Suggested reading for 15 y/o son?

Mirno

If he doesn't like reading too much then horror or sci-fi are good for collections of short stories.
H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe are both good for horror.
Sci-fi I can't really tell you who's good in the short story area.

Short stories can make it feel like you're making progress - I'm dyslexic, and my main problem is reading speed/effort, and I always found short stories immensely more approachable than longer novels.

If he's a good reader, but just doesn't know what to read then "Catch-22" or "Slaughterhouse Five" are both very good, but more difficult reads that may appeal to him.

It really depends what he's in to though.

Gloomendoom

I think that by 15 I'd moved on from Biggles and Percy Westerman and was reading my uncle's cast off paperbacks... Alistair McClean, Hammond Innes etc. Dean Koontz is OK but I find his books tend to be a bit poorly researched. Probably wouldn't bother a 15 year old though.

tiernsee

Anthony Horowitz is quite good son enjoyed them. He has progressed (or should that be regressed) to horror books particularly Graham Masterton and James Herbert.

He does though prefer factual books and loves the Crap towns series and will read from cover to cover

koan_2

Perhaps he would like graphic novels? A lot of boys are into this genre. Waterstones often have a shelf area dedicated to graphic novels, - it might be a way of getting him into reading?

giantmutantbroccoli

If he's into his xbox, why not try looking at some of the tie-in books for games? I've read and enjoyed quite a few of the Halo paperbacks, and I don't even have an xbox!

heartbreak_star

The Halo and Assassin's Creed books are apparently OK, I haven't read them. I did like the Games Workshop novels when I was younger though.

Another vote for the Hunger Games trilogy, and I'd also recommend Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas books

HBS x

fivetide

The Halo stuff etc is a good call.

Whilst I love Tolkien and Poe, we are talking about someone who isn't overjoyed with reading and I don't think these are either the most accessible authors or an undaunting challenge if someone slaps a copy of LOTR in front of you.

Work with things he likes. The autobiographies is a good call. Any sports teams he likes? History of the local team might be a good read for example.

somethingcorporate

I am surprised no-one has mentioned Stephen King yet - he has some gripping novels I loved from being around 12-13 years old.

The Dark Tower series (written over around 30 years) were exceptionally good and more words than LOTR(!) across 8 or so books. Otherwise, he does some good short stories too, if you like that kind of thing.

mrcow

Charlie Higson - The Enemy series

http://www.the-enemy.co.uk/home

It's very good for that age bracket, good reader or no.

Get it from the library rather than buying it.

tiger_eyes

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I think that by 15 I'd moved on from Biggles and Percy Westerman and was reading my uncle's cast off paperbacks... Alistair McClean, Hammond Innes etc.

I was just thinking of Alistair MacLean. I love his thrillers - taut, tense, stark stories of one implacable protagonist versus the world. I'm a huge fan of Ice Station Zebra, Where Eagles Dare, The Guns of Navarone, The Golden Rendezvous, and a ton of others. Absolutely mesmerising.