Books for Boys {Tweens}

Thursday, December 27, 2012

I am on a quest to find some great literature for my youngest son to read.  He is an avid reader, but for some reason he is in a slump and not interested as much in the books I have suggested.  So I came up with a list and will be reading some of these books over Christmas break to see if they might be gripping.  Here is what I am looking at...




The true story of a whale attacking a ship at sea in the Pacific in 1820.  There were actually survivors in this tragedy even though they floated in the ocean for three months!  When I read the synopsis on this one I was immediately interested.  Both my husband and I plan to read this one!






This is a story of an 11-year-old boy who lives in a settlement in Canada of runaway slaves. Elijah is seen as weak until he tracks down a thief.



A great book about a boy in the 1950's.  Filled with humor and adventure!  Definitely not to be missed.




I read The Westing Game out loud to the boys a few years back during our mystery unit. Great book...the only mystery story to win the Newbery medal!  I think it has been long enough that my youngest will be able to read it on his own and enjoy it all over again.



The story of a Quaker boy and an Abenaki Indian and the encounter they have in 1777.




I am reading this one right now.  It is a story set in the Elizabethan era of a girl who witnesses her father's murder and then has to hide among the choir boys in a cathedral. Fascinating and gripping!

Any other book suggestions for tween boys?



1 comment:

dstb said...

Even though both my boys like history, when it comes to reading on their own they prefer fantasy. If you want some suggestions in that genre let me know.

When we listen to books on CD in the car, I do the choosing and they are usually historical in nature. Here are some that come to mind:
Black Duck - prohibition
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg - Civil War
Mr. Revere and I (read aloud)
With Pipe, Paddle and Song - Voyageurs (I wonder if The Broken Blade might be better)
Chains - American Revolution
Black Ships Before Troy
The Wanderings of Odysseus
The Hiding Place - WWII
North to Freedom - renamed I am David - escape from communist concentration camp - one I read as a kid and loved.
Snow Treasure - WWII
Books by Scott O'Dell (loved Island of the Blue Dolphins - we listened to it read by Tantoo Cardinal - fantastic)
Books by H.G. Wells
Books by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes and also The Lost World)
Books by Jules Verne

Also, I wanted to mention that the Nathaniel Philbrick book has an adult version called In the Heart of the Sea. I read it a few years ago and loved it. He has written several other books that I have on my to-be-read list.

A Murder for Her Majesty reminded me of Ravnmaster's Secret about the Tower of London. The boys also liked The Castle in the Attic.

Hope this helps. If you want fantasy recommendations from my boys, let me know.

Sarah