suitable books for a 12 year old to read

Sarahdol75

Hi, I love reading and my 12 year old son is now starting to get interested in reading. I have no idea what sort of books 12 year olds would like to read, could somebody give me some ideas on what to look for when we head to the library at the weekend.

onlyroz

Try Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, the Hunger Games, The Hobbit...

Also, a 12-year-old might be interested in moving to adult fiction. By that age I was developing an interest in fantasy novels, e.g. Terry Pratchett, Raymond Feist, David Gemmell etc.

tanith

My grandkids all love Harry Potter and Terry Pratchet books, what about some classics like Tom Sawyer, Moby !!!!!! or the Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe.

[Deleted User]

I loved Terry Pratchett when I was 12.

May I highly recommend the book 'Good Omens' (not part of Pratchett's Discworld series).

I think I also had a crack at Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) and a few books by Issac Asimov (Try him on the I, Robot short stories)

balletshoes

our library's kids section is organised into suitable age reading sections. Point him in the direction of the 12-year old section and let him borrow what he likes the look of (my DD can borrow tonnes of books at once on her library card - way more than I can as an adult).

Sarahdol75

Thanks for all your replies, he doesnt like Harry Potter films, so will not attempt to read it, but will point him in the direction of the others, you all mentioned.

*Beki*

Would just like to add Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series- Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife etc. Really good books

Kantankrus_Mare

Try David Walliams (not sleazy like his comedy honest!!)

I have bought my twelve year old niece 2 of these and she loves them.!!

Shes even joined the library now!!

anakat

Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series (sort of teenage James bond)

Idiophreak

Another vote for Terry Pratchett here (and I, too, love good omens)...If he's quite new to reading, he could start out on the easier series - carpet people, truckers, diggers, wings...Then the "Johnny and the..." series and then move on to Discworld.

It's important, when people start out reading, that they feel a sense of accomplishment...and reading a couple of slightly easier things first will show him that it's achievable to complete whole books in a relatively short time...

Also, at that age, I loved reading Lord of the Rings and Robert Rankin books.

Oh, and I read a lot of those game-book things...."you're in a forest...to turn left, go to page 23, to turn right, go to page 487" - not sure you see so many of those these days, though.

I guess it depends a lot on his interests and where his reading level is at.

mrsjanebanbury2009

The Young Bond books by Charlie Higson are great.