Books for boys - age 11-12

[Giraffe]

The age old problem of getting your kids to read is hard enough but with boys it's nearly impossible. Any suggestions for books that will interest boys?

 

[strings]

At that age I used to love Roald Dahl, the Redwall series and the Horrible Histories books (I'm 25 now, for reference).

I would still recommed Horrible Histories now because they are quite easy to pick up and put down and have lots of gory facts that used to interest me - with hindsight RedWall probably isn't written for 11 year olds.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

resisting the temptation to say 'Razzle' when I was that age I loved (and indeed still do) Tintin, however that was 30 years ago! (but I have travelled a lot)

 

[PHCgull]

my 11 yr old loves the Alex Ryder series and Harry "the pot-head" Potter

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

This was very interesting when I was 12

 

[fire&skill]

The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall. My 22 year old nephew cites it still as one of his favourite books of all time after I gave it to him when he was 11.

Also Animal Farm by Orwell and The Silver Sword by Ian Serailler

 

[The Wookiee]

Adrian Mole

 

[Barrel of Fun]

As already mentioned Tin Tin, Roald Dahl, Asterix, Just William, the Famous Five and Secret Seven.

I went to school with this chap and his books come highly recommended.

http://yesart.co.uk/pw/

 

[skipper734]

Terry Pratchett I notice is an author I often see Jnr. reading. But he reads all sorts of different stuff, so lots of differences in taste, the same as the adult world.

 

[Marshy]

my 11 yr old loves the Alex Ryder series and Harry "the pot-head" Potter

Yeah my 8 year old reads those Alex Ryder books and Beast Quest i think from memory.
Dont really know what age group they are for though really.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

As already mentioned Tin Tin, Roald Dahl, Asterix, Just William, the Famous Five and Secret Seven.

I went to school with this chap and his books come highly recommended.

http://yesart.co.uk/pw/

They feel a bit too young for an 11 year old. Remember I was reading Asterix around 7.

 

[Gwylan]

When I was that age, I read books that were too old for me, like Stephen King. I was enticed by the idea that there are were no limits to grown-up books, even including swear words!

This.

My parents had many books at home and from an early age I was told nothing was off-limits. When I was 11, I was reading children's books still (the Just William books were a firm favourite) but had started reading adult books. I remember I read a lot of John Wyndham, Alistair Maclean and detective stories around this time. I particularly liked Simenon's Maigret books for some reason, possibly because they always seemed to have rather louche characters.

I think the trick is to get kids reading anything. If it takes their interest, then it's good.And don't worry whether it's suitable, or the right age group.

 

[Billy the Fish]

The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall. My 22 year old nephew cites it still as one of his favourite books of all time after I gave it to him when he was 11.

Also Animal Farm by Orwell and The Silver Sword by Ian Serailler

Good book, I read it when I was about that age

 

[Biscuit]

This might be worth a watch

BBC iPlayer - Gareth Malone's Extraordinary School for Boys: Episode 2

A few suggestions:

Awful End,
Anything by Johnny Zucker,
Esio Trot,
Billy the Kid,
Crawlers,
Dream Master,
Horowitz Horror,
I am the Blade,
Most Jiggy McCue,
Knife of Never Letting Go,
My Kind of School,
TJ and the Penalty.

 

[Lush]

Try here and get them to look and choose a book they fancy, so when it arrives it's just for them.

Great Books for Boys

It's also important that they see you reading and that books are part of your life. If you're always watching telly or on the computer, you can't really expect different from them.

 

[Giraffe]

Try here and get them to look and choose a book they fancy, so when it arrives it's just for them.

Great Books for Boys

It's also important that they see you reading and that books are part of your life. If you're always watching telly or on the computer, you can't really expect different from them.

We all read but he is less keen. Reads lots of football books which is fine, but would like to get him more into some fiction so some good suggestions above.

 

[Uwinsc]

Try the cherub series- they are about child spys but start at the begining with 'recruit' or it might be confusing.
I think that the fact he is reading is important it doesn't really matter what it is (within reason!) I hate it when I see parents telling children they can't read that it's to young-does it really matter?
Also when I was helping in my school library the boys would always read the guiness book of records if nothing else!

 

[Spiros]

Aged 11 during the mid seventies I was steadily working my way through my Dad's old collection of Biggles books. Not really relevant for today's times I suppose

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Get him to read this classic children's book
A day in the life of Peter O'Sullivan

 

[Jahooli]

I loved the Weirdstone of Brasingamen and The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner.
The Narnia books by C S Lewis
The Silver Sword by Ian Serrailier.
I was given The Dangerous Book for boys about 4 years ago not fiction but worth getting.
Proffessor Brainstorm.
Stig of the Dump.