books for middle school boys

[Carey]

There are so many great authors, & middle schoolers are at the cusp between childhood & adult readings. I would certainly begin with:
What are the interests of the students?

Then go to book lists, one that is fairly comprhesive:
http://librarybooklists.org/fiction/ya/yaindex.htm

Some authors that I can think of:
mythical:
Richard Adams, Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, J. Rowling & Christopher Paolini
action/thiller
Clive Cussler & John Grisham
Sci-Fi
Carl Sagan, Issac Asimov