Help wanted, please! I‘m looking for a good summer reading book for my 14 yo son who is entering high school next school year. He would like something with a hetero male protagonist that is fun and upbeat. He is mildly dyslexic so he is a reluctant reader and is tired of reading about “depressing topics.” I‘ve compiled a list of books he might like so far - I‘ve read the first 3 but am guessing about the rest. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!
Johanna414 Has he read the Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan? That is super popular with the boys in my library 5y
rretzler @Johanna414 No, I‘ve not heard of that one. It‘s a real struggle to get him to read, so he doesn‘t read much on his own these days. We‘ll take a look! Thanks (edited) 5y
Johanna414 No problem! 5y
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LiteraryinPA I‘d recommend the track series by Jason Reynolds. The book titles are Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu. I also loved Darius the Great is not Okay. 5y
rretzler Also, please do not construe the fact he wants a book with a hetero protagonist to mean that we are not LGBTQ allies. He just wants to read something that is relatable and that he can identify with. And I can support that 5y
rretzler @LiteraryinLititz Thanks! I looked at the Ghost series previously and Darius just now and they all seem a little more heavy than what he‘s looking for currently. He wants something humorous and upbeat without having to deal with depressing issues. Those sound like great books and we‘ll keep them in mind for another time. I appreciate the suggestions. I just finished reading Long Way Down and it was a great/powerful book. 5y
Hestapleton I loved this and thought it was HILARIOUS![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png)
Holes (Anniversary) 5y
Holes (Anniversary)rretzler Also I realize The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is a little heavy for a light read, but Keegan is also gifted and he loves The Big Bang Theory so I think it‘s funny enough and somewhat relatable to him! 5y
rretzler @Hestapleton Thanks, I had actually forgotten about Holes. I think we may have a copy of it around here! 5y
scripturient-ink How about the Percy Jackson series? Percy is dyslexic himself, maybe he can relate to that. If I remember correctly, the characters are about 12 in the first volume, but the last couple of books are set in high school. 5y
BarbaraJean If he likes fantasy at all, you might try The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson or the 100 Cupboards series by N.D. Wilson. Also anything Terry Pratchett! 5y
Theaelizabet I second Holes. And any book by John Green, though some are quite bittersweet...suggestions after snooping through my now-adult daughter‘s old room: Nothing But the Truth by Avi (other Avi‘s might be worth a look). And though they may be too old for him (and so possibly inappropriate for his age) The Martian and Ready Player One, which I also enjoyed. (edited) 5y
TrishB My daughter loved these in her early teens, have tagged the first oneMaximum Ride: The Angel Experiment 5y
Maximum Ride: The Angel ExperimentJaneeny This is the first book in a series, and they're really good. They've got adventure and drama so they keep you reading, and you also learn a little about History too.TimeRiders 5y
TimeRidersNatascia.Brondino All the Eragon series is really good maybe the Grisham books about a kid detective (I found them very funny) 5y
rretzler @scripturient-ink Thanks! He did read a few Percy Jacksons when he was in elementary school but didn't continue (his older brother enjoyed them quite a bit more), but if the last couple are set in HS, then they're definitely worth checking out again. 5y
rretzler @BarbaraJean Thanks! He did read 100 Cupboards several years ago, but didn't continue the series. I had looked at the Sanderson but couldn't decide if he would like it or not - it's definitely worth putting on the list. I had also thought about Pratchett, but couldn't decide where to start him - with Color of Magic or whether to start him with Amazing Maurice or Tiffany Aching. Since we have cats, and Tiffany is a girl, perhaps Maurice? 5y
rretzler @Theaelizabet Thanks! He's read a lot of Green and I think is getting sick of him - hence wanting to read something less depressing. 😂 I don't know why I didn't think of RPO, its a favorite of mine - which also makes me think Armada would probably be good as well. I heard there's a version of The Martian which skips a lot of the technical details but keeps the gist of the story. Maturity and interest-wise RPO and Martian are very appropriate. 5y
rretzler @Theaelizabet It occurred to me after you suggested The Martian that he would probably like the Bobiverse series by Dennis E Taylor. Very funny! 5y
rretzler @TrishB Thanks! We'll have to check that series out. I'm not familiar with it. 5y
rretzler @Janeeny Thanks! I'm not familiar with that series either. We'll have to check it out as well. 5y
rretzler @Natascia.Brondino Thanks! I had no idea that Grisham wrote books for kids! We'll check them out. My husband is a huge Grisham fan, so he may want to read them! 5y
BarbaraJean I haven‘t read Maurice yet, but Pratchett can pretty much always be counted on for fun and upbeat. Tiffany Aching is amazing, but yes—female protagonist! Mort might also be a good one to start.Mort 5y
Mortrretzler @BarbaraJean And I haven‘t read Mort yet, but it also looks good. I really need to step up my reading and finish Discworld. What I‘ve actually read was years ago and out of order, so I need to start at the beginning and read them all. 5y
Amie This one is a mix of humor, mystery, and adventure. It's YA/middle grade but it's part of Hiaasen's Skink series for adults and can be read as a standalone.Skink--No Surrender 5y
Skink--No Surrenderrretzler @amie Thanks! I had also forgotten about Hiaasen. I think he read Hoot and some other Hiassen in elementary school, but we'll check this one out! 5y
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