The Loki books by @louiestowell.bsky.social - funny and quirky, Jenny Pearson’s latest, Shipwrecked, is funny and insightful. I’ve never had bad feedback on either. For pacy adventure, the Crookhaven series by JJ Arcanjo has been a huge hit with @halfwayupbooks.bsky.social young readers.
Pratchett might be worth a try? Hogfather, maybe, if you're trying to be seasonal, it involves Death having to dress as up the Discworld-equivalent of Santa.
My 12yo is a voracious reader and consistently rereads Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl, Loki, Bunny v Monkey, Brotherland/Rangers Apprentice books by John Flanagan, Frank Cotterell Boyce, David Baddiel. Wimpy Kid. Personally I don’t recommend Williams. Full of nasty jokes about foreigners and fat kids…
Also recommend Rick Riordan - Percy Jackson and others, LD Lapinski (Artezans, Strange Worlds Travel Agency) Jennifer Bell (Legendarium and Wonderscape) AF Steadman (Skandar series)
Pleasure. My son mainly reads 800 page SF/fantasy epics now (which I know is not what you’re after) but he still loves all of these. So many incredible kids’/YA books around.
When he was younger I pre-read a lot of his books (reading ability well above emotional resilience back then!) but I’ve not been able to do that for years. I just love it when he insists I *must* read something because he *knows* I’ll enjoy it ❤️
Carl Hiaasen has some books specifically for teens, and his adult books are excellent. I would have loved them at age 12. Funny and about as quirky as can be.
Might be too young for your boy - but Brian P. Cleary books are fun. Step up would be the Federalist Papers (although they lack character development and are a tad dry).
You could also look at "Mort" a Pratchett book from the same world. It's about the grim reaper training a young apprentice. It's not a dark book at all so no worries about that, very humour focused read
Artemis Fowl? very well written, hugely inventive. my son also began reading Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy around that age - or possibly a bit older. (if you tell him he is too young for them it might make him want to read them in spite of you!).
We’re reading Heroes right now, did Mythos before that and I’m kinda avoiding Troy because I don’t want to explain why Patroclus was so important 😬 she loves them, I play them in the car and she reads them too, Zeus is her favourite character because he’s incorrigible like her 😂
What class is he in Tom? 6th class or 1st year?
Is he a regular reader? What are his interests? Sport? Gaming? Does he like graphic novels? There are some great books for age 12+. Give me a bit of info and I’ll try to help.
Thank you so much, Sarah. Currently 6th Class. Not very sporty but physically active. Has grown out of Bunny vs Monkey and is currently enjoying Skulduggery Pleasant. Not a compulsive reader (distracted by his PS5) but not resistant either.
The Power Up series by Neill Cameron is also great - comic books about 2 robot brothers who squabble a lot! Great artwork and clever writing. I really like them and the @halfwayupbooks.bsky.social Book Club loved the 1st one recently.
The Skulduggery books are excellent. I’ve read the latest one and it’s wonderfully dark and funny. He might like this one - has the same darkness and humour - not a great cover sadly but a v good read. #bookelves2024
Nathanael Lessore is a brilliant writer for young teens - esp boys - great male characters and lots of humour. Steady for This is laugh out loud funny, King of Nothing is also v good.
And finally Fallout by Lesley Parr is brilliant - set in the 1980s it’s about a teen boy who is from a ‘bad’ family. He meets a young teen activist who sees something in him. Great writing and a strong plot.
Here are some suggestions to start off with. Mexikid is a brilliant graphic novel about a family road trip. It’s funny and quirky and has won a lot of awards. Perfect for age 12+
I’ve read it many times and it’s terrific.
Mexikid is an amazing book. I recommend it a lot to both teens and adults. Such an interesting, wide reaching, thoughtful read. One of my fave graphic novels of all time.
Hey Tom! Kofi and the rap Battle summer (+ book 2: Kofi and the Secret Radio Station), Steady for this by Nathanael Lessor, Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, Hilda series by Luke Pearson or The Cheat Book Vol.1 by Ramzee for more of a Wimpy kid situation! 📚
I'm pretty partial to Rick Riordan's multiple linked series based around mythology in the modern world. It's generally about and from the perspectives of younger teenagers.
Also, Ridley Pearson's Kingdom Keepers series is another great one for the younger readers.
Shane Hegarty’s Darkmouth series, The Summer I Robbed a Bank by @phlaimeaux.bsky.social, the Dreadwood series by Jennifer Killick, @alnolan.bsky.social’s Molly Malone and Bram Stoker series. Personally I’d avoid Walliams…
I had these books about two kids going back in time to the Cretaceous and Jurassic with ammonite shells and I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the series…
Comments
By Madeleine L’Engle
I read it when I was 14, I think, and loved it.
Carl Hiaasen has some books specifically for teens, and his adult books are excellent. I would have loved them at age 12. Funny and about as quirky as can be.
Obviously your Loki books are great for quirky humour but you'll know some fab contemporary books to recommend too!
https://spacejock.com.au/HalSpacejockSeries.html
@spacejock.bsky.social
I saw a lot of hitchhikers' guide recommended, but I read Douglas's Dirk Gently books at that age and they still bubble up into my consciousness
http://www.johndavidanderson.org/books.html
Is he a regular reader? What are his interests? Sport? Gaming? Does he like graphic novels? There are some great books for age 12+. Give me a bit of info and I’ll try to help.
I’ve read it many times and it’s terrific.
Also, Ridley Pearson's Kingdom Keepers series is another great one for the younger readers.