MG Boys Books

[Lisa P]

My sons enjoy The Candy Shop War series:
and

[Andrew]

The Magnificent 12, a quartet of short fantasy books just completed, is pretty zany & fast-paced with a boy named Mack as the central character but a growing cast over the series since there has to be twelve of them (and the RIGHT twelve) to stop the evil Pale Queen. There are some nice human touches, too. Girls may like it, too, but it my guess is that it is aimed at boys. -- I liked "Sidekicked" a lot. I reviewed this one here at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...

[Andrew]

Lisa P wrote: "My sons enjoy The Candy Shop War series:
and "

These two books are great fun with many twists of plot & interesting young characters.

[Rebecca]

S.W. wrote: "M.G. wrote: "My ten year old is currently devouring the third WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter. Evidently he never gets tired of fighting cats!"

I haven't read any of these books, but I'm always ama..."

They really are a lot of fun!

[[deleted user]]

The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention! is fun. It’s an adventure story. Superheroes, aliens, an evil lunchroom hag, this gem has it all. The book is about bullying second.

Written by syndicated cartoonist Jerry Craft and his two teenage sons, it's an exciting tale in an incredibly original voice (from the unique perspective of the bullies who don't actually know that they're bullies.) Boys will love it because there's a lot of action, video games, evil sisters, and it's really funny. Plus there are also a lot of illustrations, and even a flipbook. I love it because it teaches kids about bullying. Five middle grade bullies get superpowers, but instead of transforming into cool characters, they take on the characteristics of the kids who they pick on. It really does a lot to show kids how mean they can be to each other and not even know it. Did I mention it's really funny? Enjoy!

http://jerrycraft.net/offenders.html

The Offenders: Saving the World, While Serving Detention!

[Bree]

Reading through your posts, I was wondering, are books for boys and for girls written in a different style/voice or is the difference mainly in the main character and the type of story?

I mean, like with everything else there are stereotypes, but do they really apply or is it more about admitting to reading a book that might be deemed more for girls?

I think it's really difficult to say, and yet I find that psychological aspect fascinating.

[Peter]

Here's a broad, very generalized answer. The books I've written for girls focus more on relationships. The books I've written for boys focus more on activities. Obviously a boy can read a book for girls and vice versa, but on the whole, publishers still pursue the whole blue/pink identity of book styles. Harry Potter is an ideal mixture as both my son and daughter list it as their favourite middle grade read, however the way they absorb and enjoy the storytelling is different.

[Rebecca]

I think that's generally a sound answer, Peter. I also think that boys remain reluctant to read a book with a girl as main character, though girls have always been willing to read about boys. Maybe that's why so many of the books I see these days have an opposite-sex sidekick, which from my observations is not really that common--I don't see very many MG kiss with best friends of the opposite sex.

[Peter]

After 15 years of writing, I have thrown caution to the wind and written a book about bad boy fairies for a young male audience. So far I have given some editors a few spilled coffee moments. Everyone says that I'm mad to keep pushing it, but I can't see why I shouldn't continue. After all, wasn't Peter Pan actually the world's first superhero? My characters are disgusting super heroes with idly biddy wings ...

[William]

I think this is a fascinating discussion. Even though the activities vs. relationships pattern for boys and girls is very real, I really try to find books for boys that deal with relationships of all kinds. My first book, Guardian Angel, has a male protagonist, but it centers around his interactions with classmates and his grandmother. It's doing OK, but I know it's not "high concept": no vampires, no guns, no secret quests, etc.

[Kristin]

My 11 yo son loves The Heroes of Olympus, a newer series called The Unwanteds (I have read them too and really enjoyed them), The False Prince, and the Cryptid Hunters series by Roland Smith. I led an all boys lit circle with the second book in this series (Tentacles) and all the boys rated it a 10+ at the end. They loved it!

[Bree]

Peter wrote: "After 15 years of writing, I have thrown caution to the wind and written a book about bad boy fairies for a young male audience. So far I have given some editors a few spilled coffee moments. Every..."

Hi Peter,
The relationship vs. activities aspect is an interesting thought ... but would you say the writing is different too? The tone? Use of stylistic devices, etc.?
BTW, your story idea - though unconventional - does sound intriguing! Did you (self-)publish it? I'd love to have a look!

[Peter]

Hi Bree

Here's my two cents worth. I was raised mainly by mother - so for some reason I feel confident dealing with the whole relationship thing in my writing. I don't actively try and adopt a different voice. However, I love goofing off watching sports all day while my wife complains that I'm wearing out the couch, so I get the whole dumb guy thing as well. I think your particular personality comes through as the voice in the story. It's very hard to fake a voice. I am a comedian, so I would never try and write a deadly serious dramatic piece of work - it would fall flat. That's what makes writing so fascinating - thousands of different voices. Thousands of different flavors to digest. I'm still writing my book, so I'll try and remember to show you a copy when it's done. Cheers, Pete

[J.L.]

Bree wrote: "Reading through your posts, I was wondering, are books for boys and for girls written in a different style/voice or is the difference mainly in the main character and the type of story?

I mean, li..."

