My son recently took the ACT for the first time and he did pretty well, but reading was one of his weaker scores. So I am thinking about making him read a book this Summer instead of playing video games the whole time. Any recommendations on some books for his age? I know he is a fan of fantasy. He likes the LOTR/Hobbit movies and likes games like Skyrim. Anything in that genre for his age group?
Book Recommendations For A 16 Year Old
- Thread starter KyCatFan_rivals45723
- Start date
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Outsiders
Something Wicked This Way Comes
I read those growing up. Maybe the Goosebumps series?
The Outsiders
Something Wicked This Way Comes
I read those growing up. Maybe the Goosebumps series?
I don't think he would like Ender's Game. He doesn't like Sci-fi. I can't get him to watch any of the Star Wars/Start Trek movies.
I'm not sure if he will want to read the LOTR/Hobbit books after already seeing the movies and knowing the outcome of them. Of course there is more to the books though.
He used to read the Goosebump books when he was a lot younger. Isn't he out of the age group for those?
Sorry Willy but I don't think there is enough beneficial content by reading 50 Shades of Gray? Might as well look at internet porn.
Is there anything like Game of Thrones without the porn thrown in? My son has ADHD so need stories that can keep him interested. I appreciate the responses so far.
I'm not sure if he will want to read the LOTR/Hobbit books after already seeing the movies and knowing the outcome of them. Of course there is more to the books though.
He used to read the Goosebump books when he was a lot younger. Isn't he out of the age group for those?
Sorry Willy but I don't think there is enough beneficial content by reading 50 Shades of Gray? Might as well look at internet porn.
Is there anything like Game of Thrones without the porn thrown in? My son has ADHD so need stories that can keep him interested. I appreciate the responses so far.
If he has the full blown ADHD, don't be shocked if he doesn't finish a book at all. Although I tend to believe that stuff is overdoagnosed--I believe there are varying real neurological reasons why this crisp happens AND in varying degrees.
I know I was at his age.
Nothing like waiting for 3 minutes for the thumbnail to load the titular region and another 3 for the bush area (landing strip or flying V in those days). If teen me had boradband instead of 56K AOL, my palms would be hairy, I'd suffer from carpal tunnel and I'd be blind.
The Rise and the Fall of the Third Reich is excellent. Heil Hitler Biatch.
Mega, me too man. Except i was jerking it to those titty books back then.
-lord of the flies
- the giver
- the odyssey
-remains of the day
-flowers for Algernon
-a tale of two cities
-Jack London is good for a boy that age.
- the giver
- the odyssey
-remains of the day
-flowers for Algernon
-a tale of two cities
-Jack London is good for a boy that age.
I actually think having seen the movies will give your son greater appreciation for the nuances of the writing and to see how different it is from the movies. Harry Potter series would be a good choice for similar reasons as well.
The Great Gatsby was my favorite book when I was around that age.
My favorite.
OP, make sure he has something to 'test' himself on. Reading novels is great and all, but if you're not working on restating the plot (at the basic level) and thinking deep about analysis (higher level) and application (even higher) then he may not get that bump that he wants in the score. See if you can contact the English dep't at his school or if you know some university types to get some practice material.
"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote captivated 17 year old Kaizer. True crime book. Well written. Classic.
"Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand may be the best book I have ever read. True story. Outstanding writing. And I think it would be appropriate for a 16 year old. Has an outstanding overall theme of overcoming adversity and has a great message about forgiveness in the end as well. It is long but it is hard to put down once you start.
Other than that if he wants the fantasy genre I suggest taking him to the bookstore (if there still is such a thing in your neck of the woods) let him search around for books that catch his attention. Let him select a few books and then sit down and read a few pages of each while in the store to see if he is still interested. Then let him pick the two best books. Let him take his time to find two books he really likes. Buy both books. He can alternate books when his interest in one wanes. Have done this with both of my kids and they love to read. Or he can focus on just one if that works better. And save the other for when he finishes. But buy two books.
The main thing here is to get him exited about reading. Make it a fun experience.
Library would work also...but I like the investment in a couple of books that he really likes. As a wise old credit card TV ad once told me: Ownership has its privileges.
"Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand may be the best book I have ever read. True story. Outstanding writing. And I think it would be appropriate for a 16 year old. Has an outstanding overall theme of overcoming adversity and has a great message about forgiveness in the end as well. It is long but it is hard to put down once you start.
Other than that if he wants the fantasy genre I suggest taking him to the bookstore (if there still is such a thing in your neck of the woods) let him search around for books that catch his attention. Let him select a few books and then sit down and read a few pages of each while in the store to see if he is still interested. Then let him pick the two best books. Let him take his time to find two books he really likes. Buy both books. He can alternate books when his interest in one wanes. Have done this with both of my kids and they love to read. Or he can focus on just one if that works better. And save the other for when he finishes. But buy two books.
The main thing here is to get him exited about reading. Make it a fun experience.
Library would work also...but I like the investment in a couple of books that he really likes. As a wise old credit card TV ad once told me: Ownership has its privileges.
Last edited:
Anyone read The Dark Tower series by Stephen King? I saw the trailer for the movie and it looks interesting and looks appropriate for my son's age. I can get $5 off the first book in the Google Play Books app. It is a family library one so it can be shared by like 5 family members.
Get him a stack of Penthouses and tell him he has to read the Forums...
How to score high on your act and your teacher. If anyone could write that book they would make more money than the pet rock guy
Short
-----------
Of Mice and Men- Steinbeck
The Red Pony-same
Animal Farm- Orwell
The Lottery- Jackson
The Most Dangerous Game - Connell
The Gold Bug- Poe
Long
----------
David Copperfield- Dickens
Great Expectations - Dickens
Huckleberry Finn- Twain
Lord of the Flies- Golding
-----------
Of Mice and Men- Steinbeck
The Red Pony-same
Animal Farm- Orwell
The Lottery- Jackson
The Most Dangerous Game - Connell
The Gold Bug- Poe
Long
----------
David Copperfield- Dickens
Great Expectations - Dickens
Huckleberry Finn- Twain
Lord of the Flies- Golding
Only if you are OK with violence, vulgarity and sexual content at that age. Like letting him read the George, R,R, Martin books.
Otherwise a good series, the earlier books in the series was the best, then the plot seemed to trail off.
If young adult fantasy,
Robert Jordan - "Wheel of Time" series spans like 14 books.
Le Guin - Wizard of Earth Sea series
Otherwise college level,
Herman Melville - Billy Bud, Moby Dick
Hemingway - Old Man and the Sea
Joseph Conrad - The Heart of Darkness , Apocalypse Now was adapted from it. very dark novel
Tell him to check out Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan. It's the start to a 15 book series. It's also an amazing book unto itself.
Hanes manual for his P.O.S. car. It's a twofor. He'll be not playing video games and becoming more self reliant. And when he realizes he has no desire to be a grease monkey the rest of his life he may take his studies a little more seriously.
Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use It
by Louis D. Brandeis
or any book by Dr. Firpo Carr
by Louis D. Brandeis
or any book by Dr. Firpo Carr
Last edited: