05-11-2011, 10:38 AM
Boys like books that are partly serious, and partly funny. Or all funny. For boys, try anything by Daniel Pinkwater ("Lizard Music" is terrific) or Roald Dahl ("Danny, Champion of the World" is an often-ignored sleeper), "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett, "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer (boys love breaking the code) and of course all of the Lemony Snicket "Series of Unfortunate Events" books just for sheer fun. AND, if all those words fail, you can always depend on the Captain Underpants ouevre. Rick Riordan's "The Lightning Thief" is fun, too, and they learn some swell Greek mythology. And know what book I absolutely adore? Jules Pfeiffer's "The Man in the Ceiling." (Especially good for kids who tend to give up; with extra oomph for kids who love to draw.)
Oh, and I totally agree about Louis Sachar's "Holes." It's a 10. (great movie, too) Serious and funny at the same time. Pullman books can be a hard read (heck, even for me), but I do love The Golden Compass. Also great and supposedly geared toward middle-grade boys is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, but personally I think it's really for Young Adult or adult readers.
I hear you on the girls' books. It drives me nuts.
Oh, and I totally agree about Louis Sachar's "Holes." It's a 10. (great movie, too) Serious and funny at the same time. Pullman books can be a hard read (heck, even for me), but I do love The Golden Compass. Also great and supposedly geared toward middle-grade boys is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, but personally I think it's really for Young Adult or adult readers.
I hear you on the girls' books. It drives me nuts.