Browse by category Books for teenage boys that can improve SAT scores Non - Fiction Adventure / Survival Comedy Sports Horror Mystery Historical Fiction Contemporary Drama Science Fiction and Fantasy American Military History and WW II

Browse by Age Books for teenage boys that can improve SAT scores 5-9 yrs 9-12 yrs 10-14 yrs 14 yrs and up

Booksforboys.com

Improved reading ability can put your son in the fast lane to success !

 
  When boys don't read enough, they can get left behind in life. Since 2003, Booksforboys.com has been helping boys to succeed by providing them with books that they like to read. Boys like the books on our website because they have story lines that appeal to them, and are written in a boy-friendly style. The encouraging emails we receive from the parents and grandparents of boys tell us we are making a difference. Some of our books are supplied with a separate set of questions, answers and explanations, which is noted in the book description. The questions are designed to boost boys' confidence in their reading ability by showing them that they can do better on reading comprehension tests. The decision to answer the questions should be left to the individual boy. (Of course, encouragement and bribery are allowed.) So, if you're looking for some books that your son or grandson will actually read and enjoy, give Booksforboys.com a try.

Our winter reading suggestions are featured below.

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Snow Bound, by Harry Mazer. 142 pages. Ages 14 and up. Tony Laporte is a headstrong fifteen year old. He brings home a stray dog, but his parents refuse to let him keep it. He gets angry, and drives off in one of his parent’s cars. He picks up a hitchhiker named Cindy. They find themselves driving into a fast moving blizzard. Tony recklessly crashes the car in a deserted area. Tony and Cindy are now up against a blinding snowstorm, injuries and wild dog attacks. They must learn to forget their petty grievances against the world, and rely on each other to survive. This is an intense page turner by one of the better young adult authors. In stock. $5.99   Add to CCNow Cart

Snow Treasure, Marie McSwigan, Ages 9-12. 208 pages. Twelve year old Peter Lundstrom is a typical boy who enjoys sledding down the mountains of Norway with his friends. It is 1940, WW II has started, and the German army has invaded Norway. Peter’s Father and Uncle are afraid that the German Nazis will steal millions of dollars of gold from Norway, and use the money to wreck more evil on Europe. They devise a daring and risky plan to smuggle the gold out of Norway, right under the Nazis’ noses! There’s only one catch- Peter and his friends must do it! Your son will enjoy this story. It is an easy read, suspenseful and very interesting. In stock. $5.99   Add to CCNow Cart

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. 195 pages. Ages 9-12 This is one of the more popular books for boys. An engrossing story, that appeals to boys’ sense of adventure. Thirteen year old Brian Robeson must survive alone in the Canadian wilderness, until he can find help. The pilot of the two seater plane taking him to see his Dad dies of a heart attack. Brian manages to crash land the plane. Equipped with a hatchet that his mom gave him, Brian uses his wits to survive. The descriptions of the wilderness, and Brian’s adventures, are vivid and well told. In stock. $6.99  Add to CCNow Cart

Brian’s Winter, by Gary Paulsen. 144 pages. Ages 9-12. If your son liked Hatchet, he will again become immersed in the survival saga of 13year old Brian Robeson. At the end of Hatchet, Brian is rescued. But, what would survival in the Canadian winter be like for Brian, if he wasn’t rescued at the end of the summer? This is the theme to Brian’s Winter. Once again, the author vividly describes the wilderness and Brian’s life and death struggle to survive the cold. Encounters with giant Elks and Bears, as well as numerous exciting cliff hangers will keep your son glued to the pages. In stock. $6.50   Add to CCNow Cart

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier. 272 pages. Ages 14 and up. This is not just another young adult novel. The themes in this story will really leave your son thinking after he finishes this book. The author has won many awards, and is an outstanding storyteller, unafraid to break the mold. What would you do if your son comes home from school one day, and tells you he is not going to sell chocolates to fund raise for the school? What would happen if he were the only one standing up for his principles? Better still, what if each student’s quota is double last year’s because the school controller mismanaged the budget, and was trying to cover it up? Hits a little close to the realities that we see everyday, doesn’t it? Well, that gives you an idea of the drama that Jerry Renault, the boy who refuses to sell chocolates, will be facing in his high school. When the school controller manipulates the school’s secret society against Jerry, a real psychological thriller unfolds. The character development is sharp and on the money. The book does not have a feel good ending. It is very provocative, sometimes dark, but we think, very realistic. If your son likes to question authority, and likes a good drama, he’ll like this classic. In stock. $8.95 Add to CCNow Cart

