My 12-year-old cousin underwent back surgery last week for an injury that he sustained while playing middle school football. The injury and resulting surgery and recovery have been a huge blow and I want to try and make his weeks at home in bed a little more tolerable. I am looking for book recommendations that an active 12-year-old boy will read and enjoy. I appreciate your suggestions during this hard time.
I love the Anthony Horowitz series. It is about a 13 year old spy and his exploits. The seventh and eighth graders at our school love these books.
My 12 year old son loves the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It's about a boy who notices he has strange powers, then finds out the Greek gods are still around, and one of them is his dad, making him a "half-blood" or "hero." He goes to a camp to train the other kid heroes to fight evil monsters and save the world.
There's lots of kid humor, and Percy and his friends struggle with loyalty and facing their fears. It's not overly violent or scary, and I like that kids get to absorb some Greek mythology while they enjoy the stories.
The author is Rick Riordon, and there are five books: "The Lightning Thief," "Sea of Monsters," "The Titans Curse," "The Battle of the Labyrinth," and "The Last Olympian."
Good morning, Whitney,
A couple of good books for boys that age are "David and the Phoenix" (can't remember author) and "The White Dragon" by Anne McCaffrey. Both of these books are geared for the 10-15 age group and are about being brave in difficult situations (fantasy-adventure).
Your young cousin is lucky to have someone caring like you in his life. I hope he recovers soon.
Barbara G. (mother of 8, grandmother of 4)
I was going to say the same - thing the Anthony Horowitz spy series is great! My 13 year old loves them (and I read them all too!). There is also Rick Riordan who is great and if he is into sports there is a whole series of sports fiction -- can't remember the author Carl Deuker -- that is it something but names like Heart of a Champion... and also the James Patterson Maximum Ride series is another good one!
I like the old classics from my own 12-year-old days (a long time ago!). Has he read Across Five Aprils (about the Civil War), or Johnny Tremain (Revolutionary War), or Rifles for Watie (Civil War), or The Phantom Tollbooth (just pure fun)?
I have bought these books for my nieces and nephews, and they really liked them. I hope your cousin feels better soon.
Hi Whitney,
I would recommend the "Chip Hilton" series of books, by Clair Bee. Starting with "Touchdown Pass", the series follows a group of athletes in high school (and later through college). The series was my favorite as a youth, and Clair Bee's children have updated all the books to reflect the modern era. Each book builds upon the previous one, but can also be read separately without any problem. They are full of life lessons, quality relationships (but also struggles and effects of bad choices). And, of course, lot's of sports.
I attend Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, and can find them in our library, but most libraries should have them. Be certain to obtain the updated copies.\
Hope this helps.
God bless,
Bob Sweeney
Registered Financial Consultant
Allstate Financial Services, L.L.C.
214-287-3549
[email protected]
I would also recommend the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. My 10 year old and my 14 year old son's both loved these and so did all their friends. They were fighting over the books to see who would get to read them first. They could not put them down, so I tried them and really enjoyed them, too. Kind of cool because the author, Rick Riordan is a teacher in Austin, TX. They are making a movie that will be out in February.
I also recommend a series called The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. There are about nine books in the series, but not all of them are out in the US yet. The author is Australian. It is set in a fictional country similar to England during the times of castles and knights. It is about a young boy who is an orphan and is raised in a castle. He desperately wants to be a knight, but he is small. When he turns 13, he must choose a vocation to be apprenticed to and it must choose him. He ends up joining the elite group of scout/spy/magic Rangers and discovers his hidden talents. It is very action packed and well written story. My sons loved them and can't wait for the next book to be out. I also read these and could not put them down. There are plans to make a movie of this book also sometime next year.
Not sure if this would be too advanced for him but I really like the Limony Snickets series!! I don't think I spelled it right but its the series that the movie Series of Unforntunate Events.
I love the book Happness is a choice for teens! I to had back surgery 2x as a teen. good luck
Than you to everyone for your suggestions! I sent him the books that you wrote to me about. Thank you again!