Where The Boys Are (or Should Be, at Least)

Before I had fully stocked the bookshelves in my classroom, I was often subjected to a chorus from my male students when it was time for silent reading:

"Aw, it’s so boring! All these books are boring."

Apparently, they weren't alone. According to an American Library Association study, "boredom" was the most common reason boys gave for opting out of reading. Writer and illustrator Jon Scieska took issue with this, and set out to battle the lack of literacy in the 18-and-younger set. His movement, Guys Read, seeks to increase literacy among teen and tween boys, and provides a place for guys of all ages to find quality books that won't bore them. Forget the Hardy Boys — these days there are dozens of novels (like those mentioned in this review) that deal with everything that weighs on the mind of a teenage boy — sports, parents, teachers, friends, and especially girls. For more recommendations for your grandson, check out the lists at GuysRead.com.

Guys Write for Guys Read: Boys' Favorite Authors Write About Being Boys! (Viking Juvenile, 2005) Edited by Jon Scieszka

When Jon Scieszka set out to break the barrier between boys and their books, he enlisted an extremely talented army to contribute to this anthology. Everyone along the spectrum from (relative) newbie MT Anderson to seasoned pro Avi, and illustrators like Brett Helquist and
The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening spill some of their most personal teenage embarrassments. Each author approaches the challenge differently, so there is something for even the most skeptical male readers. Younger guys will take comfort in stories about older brothers actually turning out to be nice guys, and teenage boys will get a kick out of the failed attempts at dating. You might even find your little man taking a bit more pride in his doodles after seeing how Dav Pilkey's determination to draw comics catapulted him to fame through his Captain Underpants series.

Price: $8.79
For ages: 9 to 12
Available at: Amazon.com

Shooter (Amistad, Harper Tempest, 2005) By Walter Dean Myers

One of the things boys will find most exciting about this book is that inside, it looks nothing like a traditional novel. This story is told entirely through police interviews, diary entries, newspaper articles, and psychiatric evaluators, and yet it engrosses the reader just as easily as a classic narrative. These primary-source documents tell the story of how three teenagers came to be at the center of a school shooting that left two students dead, one by a self-inflicted wound. Myers does an incredible job of creating teenage characters who cling to the innocence of their childhood while dealing with issues far beyond their years. Based on the book's content, we suggest this book for 12- to 15-year-olds.

Price: $7.99
For ages: Publisher recommends 9 to 12.
Available at: Amazon.com

Twisted (Puffin, 2008) By Laurie Halse Anderson

Like Myers, Anderson is one of those prolific young-adult writers with an uncanny understanding of the teenage mind. In Twisted, she lets us into the life of Tyler Miller, a somewhat average, nerdy kid who commits a notorious and less-than-intelligent act of vandalism just before his senior year of high school. After a summer of hard labor keeping up the school grounds (part of his punishment for the prank), Tyler finds himself with a new sense of confidence and a new set of muscles to boot. And while his new image draws some surprising attention from the beautiful and popular Bethany Millbury, he also has to deal with disapproving stares and accusatory glances from the adults in his life.

Price: $9.99
For ages: Publisher recommends: 12 and older. We suggest: 14 and older.
Available at: Amazon.com