So in response to my last post, my parents write, “So our challenge to you is to create a list of 20 books that a 14-year-old boy would want to read. Heck, make it 10!”
Ten? You insult me, sir. Here’s 24 off the top of my head. Not necessarily the best books or my favorites (though many of them are), but simply my first stab at a list of books that I think have the most chance of being picked up and read by a typical 14-year-old boy.
(And for an in-depth discussion of the issue of boys and reading, check out Episode 2 of my Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast.)
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Dragons of the Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Homeland by R. A. Salvatore
The Green Futures of Tycho by William Sleator
Singularity by Williams Sleator
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Illusion by Paula Volsky
A Malady of Magicks by Craig Shaw Gardner
A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony
Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
The Master of White Storm by Janny Wurts
The Running Man by Stephen King
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
The White Mountains by John Christopher
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Feel free to suggest additions.
siznax says
wish i had read many of these. *bookmarks list*
your lucky to have such thoughtful parents. ;)
hey, what about the ladies!?!
siznax says
geez, s/your/you’re/
Juhan says
How about THE STARS MY DESTINATION? Or THE WIZARD OF EARTHSEA? THE COLOUR OF MAGIC?
all very different books all. But still cool.
John says
When I was 14, I couldn’t stop reading Lord of the Rings.
And Asimov’s Foundation blew me away.
Or what about Treasure Island?