Best Books for Boys
This site is usually about food, but today I’m going to write about books. I love to read. I go through books like crazy! Literally, I read more than 3 books a week and sometimes I read a really good book in just one day!
This is why I love to read! Because my mom used to be a teacher, we have tons of books. She has been reading to me since I was born! Yep, that’s me up there with my Mom.
I have a lot of favorite books so today I will be sharing my Part 1 of Best Books for Boys ages 9-12. A lot of these books are thick books that are 300 to 400 pages. Those are the ones I like best!
#11 The Jaguar Stones Series by J&P Voelkel-I read the first book in the series, Middleworld, and loved it. It’s about two kids who go on a suspenseful quest to save the world from an evil Mayan God. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
#10 The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas- This one is also a series (I’ve read the first two books). It’s about a Gutter Boy (a kid who is basically an orphan, living on the streets) who turns into a magician and has to save the magical world. I guess I like books about saving the world, huh? 
#9 The Maze Runner by James Dashner- We just happened to pick up this book at the airport, and it turned out to be one of my favorites. In this book, teenage kids are sent to a containment unit still under testing with no memories (except for their names) and have to find their way out of the unit. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat when I was reading it! But it is a little bit scary. This book is a series too!
#8 Erec Rex Series by Kaza Kingsley- I’ve read all of the books in this series! In this series, a kid named Erec Rex is destined for the throne but a trio of villains try to stop him. I liked this series because it is so action-packed!
#7 Septimus Heap Series by Angie Sage- A kid named Septimus Heap turns into a wizard and tries to protect his family from the evil DomDaniel. I enjoyed this series because of all of the spells and their family’s narrow escapes. It was exciting!
#6 Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series by Rick Riordan- Probably a lot of kids have seen this movie, but the books are better. A son of Poseidon named Percy encounters dangers with Cronus and other evil titans. I liked this book because the Greek Gods are fascinating to me. Riordan also wrote The Kane Chronicles (which started with The Red Pyramid)- also a great series, and it’s Egyptian instead of Greek.
This post will be continued next week with my top 5 favorite, best books for boys! Stay tuned for more!
*If you or your kids have any recommendations for favorite books that boys might like to read- please leave a comment below and include your favorite titles. I’m always on the hunt for the next great book!
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Maria — September 15, 2011 @ 7:20 am
I love to read too! I am always looking for new books to read. I will have to save your list for when our little guy is old enough to read:) Great post!
Erika — September 15, 2011 @ 7:30 am
I just sent the link to this post to my 9-year-old son. Thanks for sharing your recommendations!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen — September 15, 2011 @ 7:59 am
Love your picks! I read the Percy Jackson books a few years ago with my 11 year old brother.
Now we’re reading The Kane Chronicles. We read them and get together to talk about them over lunch…and ice cream!
Jennifer Jo — September 15, 2011 @ 11:07 am
This is so helpful! My oldest son is almost 11 and his taste in books is COMPLETELY different from mine…and much more like yours. This list will help me to look in the right places. (He’s a huge Rick Riordan fan. Plus, Harry Potter, but that goes without saying, right?)
bridget {bake at 350} — September 15, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
Thank you so much for this….my son is 12 and LOVES to read. We can’t books out fast enough at the library. He’s reading a Rick Riordan book right now….but I can’t remember the name of it.
Looking forward to more of this series!
Jaime {sophistimom} — September 15, 2011 @ 12:03 pm
I am so getting my son to read this post!! He often makes guest appearances on sophistimom about the books he’s reading. He loves Percy Jackson, too, and pretty much anything by Rick Riordan.
I’m sending him over to your site as soon as he gets home from school and fencing tonight. Way to go, Brooks!
Jaime {sophistimom} — September 15, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Oh, one more thing. Stuart is reading the Hunger Games series for the second time. It’s pretty violent, though.
But whatever, I’ll have him tell you about it later.
Janis Nunez — September 15, 2011 @ 12:11 pm
My 10 year old LOVES to read too! That book you have listed, The Magic Theif, is part of Indiana’s Hoosier Books this year. My son just read it!
He loved the PENDRAGON series, all of the Percy Jackson series, the Narnia Series, last year the boys loved the NERDS series by Michael Buckley, the WILEY & GRANDPA series from Kirk Scroggs, I could go on…but there are a few! 
Enjoy!
