Finally reignited love of reading in DS13 - need ideas!

[clarkeologist]

DS13 has always been an avid reader but whereas he would read stories between ages 5-10 he then went into a phase of cartoon style books or non fiction only. Great that he was still reading of course but I always hoped he’d fall back in love with a good story. I’ve tried him on a few novels, ones his older brother had loved at his age but he wasn’t interested or would give them a go and then abandon them part way through.

However he is now reading ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ because a teacher he likes recommended it and he’s loving it. I’d like to come up with a couple of ideas for novels he might enjoy after he has finished it to keep him hooked on fiction. Any ideas of anything to keep the fiction flame alive?

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman was a favourite for me at that age.

Thanks @ToadRage. He tried the first in that series but it was one of those he just couldn’t get into. Probably we tried him on it too early which is a shame as he has made his mind up that he doesn’t like PP books now

At that age, DC still liked some YA novels like the Percy Jackson books, but also Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy and To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a tricky age because they don’t want anything that they regard as too young (although now DC is late teens, they care less and will happily reread childhood favourites like the Moomin books from time to time!)

The Fart That Changed The World is proving a huge success with my son :)

@TheGirlOnTheLanding Yes it’s an in between stage. He often won’t look at the YA books now even though those are probably most age appropriate. He is much more likely to agree to read a ‘grown up’ book. But I don’t want to put him off with anything too challenging or with themes he’s not ready for. I am wondering about The Help next perhaps. To Kill a Mockingbird is also a good idea

The Help is fabulous but quite female centred, how about something like Bernard Cornwell? Lord of the rings? Terry Pratchett? Conn Igulden maybe? If he likes sciencey books there are a few by Simon Mayo about elements mine loved.

I remember reading a lot of Agatha Christie and John Wyndham because I didn’t want to read kids’ books any more but neither of those appealed to my DC - not sure if they haven’t aged well or just down to personal taste. Maybe something like Life of Pi or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime?

the discworld series? Loved them!

Try the Catcher in the Rye

The Hobbit might be worth a try.

Holes is a good read for his age, if he hasn't t read it already.

Mine loved the curious incident

The Andy Weir books are popular with boys at my school - Project Hail Mary and The Martian.

The Hunger Games series?

Thanks all! Some great ideas here. I think I’ll start with The Curious Incident as we have it and I recall his brother enjoying it around that age. Thanks for reminding me!

Classic detective fiction? Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy L. Sayers.

Did he like Greek myths when younger? Stephanie McCarter's translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses is good - reasonably accessible and it's naturally broken up into little interwoven episodes.