Balto, The Bravest Dog Ever, by Natalie Standiford. 48 pages. Ages 6-8. This is the true story of a team of courageous sled dogs led by Balto, an Alaskan husky. In 1925, the tiny town of Nome, Alaska was on the verge of succumbing to the deadly Diphtheria disease. Children were getting sick, and would soon be dead. A snowstorm had made it impossible to bring life-saving antibiotics to Nome. The owner of the sled dogs volunteered his services to transport the antibiotics into Nome. Balto led the dogs for fifty straight hours through deep snow and frigid temperatures, saving the children’s lives, and preventing the spread of the deadly disease. If your son likes dogs, or enjoys heroic adventures, he’ll love this incredible story. Colorful illustrations bring this story to life. In stock. $3.99.   Add to CCNow cart.

Something Upstairs, by Avi. Ages 9-12, 116 pages. This is a good ghost story that will keep your son turning the pages. It contains elements of the supernatural, time travel, and history. Twelve year old Kenny and his family have moved into a very old house in Providence, Rhode Island. The ghost of a young slave, Caleb, appears before Kenny. Caleb explains that he had been murdered in cold blood, almost two hundred years ago! He implores Kenny to help him solve the mystery of his murder. Kenny and Caleb travel back in time, to relive the days leading up to Caleb’s murder. This story is engrossing, suspenseful, and an easy read. Twists and turns will keep your son wanting to read more. In Stock. $6.99   Add to CCNow Cart

Great American Warriors, by Sal Tomasi. Ages 10-14. 97 pgs. Have your son meet some of the real Supermen from American History:
Army Rangers to the Rescue: They were the untested leaders of a dangerous rescue mission inside enemy territory, desperately trying to save five hundred American prisoners from being slaughtered.
Raiders of the Invincible Empire: These men lifted an entire country off its knees and restored America’s courage, after the sneak attack on the USA at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Defiant Sea Captain: His ship was on fire and sinking. Much of his crew had been killed or wounded. The British naval captain demanded that he surrender. The American sea captain roared back his defiant reply: “I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT!”
The Rebel General: His leadership is why the United States exists today, and his actions set the example for future American leaders.
These amazing short stories will grab your son’s attention from the first sentence. They provide instant gratification for boys that are quickly bored. These educational stories can also be useful material for book reports on American History.
After your son experiences the heroic actions of these Great American Warriors, he may ask himself: Did these men really do these things? The answer is yes. In Stock. $9.95.  This book is supplied with a separate set of questions, answers and explanations.  Add to CCNow Cart
Read a brief excerpt from each short story.

Ghost Soldiers, by Hampton Sides. 384 pages. Ages 14 and up. Wow! After your son reads this book, that is what his reaction will be. He will get goose bumps, be horrified, and find himself cheering at the end. He will tell his parents, friends and teachers about this heroic WW II rescue mission. If your son has to do a book report on WW II, this is the book. The setting is the Philippines, WW II. The time is Jan, 1945. American forces are starting to push the Japanese army back into Japan. As the Japanese army retreats, there are fears they will kill American POW’s, held in Japanese POW camps in the Philippines. These fears are realized, after American commanders learn of the massacre of American POW’s at the Palawan POW camp. There are another 513 POW’s at the Cabanatuan Prison camp that may be massacred any day now. These are the POW’s that survived the Bataan Death March. The decision is made to launch a rescue mission, behind enemy lines, by the Army Rangers. The book is well written, and mesmerizing. This inspiring story will make your son feel proud to be an American. In stock. $12.95   Add to CCNow Cart

