Books Boys Like

Greetings!

This week I will send out some titles of books that boys tend to like. It’s funny that girls will usually read most kinds of books, but boys will almost never pick up a book about a girl.

Roland Smith is an author that lives in the Portland, OR area and his books appeal to boys and girls. Tentacles, Peak, the Storm Runner series, Jack’s Run, and Zach’s Lie are a few of the books he has written. I have not found any language problem in his books and they are exciting stories. He also has one book called Legwork that is only available for the Kindle. It is a bit shorter than his other books, but is also a great read.

Carl Hiaasen has written a number of books all with one-word titles. Hoot, Flush,and Scat are three that boys and girls like.

Will Hobbs is a wonderful source for historical fiction and adventure. Crossing the Wire, Far North, Jason’s Gold, Take Me to the River, River Thunder and Leaving Protection are just some of his books that boys will enjoy.

If your boys like reading about war, here are two SDA stories that they might like. The Seventh Escape by Jan Doward and Flee the Captor by Herbert Ford. Both of these books are higher level reading and would be good through high school.

Farley Mowat writes great stories, some for young people and others that are really more appropriate for adults. Owls in the Family (one of my favorites), The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, and Lost in the Barrens are all great choices for boys.

As a child I read North to Freedom by Anne Holm and was frightened by it. It was my first introduction to war and prison camps. I reread it again as an adult and was not bothered by it like I had been years ago. The book has been republished with the title I Am David. You may be able to find it with either title.

Don’t forget Swift Arrow by Josephine Cunnington Edwards or Spotted Boy and the Comanches by Mabel Earp Cason. Both of these books are about boys who were captured by Indians and both can be found in the ABC bookstore.

If you have some geeky boys who like experiments, look for The Mad Scientists’ Club, The New Adventures of the Mad Scientist’s Club, The Big Kerplop!, and The Big Chunk of Ice: The Last Known Adventure of the Mad Scientists’ Club. These books were originally published in the early 1960’s and the science stuff is kind of low tech for today, but these stories are great fun to read. They can be found through Amazon.com, your local bookstore can order them for you, or you may find them at an online used bookstore.

So I have given you nearly thirty titles of books that boys like. I’m sure lots of you have other ideas, too. If you have ideas to share, I’ll compile them and send it out to everyone.
Thanks to you who help with this project. Get your boys involved, too. Ask them what titles they think other boys would enjoy. You might want to talk to them about what kind of books are appropriate for SDA schools and enlist their help in compiling titles for boys in grades 4 – 8 or above.

Have a great week.

Audrey