Books for Boys

Someone asked one of us to recommend books that are good choices for boys. The question was passed to our members' discussion group. Here are the responses from the NoM members:

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein

Also by Heinlein:

• Stranger in a Strange Land
• Revolt in 2100
• Starship Troopers (and if you saw the movie, you missed 95% of this book's value)
• The Puppet Masters Tunnel in the Sky (juvenile)

How Things Work

Any 12 yr old boy who has not read Mark Twain should get the Tom Sawyer and Hucklebury Finn books immediately. Or Twain short stories. Or for sure anything by Jack London.

Robert Cormier's I am The Cheese is a good place to start. Also, although it's probably already been rammed down his throat at school (although maybe not these days, since the author is white and male) Lord of the Flies is still a masterpiece. While I'm on the subject of dead white male authors, all young men should of course read and delight in Steinbeck's East of Eden. Ditto Salinger's The Catcher in The Rye. Although, on second thought, maybe you should forget that last one -- we should probably conserve the Beatles we have left. (Bad joke, sorry. Let's have a moment of silence for our dear, departed musical heroes.)

Is he into fantasy/sci-fi? If so, have him try Tim Powers' The Anubis Gates, Greg Bear's Blood Music or Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.

Yeah! I loved reading Heinlein's "juvenile" stuff like Have Space Suit Will Travel or Farmers in the Sky. Have him check them out at the library. There are a bunch in that category. Also, the original Hardy Boys stuff is decent writing and engaging (if dated) stories.

The Prophet by Gibran was one I read at 12 and could return to anytime. Walden by Thoreau was a freshman year read that I recall had me thinking awhile.

How about The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin. Absolutely the best fantasy trilogy ever.

Lord of the Rings (the whole set)

Beowulf

Song of Roland

Sigfried

Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants series. Including Super Diaper Baby. Will be most appreciated by boys under 11 or over 35.

Isaac Asimov: I, Robot (or any of the robot story collections)

Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: Lucifer's Hammer and Footfall

Arthur C. Clarke: A Fall of Moondust, The City and the Stars, The Deep Range, Childhood's End

James L. Halperin: The Truth Machine

George R. Stewart: Earth Abides

Gordon R. Dickson: Tactics of Mistake

Robert Silverberg: Dying Inside

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