favorite literature for 16 year old son?

[mominbc]

My ds(16) has never found the love of reading. I feel like it's my fault because I was so picky about what her read when he was younger(only the best literature) and didn't let him just read for fun. Anyways, he reads the literature I assign for English and enjoys it but I would love for him to know what its like to pick up a book for fun and just read and enjoy. He loved Lord of the Rings. I would love to correct my mistake and show him some books that he might like that may not be classics but just books that guys his age enjoy. Is this possible? What books would you suggest?:confused:

I appreciate your help!!:bigear:

[Jane in NC]

At this point, I do not think you should be suggesting which books your son reads for fun. Why not have him go to a library to borrow the books that he wants to read? Let him choose. Your list of "fun" reads may not be exactly what a sixteen year old would call "fun".

Some sixteen year old teens read the instruction manuals that come with computers or electronic gizmos "for fun". Some like graphic novels. My son reads a lot of science fiction/fantasy. He also subscribes to Archaeology magazine.

[jlovebaker]

Into the Wild. Adventure with lots of opportunity to analyze the explorer personality. There's another one by the guy that cut off his own hand in a slot canyon - I think his name is Aaron Ralston. All great reads about some very interesting personalities.

[Grace is Sufficient]

Some sixteen year old teens read the instruction manuals that come with computers or electronic gizmos "for fun".

I'm so glad to hear that my 16 year old son isn't the only kid in the world who does this!! As a devoted fiction lover, this has always seemed very odd to me.

[Jane in NC]

I'm so glad to hear that my 16 year old son isn't the only kid in the world who does this!! As a devoted fiction lover, this has always seemed very odd to me.

Odd to me as well, but one of my friends had a son who read every manual cover to cover but only read fiction when it was an assignment. The kid went on to create a start up software company at age 18 or 19. The kid was born hardwired!

[mominbc]

My son loves to look at history/art books, but he is visual/spatial, but he doesn't read it as such. He is an amazing reader. Is there any great books that a popular among teens now? I just think that the books that I have given him have required work to read...classics with novel study.:tongue_smilie:

[Jenn in CA]

I think some suggestions are always helpful for a starting place.

Harry Potter seres
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The 39 Steps and the rest of the Greenmantle series
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Binding of the Blade-Christian (but not overtly so) fantasy series
Perelandra, CS Lewis sci fi trilogy

My 15 & 17 yo boys don't read much these days, but I think that's partly due to the fact that they work so hard during school hours that they want to do something more mindless during their free time. There's definitely a place and season for that. It's not always bad to not feel like reading!

[SusanAR]

Someone here suggested The Wheel of Time, and I'm so glad they did; my 16 yo is really enjoying the series. They are fantasy.

DS also enjoyed:

Ender's Game

His Majesty's Dragon triology (fantasy set during the Napoleonic Wars)

The series about King Alfred/ Saxons, by Bernard Cornwell ( some of his books are a bit iffy in content)

all things Tolkien

Song of Alveon (sp?) series (Stephen Lawhead)

[mominbc]

Thanks for the suggestions. He really likes fantasy movies so these could be interest him.:)

[Kendall]

My sons recommended the author Margaret Haddix and her series Among the ____ (Hidden is one of the titles). Running Out of Time is another book by her that they liked.