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Finding intelligent books that will appeal to teen boys can be a challenge. If a book is too literary, it won’t hold their interest. On the other hand, a plot-driven adventure may offer plenty of action, but not give kids much to care about. The advantage of a good science fiction series is that it offers the best of both worlds: strong, action-packed stories that keep teens coming back for more, and enough thematic complexity to challenge the imagination.

Action-Packed Science Fiction Series For Teen Boys

The Gatekeeper by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz’s Gatekeeper great series first appeared in 2005 with Raven’s Gate. 14-year-old Matt runs afoul of the law and is remanded into the care of a formidable old crone in the English countryside. Matt’s growing alienation and dread prove to be more than just adolescent paranoia when he finds himself the target of a sinister cult. In the sequel, Evil Star, the conspiracy takes on world-threatening dimensions, and Will and four other young “gatekeepers” are all that stand in its way. The series continues at a break-neck pace with Night Rise and concludes with Necropolis.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Kenneth Oppel’s award-winning Airborn sci-fi thriller trilogy book series is set in a parallel world where giant airships trek across the sky as if the aeroplane were never invented. Matt Cruse is a 15-year-old cabin boy aboard the luxury airship Aurora, and Kate is a young passenger on a mission to prove her grandfather’s sightings of winged, cat-like creatures in the sky.

The Aurora is attacked by pirates, lost in a storm, and shipwrecked on an island, where Matt and Kate discover evidence of the mysterious creatures. They are close to solving the puzzle when they stumble upon the pirates’ hideout and are kidnapped. Now the race is on to escape from the outlaws and stop them from stealing the airship. The action continues in Skybreaker and Starclimber.

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

James Dashner’s Maze Runner series and the first book debuted in 2009. A teen boy wakes up with no memory of who he is or where he came from, only to discover that he is one of about 60 young men living in a huge open space called the Glade, surrounded by high walls.

The Gladers have no memory of how they got there, but they manage to survive without adults by creating their miniature society, complete with a governing body and division of labour. The most dangerous job belongs to the maze runners, who routinely run the alleyways of the Glade, looking for a way out, while trying to evade the gruesome flesh-eating monsters called Grievers.

Common Themes Of Young Adult Science Fiction For Teen Readers

On one level, all three of these series follow a traditional quest story format, in which a boy must overcome near insurmountable obstacles on the road to manhood. Believable characters allow teens to identify with the protagonist, whose struggles mirror the reader’s heroic journey toward adulthood. On another level, the series share common motifs of adult betrayal and of worlds turned upside down. These are themes that adolescent readers will easily relate to, consciously or subconsciously, as they enjoy the thrill ride of a good story.

These days, fewer teenagers are curling up with a book on a rainy Sunday afternoon; instead, most of them are watching television, and social media, playing video games and filling their time with other activities that aren’t as intellectually stimulating as reading. As students lose the desire to read outside the classroom, their overall personal experience, good habits and reading skills diminish; therefore, your teenager must accumulate a fulfilling reading list of the best books of all time, in this case being a teen boy:

Third And Indiana, By Steve Lopez For The Younger Readers

Set in modern-day Philadelphia, Third and Indiana focuses on the life of a young drug dealer, Gabriel, who has gone missing whilst working for the most dangerous drug lord in the neighbourhood known as the Badlands. The story also follows Gabriel’s mother as she desperately searches for her missing son in an attempt to save his life; Lopez’s novel is thrilling, fast-paced, and sure to keep any teen boy glued to the book until its very end.

Brave New World, By Aldous Huxley Is The Perfect Book

Though a completely different story than Third and Indiana, Brave New World is another winner in the minds of teen boys: it takes place deep into the future, in a world in which mankind has believed itself to reach the pinnacle of advanced civilization. However, as the book’s main character, Bernard Marx, learns, not everything in this world is perfect; if even one person has a problem with society, then society may be flawed. The story, though not very fast-paced, will invoke deep thought in a young mind, making it an essential part of any teenager’s reading list.

Beowulf Is One Of The Favourite Books For Teens

Beowulf has been translated many, many times over by a myriad of writers. This classic, ancient tale can make a teen boy question his ideas of heroism. It can be difficult to understand the Old English text at first, but if one puts enough time into it, then the story can be easily read and enjoyed. Interestingly enough, there is quite a bit of action in the story, and it is written poetically; the combination of grace and adrenaline-induced combat will awe your teen boy.

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth Should Be On Your List Of Books

Though a play, this tragedy struck me as particularly entertaining during my teenage years. Similar to Beowulf, it questions one’s ideas of what a hero truly is, not to mention the other issues involved in Macbeth’s quest for glory. Shakespeare creates a situation in which a hero becomes the villain, keeping the reader’s/audience’s attention all the way. You could even convince your teenage son to act out portions of the play or memorize a monologue (it could spark some interest in theatre!).

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Is A Great Book

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an inspirational story written by Maya Angelou and published in 1970. The book tells the story of Maya Angelou’s life, from her difficult childhood growing up as a young black girl in the South to her joyful acceptance of who she is as a woman. Though the book includes mature and sometimes sombre, content, it is a must-read for any teenage female.

The Bell Jar For Your Teen Years

Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar also tells the story of the author’s life, following a journey in which her feelings of loneliness drive her to attempt suicide. The book is not an easy read and is very sad at times, but it provides insight into the disease of depression. Teenagers who struggle with depression may be relieved to see that the disorder is more common than they think.

After Has To Be On Your Book Recommendations Lists

After was voted one of the top books by the Young Adult Library Association. In Amy Efaw’s novel, a teenage soccer player discovers she is pregnant. Not wanting to face the reality of her pregnancy, she neglects the baby to the point where she faces serious jail time. This book serves not only as a warning to sexually active teens but also as an entertaining tale of suspense.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Is A Diary Of A Young Girl

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, is a work of fiction that focuses on 16-year-old Belly, who realizes how much her life has suddenly changed now that she’s not a little girl anymore. Voted one of the top picks for teens by the Young Adult Library Services Association, this novel deals with the transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood.

We Are Witnesses: The Diaries Of Five Teenagers Who Died In The Holocaust

Jacob Boas’s book We Are Witnesses: The Diaries of Five Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust, published in 1996, focuses on the lives of five teenagers who lived through various parts of World War II and were killed in the Holocaust. This book teaches a lesson about compassion for all people and the equality of all mankind.

Not all teen boys love reading. Many teenagers abhor reading, especially when it involves books they are forced to read for class. Plenty of engaging books are available that can inspire teenagers and encourage them to read more. Teenagers can learn to love reading, but they have to find the right books to hook their interest. Plenty of books are available to teen boys that are not only engaging but educational as well.

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