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Must-Read Books for Boys

Some boys are reluctant readers, unless they find something that really inspires them to start turning the pages.  Here are some books that might do the trick.  (Here are some must read books for girls.)

Young Readers

Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey
Lots of action brought to you by a boy and his very big robot.  Great for early readers.

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
An animated fly has all kinds of fun in this book for early readers.

Time Warp Trio Series,  #1: Knights of the Kitchen Table by Jon Scieszka
Time travel, knights and an explosion or two.  Everything a boy will love.

Monkeys vs. Robot by James Kochalka
The pairing of monkeys and robots is a duo that will draw older elementary boys in.

Older Elementary Readers

Whole Sky Full of Stars by Rene Saldana Jr.
A combination of boxers, wrestlers and ultimate fighters for older elementary boys.

Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare
The flavor of the Wild West for older elementary boys.

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
A tiny toy Indian comes to life.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Older elementary boys will enjoy this touching story of adventure.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The big brother in this series about a family of orphans is the leader of the pack.

Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
Ten-year-old Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown is a boy genius who can crack any case. (First in a series)

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Young Peter Hatcher finds his little brother, Fudge, to be a daily challenge. (First in a series)

The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
A small town boy finds an odd egg on his farm.  It turns out to be a dinosaur egg.

Older Elementary / Strong Readers

 Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
A series of books that take readers to another world filled with adventure and talking animals.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
While going through the possessions of a deceased guest, and innkeeper and her son find a treasure map. It leads them to a pirate fortune and great danger.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
In this favorite from the Narnia series, the Pevensie children stumble into a world of adventure when exploring the inside of an old wardrobe.

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Coming-of-age story about a 12-year-old boy.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
When he finds a beagle behind his West Virginia home, Marty attempts to hide the dog from his parents and its mean-spirited owner.

Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
A boy becomes a soldier in the United States’ Civil War.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
A shipwreck survivor creates an island kingdom.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Young Sam Gribley runs away from home and lives in the shelter of a hollowed-out tree in the Catskill Mountains with only his wits to help him survive.

Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes
Johnny Tremaine is an apprentice to a silversmith in colonial-era Boston who is swept into the tumultuous events of the American Revolution.

Knights of the Kitchen Table by Jon Sceiszka
Joe, Fred and Sam are transported back in time to the land of knights and fire-breathing dragons for a swashbuckling adventure. (First in a series)

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Ralph the mouse goes on the ride of his life. (First in a series)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie and his companions have won golden tickets to tour the chocolate factory—a delicious adventure

Middle School

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
A master of science fiction weaves an underwater tale of a crew trapped in a submarine.

Where the Red Fern Grows  by Wilson Rawls
A boy’s affection for two dogs helps bring about his coming of age.

Holes by Louis Sachar
Adventure, teamwork and fantasy.

The Hobbit by  J.R. Tolkien
Classic tale of an imaginary world of adventure and odd creatures.

The Time Machine by  H.G. Wells
An inventor creates a machine that can take him through time.

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck
A world-class writer takes on the legend of King Arthur.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A magic tollbooth that transports its owner to another world.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
A funny adventure through time.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
A boy who wants to become a knight learns to overcome adversity.

High School

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden Adventure

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
Football

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimoore Cooper
Historical Fiction

How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
Historical fiction and the power of family

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Humor and life lessons

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Mystery

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Science fiction and morality

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