Book Reviews Boy Books

I love to read, and this page of book reviews boy books highlights some of the great variety teenage boys have today in reading adventures -- you'll find humor, grief, girls, sports -- all of the above.

For elementary-school-aged boys, here are some younger books.

When finding great books, I always check public libraries, and I’m a huge fan of independent book stores, including my favorite (which is right here in Denver), the Tattered Cover Also check out Barnes & Noble or this list of independent booksellers . These book suggestions can be found online at all or most of these stores.

I hope these book reviews Boy Books will help tremendously with gifts and book suggestions!

Here’s the basic key I will use when reviewing the plots:

Elijah and Danny are sent on a vacation to Italy by their parents, who hope they'll reconnect as brothers during their journeys.
DWI: family acceptance
RT: I enjoyed this because of the insight into both brothers (and the point-of-view alternates between them) as well as the setting of Italy.

Blood Brothers, by S.A. Harazin (I, S, L, V)

When Clay's best friend, who seems to have it all, ends up in the ER where Clay works, Clay struggles to find the truth behind how he got there.
DWI: drugs; career aptitudes; partying
RT: Although intense, I enjoyed Clay's realistic search for the truth, even as he struggles with envy and unhappiness -- and his growth as a person is remarkable (and really makes you root for him to succeed)!

Busted: Confessions of an Accidental Player, by Antony John (L, S)

Kevin just wants to be noticed, to be popular, so when he gets the chance to join the jocks in an annual graduation prank involving girls' bust sizes, he does it -- even though part of him suspects it's not a great idea.
DWI: objectifying women; respecting all people; standing up for what's right
RT: I liked this because although Kevin is very insecure, he's still likable -- and I enjoyed how others began to see who he really was, even in the midst of his shameful actions. Plus, he comes around by the end and stands up for what's right, even though it means he'll be relegated to his previous geek status.

Carter Finally Gets It, by Brent Crawford (S, L)

Carter starts high school and spends his year trying to get the girl and find his place.
DWI: being yourself in high school
RT: Favorite as this could be the funniest book I've ever read! Being Carter is definitely a great experience.



Dull Boy, by Sarah Cross (L)

Avery can fly and has superhuman strength -- and is astounded to learn he's not alone with his abilities.
DWI: finding common ground; courage
RT: This is a very enjoyable read because Avery is kind and good-hearted -- and funny! I like how he works to reconcile his abilities with the 'real' world, and his sympathy with those who are struggling with similar challenges.

Flash Burnout, by L.K. Madigan (S, L)

Blake finds himself torn between a friend who's a girl and his girlfriend as both want parts of him he's not sure how to give while remaining loyal to each. This comes out in October but is currently available for pre-order.
DWI: loyalty; friendship; choices
RT: Favorite because of the humor and beautiful story of how Blake deals with his choices; the relationships throughout the book are poignant and true and handled gently with wisdom. I also love the photography aspect!

Funny How Things Change, by Melissa Wyatt (S, L)

When Remy falls in love with Lisa, he assumes that he'll always want to be with her, even when she leaves their small town in the Applachian Mountains -- but a visiting artist opens Remy's eyes to what he truly wants.
DWI: what is home
RT: Favorite because Remy's thoughtful ways and struggle to discover his own desires -- and the beautiful setting of the Appalachians -- make him a very enjoyable person with whom to spend time.

Book Reviews Boy Books shows the wide array of books available with male main characters -- there are love stories (with both heterosexual relationships and same sex relationships), stories of struggle, coming-of-age stories, and of course, humorous stories.

Grand & Humble, by Brent Hartinger (I, mild L)

Harlan and Manny appear to have little in common, and the story is told in alternating, slowly revealing POVs -- but a clever twist at the end ties everything together.
DWI: destiny; parallel lives
RT: Favorite because of the great ending and the powerful voice.



In Mike We Trust, by P.E. Ryan (mild S, mild V)

As if Garth didn't have enough problems trying to avoid talking to his mom about his sexual preferences, now his uncle's in town and pushing Mike to do things which could actually be illegal.
DWI: coming out to your parents; resisting negative influences, even when it's challenging
RT: I like how Garth makes his way through all of this, even though he makes a ton of mistakes along the way. And the boy he likes, Adam, is a strong character who illustrates how to be yourself and like it.

My Most Excellent Year, by Steve Kluger (L)

TC, Augie and Alejandra take turns telling this story of the year TC and Ale met and all their lives changed.
DWI: same-sex relationships; friendship; family
RT: Favorite because all three characters are real and good and fun. Their stories are entertaining and poignant, and by the end of the book, I felt as if I'd met all three of them.


Notes from the Midnight Driver, by Jordan Sonnenblick (mild L)

When Alex is sentenced to community service for beheading a gnome (while driving drunk), he's surprised to learn that he might learn to like the older man he's forced to befriend in the nursing home.
DWI: finding the humanity in everyone; compassion
RT: This is a funny tale, but also poignant as Alex learns to be a good friend while still retaining his sense of humor.

The Secret Year, by Jennifer Hubbard (S, L, I)

Colt secretly met with Julia for one year -- and then she was killed in a car accident, and now Colt isn't sure how to deal with her death, and he can't talk to anyone about it.
DWI: secrets; death; moving on
RT: I enjoyed the mystery of this story, and Colten's a very sympathetic characters. I also like the relationships in his family and how they wavered and strengthed, just like real families.

Shift, by Jennifer Bradbury (L)

Chris takes a cross-country bike trip with his best friend the summer before college -- but after a fight near the end of the trip, his friend never returns.
DWI: independence; friendship; loyalty
RT: I enjoyed this story of friendship -- and I liked the mystery of what really happened to Chris and Win. Win's dad is a true controller, and there is strong tension in discovering whether or not Win can fight his way free from the man -- all in all, a good story with compelling characters.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, by David Lubar (mild L, mild I)

Scott hopes to make it through his freshman year without too much trouble, but he quickly learns that smart, wordy (maybe even mouthy) freshman attract attention -- though not from the gorgeous girls, like Jessica.
DWI: teasing/bullying; standing up for yourself; good uses of humor
RT: Favorite because of Scott's witty intelligence and the humor with which he approaches life -- not to mention the courage he gains through the book.

Soul Enchilada, by David Macinnis Gill (L, V)

Meet Bug and Pesto, two interesting characters in a wacky world where Bug's grandpa sold his soul to the devil for a car -- a car he bequeathed to Bug on his death without paying the price...and so Beals, the soul repo man, comes looking for payment.
DWI: what does it mean to 'sell your soul'?
RT: This is a quirky book filled with unique characters and bizarre situations -- a fun ride!

Waiting to Score, by J.E. MacLeod (L, I, S, V)