I actually think many times they are. But I do think you can span the gap. In my novel, I'm attempting to do just that. And most of my beta readers have said there is plenty for both boys and girls; lots of action, but yet small drops of romance (crushes) as well. But I think both boys and girls are open minded to a point. Too much action, violence and disrespect and you lose girls. Too much romance/crushes, internal feelings, and you've lost boys. But I think adding both gives a much more rounded book which appeals to everyone. Just my .02

[Sandy]

I think there might also be an age element. For younger MG there are 'girl books' like the Alice Miranda series. Good books but no boy would be seen dead reading them! There are definitely boy books like Battle Boy although some girls read these too. I spend a lot of time working with MG readers as well as writing for this age group and I've noticed that as readers get older the distinction is less obvious. More books that both boys and girls read.

[J. Lee]

J. L. wrote: "Bree wrote: "Reading through your posts, I was wondering, are books for boys and for girls written in a different style/voice or is the difference mainly in the main character and the type of story..."

Very cool conversations happening with this posit... ! My MG novels, a series involving a male protagonist with 2 good friends HAS TO, for my mind, (forgive the caps) be about relationship. The protagonist's relationship to his time travel environment, to the people he meets, to his two good friends, to his psychic grandmother, and of course, to himself.
Maybe it's my playwriting 'gene' talking, but if there's nothing at stake relationship-wise, then we don't have a story. YET, I love cliffhangers and action, so my books are doused in plot that moves! But to swing all or nothing in either direction, I think, does a disservice to our readers.
My protagonist, Andy, is very sensitive and not a 'slay the monster with a sword' sort of guy. Yet, he has an arc, a journey of self discovery that boys (and girls) will self-identify. I think there is room for the sensitive boy and the 'spare me your sexist gender-in-a-box behavior' grrrrl. So far, I've yet to find an editor who wants to take that risk with me, but what the hey... I keep on self-publishing and creating a new type of MG.
The MG generation is changing,,,, will publishers change with it?

[Peter]

Just as a gentle aside. I often use Spongebob Squarepants as an example of mixed storytelling. Two male protagonists (Spongebob & Patrick) in an extremely unlikely friendship watched by boys and girls. The energy between these two drives the plot lines. My son and my daughter are addicted to this show. So, yes, relationships are always at the heart of a good story, even when the main characters are regularly blown to smithereens or forced to ingest hazardous materials.

[J. Lee]

Peter wrote: "Just as a gentle aside. I often use Spongebob Squarepants as an example of mixed storytelling. Two male protagonists (Spongebob & Patrick) in an extremely unlikely friendship watched by boys and gi..."

That's great! Very funny!

[Rosie]

This is fascinating - I've definitely opted for a combination of friendships in my MG series, in the hope that it will appeal to both boys and girls.
There's action - and it doesn't all land on the boys shoulders, especially in the second book.
Fortunately my husband works in a 11-18 school, so there's plenty of feedback, which has helped enormously!
I'm going to watch with interest to see how the second book is received when I publish it in a few weeks.

[Shannon]

My son was such a huge reader at that age. I'm trying to think of some of his favourites. He was NOT a Harry Potter fan.

His Favourites: I'm not sure if they'd be MG or YA though.
Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The House of the Scorpion
Chronicles of Narnia

[Shannon]

There are lots of books for boys. My son was an avid reader during those years and we have a huge library as a result. Books he loved:

Inkheart Series
Warrior Heir & the series
House of the Scorpion - His favourite
Malice
The Wormling series
Holes
Chronicles of Narnia


Other books he read but weren't favourites:
Henderson's boys and Cherub Books
Alex Rider books
Eragon series
Percy Jackson series

I found it hard to find books that would meet his reading level that were appropriate for a grade 6/7 boy to read. I wish I would have known about the Dresdin files urban fantasy when he was that age. An adult series but clean enough for kids with an exceptional reading level to read.

There are tonnes more but I can't think of them.

[Rebecca]

Shannon, my younger son read some Agatha Christie in 8th grade, and enjoyed it. It was all suitable and challenged his reading level.

[Rebecca]

Terry Pratchett, too, though he does sometimes get some innuendo going, and if you are offended by atheism or the odd bit of sacrelige his work might not go over. But my guys have been reading him with great pleasure since they finished with Douglas Adams a year or two ago (when Second Son was in 6th or 7th grade).

Science fiction can be good, though you have to check. Anything by Asimov is totally okay, and at least the older Larry Niven (not so sure about more recent work with Jerry Pournelle). This is all adult stuff with good appeal for teens, even early teens.

[Robert]

Thanks to everyone for the worthwhile banter.

[L.R.]

My boys also liked "The 39 Clues" and their friends were into the "Young Samurai" series

[Jerry]

The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention! (A superhero adventure about bullying, which was already mentioned in this thread) is mentioned in Publisher's Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by...The Offenders: Saving the world, while serving detention!

[Ariana]

Cool!

[[deleted user]]

Middle Grade book with high appeal for Boys & Girls, both are featured as strong characters, who team together out of necessity and friendship! Adventure, magical, and horses are the main mode of transportation!