeling like theres nothing suitable in either! My DS isn’t a fan of fantasy but likes adventure and dystopia, so he’s enjoyed the Maze Runner series, and the Gone series.
Book trust website is good for “if you liked this, try these”, eg: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recommendations/what-to-read-next/the-hunger-games/
but will be at the top of the age bracket.

Or https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/reading-lists-for-ks3-pupils/suggested-reading-list-for-year-9-pupils-ks3-age-13-14/ is worth a browse.

malamander series by Thomas Taylor is really good I don’t know if it will be too young though?

Thanks for the links!! I will try Maze Runner and Gone.

I hate to think that he will stop reading because of a lack of suitable books!!

Ooh never heard of Malamander, will look!

My son at that age enjoyed a book series by Michael Scott starting with 'The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' - fantasy series with mix of historical figures and mythology.

Has he read anything by Alan Garner, Rosemary Sutcliff or Michael Morpurgo? The three of them have books suitable for a varied age range. When I was his age (many years ago, I’m in my 70s now), I loved John Wyndham, Arthur C. Clarke, H.G.Wells.

Charlie Higson Young Bond series?

The Cherub series is good, goes done well with kids you like Gone & Mazerunner.

I also have a bookish nephew and it’s so tricky! These have been successful recently:

MG Leonard books.
Ted Hughes - Ironman
Stig of the Dump
All the Anthony Horowitz books
Gillian Cross- After Tomorrow
Jimmy Coates Killer (can’t remember author)
The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket - John Boyne

My two early teenaged DSes really enjoyed ‘The Scythe’ by Neal Shusterman.

One of them has also just finally finished the first Lord of the Rings books. Although it took him quite some time. He had previously read The Hobbit.

Philip Reeve - Mortal engines etc
Raymond Feist - start with Magician
not adventure but I alway suggest Randall Munroe's What if/How to books for tricky teenagers.

I would also consider some graphic novels (unless he doesn't like them!)
Wynd
Aquanaut
Goblin (Grissom)

Impossible Creatures?

Abi Elphinstone books?

Gone series by Michael Grant. Son loved them, also a big Hunger Games fan.

He enjoyed Eragon (series of 4) too

Have a look at Robert Muchamore's Robin Hood series.

My son isn’t much older than yours. He really likes the works of Alan Gratz

My first suggestion might be controversial …

John Buchan’s Richard Hannay novels beginning with The 39 Steps.

They’re full of thrill and adventure, and highly absorbing. (And I think each succeeding novel is better and better.) But they do contain some words and attitudes that are very much ‘of their time’. So you may need to be ready with clear responses if he’s surprised. I’ve loved them for decades, own the Penguin volume but made a present of the Folio Society volumes to someone of your son’s age.

Second suggestion:

Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy. Entirely suitable in every way, tremendous storytelling, wonderful language. It’s described as fantasy, but it isn’t strange creatures going off on a quest. He might love it. Or hate it.

Was planning to come back in the morning, but don’t want to forget

Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

if he hasn’t read it?

I second everything @grannyjacob says. (Though can’t vouch for Morpurgo as I’ve never read him.) The rest of her list was my childhood / teen reading.

This is all fantastic and I have liaised with DS. I have also popped some on my library list to have a little early peruse.

I love the 39 steps and actually took him to see a brilliant play of it so this is a good shout. We have had conversations before (omg Enid blyton!) about books reflecting attitudes of their times.

Lots I havent heard of here and lots I wouldn't have thought of (like Gormenghast)

Eragorn and the Robin Hood books have been read and loved.

Raymond Feist is a big blast from my own teenaged past! Prob have my copies at my parents house, will hunt them out.

Had never heard of Alan Gratz, and had forgotten Philip Reevs and the Gone series, will add.

I wondered about the Cherub books but asked my friend's son who is in his 20s, who went a bit pale and said they were really violent.....I dont know if he is just very impressionable?

Thank you all so much for your help! I feel like this thread should cover me for Christmas and birthday, and i may share some ideas with my mum as well if I feel generous!!

Have a great day everyone!

Rosemary Sutcliff - I got him The Eagle of the Ninth when he was about 9 and he was ABSORBED and I read it again myself and it was wonderful. I have vague memories though of some of them being REALLY sad (the one where his blind father is killed by Saxons and his sister kidnapped to be a sex slave has stayed with me in particular....)

Another vote for Hitchhiker's Guide! The Sherlock Holmes stories are also classics without being too challenging in terms of length or overly archaic language.

He may also like China Miéville's books - Railsea is specifically written for young adults but he could try Perdido Street Station if he likes fantasy and sci-fi or The City and The City or Kraken if he prefers something more literary.

Lots of the above! Don’t think you have The Loop trilogy yet by Ben Oliver. My son loved them at this age.

Garth Nix if he likes fantasy? Hatchet or Going solo could be good for his age also?