Sue Parrott Mahon — September 15, 2011 @ 12:20 pm
Have you read Saving Redwind by Kris Yankee? It is a great book!
Katie — September 15, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
My recommendations will date me a little, but I loved these books when I was growing up. Since I was a tomboy, I’m pretty sure boys will love them too, especially any boy interested in dogs or the outdoors. “Where the Red Fern Grows,” by Wilson Rawls, is about a young boy so desperate for coon hounds that he works and saves for two years to buy them. Their adventures in the Ozarks are wonderful. “I Wanna Go Home,” by Gordon Korman, is about a boy trying to adjust to summer camp life and the hilarity that ensues. Both books are equally entertaining for adults, and I recommend them to anyone who missed them growing up. Other favorites of mine include “Watership Down,” “Tailchaser’s Song,” and “Black Gold.”
recipeboy replied: — September 15th, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
Oh my gosh, Where the Red Fern Grows is one of Brooks’ very favorite books ever. He’s done two book reports on it. I’m surprised he didn’t include it in his list! Thanks for the other recs- we will check them out!
Nan — September 15, 2011 @ 12:41 pm
Thank you for this! I am always looking for books for my boys ages 12-8 to read!!!
Everest — September 15, 2011 @ 1:02 pm
I recommend Percy Jackson!!!!
breanna — September 15, 2011 @ 2:32 pm
My step daughter read a book called Zombiekins and she loved it! Might be a very easy read for you…she read it in about a day and half but she thought it was really good! She wanted to own it after the first time she read it so she could read it again.
Canadian Meg — September 15, 2011 @ 3:18 pm
I love a lot of the suggestions here, but I’ll toss a couple of suggestions out as well.
Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer) – the 8 books series (not the graphic novel)
Inkheart (Cornelia Funke) – 3 book series
Robin Gustini — September 15, 2011 @ 5:50 pm
The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz is awesome for 9-12. About a teenage spy and things blowing up in very satisfying ways!
Stuart — September 15, 2011 @ 7:16 pm
Hey it’s me, the sophistimom
Stuart — September 15, 2011 @ 7:27 pm
Whoops, I meant to say the sophistimom’s son! I recommend the Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch.
HeatherMarie — September 15, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
omg Where the Red Fern Grows! the first book that ever made me cry! I would highly suggest the Artemis Fowl series! they are very much a read in one day, cant put them down kind of book. oh and Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia of course. =)
Aleksandra — September 16, 2011 @ 10:06 am
Hi,
The series by Michael Scott The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, The Magician and The Sorceress is a great read.
”
The Tunnels of Hertford” by John Barber is awesome. A local newspaper reported that a secret labyrinth of tunnels existed under the streets of Hertford, a small English market town. Modern day descendants of the Knights Templar still meet in these underground chambers and Hertford could be the last resting place of the Holy Grail.
Lisa — September 16, 2011 @ 10:31 am
I love The Egypt Game by Zilpha Snyder … all of her books are fantastic. I met the author when I was in 4th grade and still have the signed copy of Egypt Game from that day. Great list!
glenna — September 17, 2011 @ 4:11 am
the Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen
kellypea — September 17, 2011 @ 8:46 am
What a great photo of you and your mom — lucky kid! Looks like fantasy is your favorite genre. Lots of new titles there for me since my boys are grown, but remember that Brian Jacques’ Redwall series was extremely popular. You probably know what it’s like — start one, read it through and move on to the next without stopping. I think there are about 15 and they’re nice fat reads — super descriptive writing, colorful characters. Read them in order if you can:)
Boyasaurus — September 18, 2011 @ 9:12 am
Great choices Brooks, I highly recommend the Artemis Fowl series by Eion Colfer. I am on the 5th book of the series. : )
Lisa — September 19, 2011 @ 3:00 pm
Thanks for the list. My son is 10 and likes to read, when I finally insist we turn off the tv and the video games. He likes the Lightning Thief, but hasn’t read the rest of the series yet. the other books on your list look like they are just the kind he would like, too. I’m going to print off your list, plus all the other recommendations in the comments, and we’re heading to the library!
RecipeBoy's Grandma — September 20, 2011 @ 9:19 am
I always loved reading to you every time I came to visit even when you were seemingly too little to even understand. Then amazingly,one day you were reading to me. For awhile, we took turns. Remember. That was fun too. Now your on your own with so many more books to read…a lifetime of books. Enjoy!