George Washington and the General’s dog, by Frank Murphy. 48 pages. Ages 6-8. This is a great and interesting way to introduce your son to George Washington. This true story touches on Washington’s early life, love of dogs, and the Revolutionary war. During one of the battles with the English army, a dog is left behind. The dog belongs to General Howe, the leader of the army that Washington and his colonial army are battling against. Washington arranges for the dog to be returned to the English general, along with a note, which is shown in the book. This is a wonderful way for your son to be introduced to the concepts of bravery and civility displayed by the father of our country. Colorful illustrations bring the story to life. In stock. $3.99. Add to CCNow Cart

Rats, Paul Zindel, 176 pages, Ages 10-14. Flesh tearing rats go berserk in this fast paced story! Perfect for boys who are bored quickly, and love blood and gory action. The action starts at the beginning, with vicious rats eating a sanitation worker alive! Methane gas in the Staten Island, N.Y. landfill has turned the rats into horrible, killer mutants! Your son won’t be able to stop reading this book. One gruesome, graphic scene follows another. Michael and his sister Sarah witness one of the early attacks, and narrowly escape one ambush after another. Can they figure out a way to stop the rats? In Stock. $4.99   Add to CCNow Cart

The Last Mission, by Harry Mazer. 188 pages. Ages 14 and up. An intense and gripping fictional drama about WW II. Jack Raab is a 15 year old boy, who hates what Hitler is doing to the Jewish people in Europe. His older looks, and a fake I.D., get him into the Air Force. He trains with a bombing crew in England, to prepare for their terrifying bombing missions over Germany. On their twenty fourth bombing mission, their plane is shot down, and the survivors, including Jack, are taken prisoner. The storytelling is riveting. The bombing runs are vividly described. The language is hard hitting and real. The ending is thought provoking. Your son will be engrossed by this story. In stock. $6.50 This book is supplied with a separate set of questions, answers and explanations.   Add to CCNow Cart

On the Devil’s Court, by Carl Deuker. 208 pages. Ages 14 and up. This author specializes in absorbing and dramatic themes, against a riveting sports backdrop. 17 year old Joe Faust has a passion for basketball. His family has just moved to Seattle, and Joe wants to attend the local public high school, so he can play on their top notch basketball team. He starts playing streetball with some of the kids from the high school team, and feels like he can fit in. His parents overrule his wishes, and send him to the private school. Everything is going poorly for Joe, who is frustrated and angry at his situation. The private school basketball team is not as good as the public school, and Joe is playing terribly for them. In English class, he is learning the tale of Dr. Faustus, who sold his soul to the Devil for unlimited success in life. Alone one night in the gym, angrily shooting baskets, Joe makes his own pact with the Devil. His life is immediately transformed. He plays like a superstar, friendships are going well, and does great in school. His team wins one game after another, culminating in the final championship game against the public high school. The theme of selling your soul to the devil for success is deftly intertwined into the storyline. The descriptions of the basketball games are vivid, real life and intense. The ending will leave your son amused and scratching his head, wondering what really happened. In stock. $7.99. Add to CCNow Cart

Endurance, Alfred Lansing, 274 pages, Ages 14 and up. This is one of the greatest survival stories known to man! What makes it even more amazing is that it actually happened! In December, 1914, Ernest Shackleton commanded an expedition of 27 men. The goal was to cross over the South Pole, on foot. The crew set sail on the Endurance, from Georgia island, about eight hundred miles from the Antarctic. The ship gets trapped by ice, and the men have to eventually abandon ship. Imagine trying to survive temperatures thirty five below zero. Ice cold winds. Sections of ice getting ready to crumble beneath your feet, tossing you into a frigid death! The men endure hardships such as near starvation and gangrene. Sea monsters rising from the oceans, hunting them across the ice. Eating their beloved sled dogs to survive. Performing an amputation to save a man’s life. Your son will be amazed at this intense account of man’s indomitable will to survive. We only stock the version of the book that contains 35 photographs from the actual expedition. ISBN # 0786708425. These photos truly bring to life this story of how these men survived for seventeen months surrounded by the coldest enviornment on the planet. The Chicago Tribune review of this book sums it up: "One of the most gripping, suspenseful, intense stories anyone will ever read." In stock. $14.95 Only available used, in good condition.   Add to CCNow Cart

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