Reading for Preteen Boys

I have a 10 year old boy who has some vision issues so he reads at just a little lower than normal. He loves diary of a wimpy kid. He also really got into the World According to Humphrey books, they are about some adventures of a classroom hamster.

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My friends who have boys rave about the "Diary of a Wimpy kid" series. Even boys who don't like to read like them.

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Usborne Books has several ideas with books for experiments and geography and science. They also have a new series called Conspiracy 365, you can read the first chapter at wwww.conspiracy365us.com. There will be a book every month in 2010.

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I might not get the title right, but you will be able to google it and get the right title. It is something like the Encyclopedia of yucky things. My stepson really enjoyed this when he was around that age. He actually would read it, and he was not a reader. Good luck!

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I REALLY loved Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series, The Bartimeaus trilogy by Jonathon Stroud, and Brian Jacques Redwall books. The Brian Jacques audiobooks are REALLY outstanding, which might be a good intro for someone who has trouble with the written word.....

I'm thinking if a 30 something woman loves these books, their intended audiance should too...

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My brother used to really enjoy a series called, "Captain Underpants." I know it sounds a little crude, but I can tell you, they're enjoyable reading for crazy boy minds. Check it out though, I think they might be a little bit below their reading level, but like you said, if they have trouble with reading it might be just right. Good for you getting them books for christmas! Have fun!

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We are getting my 11 year old the Pendragon series. Its fantasy with a 14 year old who has to save the world. I also agree that the Captain Underpants books are good.

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Could you take them to a library and see what they like? Then you could buy them something more by the same author. Or get them a gift card from a book store and take them there to make a choice. Or have an outing with you be the gift, and it could include a book store where they get to choose one that you agree to pay for (and they could tell you why they choose that one, and as you listen you'll get to know them a little better.)

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My nephew has liked:
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Septimus Heap by Angie Sage
They are all series and I have read them too, very good.

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My 10-year-old son is an avid reader and he recommends: Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, The Day my Butt went Psycho (also part of series), Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Encyclopedia of Immaturity, The Homework Machine. Both of my boys, even my 13-year-old, love the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip collection books. We recommend most books by Dan Gutman, but especially his series about time travel using a baseball card (ex.--Babe and Me, Honus and Me, etc.). Books that appeal to boys often have gross titles or subject matter, but that's what gets boys to read. Depending on the reading level of your boyfriend's sons, my son also loves the Harry Potter books. We can probably come up with more ideas if you need them!

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My youngest is now 22 but when he was that age he liked the Goosebump series. I don't know if they are still around though.

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I also would recommend the Captain Underpants series, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Matt Christopher books (sports stories), Andrew Clements books (school stories), Mike Lupica books (sports stories), Tony Abbot books, Football Genius by Tim Green, Getting Air by Dan Gutman (skateboarders), Airball:My Life in Briefs by L. D. Harkrader, The Amazing Flight of Darius Frobisher by Bill Harley, books by Gordon Korman, Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle, books by Gary Paulson, The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. Minnesota has a kids' choice book award for kids in grades 3-8. Check with your local library to see if there is something similar in Iowa.

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Dixie, my 10 yr. old loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. He reads at a 10th grd. level so it is hard to find something he likes to casually read between those and the Hardy boys and Harry Potter he is pretty happy. The Wimpy Kid books are an easy read. good Luck.

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I just purchased an Encyclopia Brown 3pk of books for my 12 year old "reluctant reader." They are not only easier reads, but he has trouble reading for content and the idea of the book is to figure the clues out to solve the mystery (the answers are at the end in case they can't quite get it). That way, it is building on the content reading as well.

Good luck!

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Hi Dixie,

I like the idea of getting a picture non-fiction book for the one who is not a big reader. Or gift cards for Half-Price books are great too.

One book my son enjoyed when he was around 11 was Gregor the Overlander. It caught my eye from CommonSense website for parents. I don't recall the author's name but he and i read this book and the others in the series. This was my favorite! Very cool story about a boy and his little sister having to rescue their father.

Best wishes to you!
K.

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My son is 9 and loves the Diary of a Wimpy kids books also. He also is reading the Zoobreak series.
Another good one might be any of the Shel Silverstien books (A light in the Attic is my favorite). It is poetry, but funny, easy to follow, not too much in depth and easy to read.

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My son is 12 and he LOVES the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series! He also likes books by Dan Gutman and Andrew Clements. Another suggestion--Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes. These were both on his Christmas List ;) Good luck!