PS Great post
Ben — September 22, 2011 @ 9:00 pm
Hi Brooks! I’ll check out some of these books. You should also check out Jerry Spinnelli. Some are Loser, Milkweed, and Maniac Magee. They might not be your type, but I like them.
P.S.-Great catch today!
tweldner — September 23, 2011 @ 6:46 am
What a great list of books! The Percy Jackson series including The Lightning Thief are amazing!
Rosa — September 28, 2011 @ 7:46 am
Hi! I am a teacher and a newbie foodie and photographer (starting out a few months ago). I don’t have any food blog; I just like looking at others to try at home with my family. I stumbled upon your website while stumbling to your mom’s website and I’m pretty shy about leaving comments, but I couldn’t resist this one. It thrills me to pieces to see that you love to read! I read to my little girl all the time and I hope she loves books as much as you do.
I wanted to give a recommendation – Have you read any of the “Alcatraz versus” by Brandon Sanderson? Also, the “Hound of Rowan: Book One of the Tapestry” (it is also a series) by Henry Neff? I’m not into girly-books, and I generally love fantasy and science fiction books. Happy Reading, Brooks!
Cassie — September 28, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
My kids love Artemis Fowl, Gregor the Underlander, The Hunger Games,The Mysterious Benedict Society, Percy Jackson (and other series by Rick Riordan) Harry Potter, A Wrinkle in time and series, Narnia, The Black Stallion, Bran Hambric, The Emerald Atlas, Erec Rex, Ranger’s Apprentice, Alex Rider, The Jaguar Stones. That’s all I can think of right now.
Thanks to everyone for all the recommendations! I am always on the look out for new titles for my 3.
Andrea (questfordelish) — January 12, 2012 @ 11:47 am
I really love your blog. I have two boys and could really use some help on books for my 8 year old. I noticed most of you choices are for 9 and up. Do you have a some you can recommend for a little younger? He is in the 3rd grade and loves lots of action. thanks
recipeboy replied: — January 12th, 2012 @ 4:41 pm
I would suggest The Mysterious Benedict Society series, any Andrew Clements book, the City of Ember series, Millions, and the School of Fear series. They are all great books that I enjoyed when I was around your son’s age.
Andrea (questfordelish) — January 12, 2012 @ 3:06 pm
I also forgot to add a book I think you would really like. It is a little old for my son to read by himself but I am reading it to him. It is the Redwall series. check it out and let me know what you think.
recipeboy replied: — January 12th, 2012 @ 4:43 pm
Thanks for the recommendation! I just read a biography about the author of the Redwall series, Brian Jacques, and found it very inspiring.
Andrea (questfordelish) — January 26, 2012 @ 4:30 pm
thanks for all the great ideas I will take a look at all of them. We are now reading the second book in the Redwall series and my son loves it and the shows. I hope you will like it also.
recipeboy replied: — January 26th, 2012 @ 6:21 pm
I just started the first Redwall book and I am enjoying it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Felicia (FeMcB) — May 21, 2012 @ 8:13 am
Have you read “The Ranger’s Apprentice” series? My boy is 9 but reads chapter books and is really enjoying those. some other suggestions would be books by Terry Pratchett, The Bromeliad Trilogy, Johnny Maxwell Trilogy, The Wee Free Men. My son also enjoys the old Hardy Boys books and even Nancy Drew. He also likes the Warriors series. There’s also a series of books by Chris D’Lacey called “The Last Dragon Chronicles”
recipeboy replied: — May 22nd, 2012 @ 8:44 pm
I loved the Ranger’s Apprentice Series!!! John Flanagan is one of my favorite authors. He also writes another great series called The Brotherband Chronicles. I also really liked the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathon Stroud and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.
Andrea (questfordelish) — May 22, 2012 @ 5:59 pm
I am back to get more book ideas from you. I think the next book for him may be The city of Ember. You will have to let me know what you think of the first Redwall book.
recipeboy replied: — May 22nd, 2012 @ 8:36 pm
I LOVE the Redwall series!!! The first book was great, but now I’m on like the 12th.
caraol — September 9, 2013 @ 1:23 pm
I was a Catholic school teacher, working with a club called “Battle of the Books.” One favorite from the 6th grade list was “Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie.” I thought it was funny with a good message. Wish more tweens loved to read!