Monday, November 29, 2010

Got Boy Books?

MENTAL STATUS: "Exhausted".
Christmas gifts left to buy: 4

Hey, all! Hope everyone's turkey day was full of tryptophany thankfulness like mine was!

Gee, I must have been feeling pretty good because I actually ventured out on Black Friday(ooh-aahh) with my mom and did a good junk of Christmas shopping. (Yay!)
I, um, am almost...done now.

But I am stuck on one gift for my nephew. You see, I want to get him a book, but he's sixteen, and well...

Okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it: I need help.

Book help.

If only he was a girl. *sigh* I'd have NO PROBLEM picking out a great book. But alas, I'm not so sure what a boy might be interested in reading nowadays. And to be quite honest, I don't really see a lot of Young Adult books geared toward boys. Is it me?

In case it is me, maybe someone out there is cyberland could give me a clue. Or better yet, a book idea. PS. I want to be put in the "cool aunt" category if that helps you in deciding what book I could possibly buy for him. :)

So.
Any books suggestions? Make it good. (Remember cool aunt and all that)

If you don't have any YA book suggestions, did you venture out on Black Friday like me?

41 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

I did venture out on Black Friday - online! :)

How about The Deathday Letter? That is humorous and a male pov. Any of the John Green books?

It's hard to shop for a teen boy? How about any cool nonfiction? Good luck! Let us know what you go with.

Terri Tiffany said...

http://paulgreci.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/cozy-writing-space-for-two/

Ask my friend Paul. He writes for that age.

Unknown said...

Three men in a float across England at 15mph Dan Kiernan Ian Vince
Around Ireland with a fridge Tony Hawkes or any of his series. Novel not novels.

Linda G. said...

Only 4 gifts left on your shopping list? Wow. I am in awe of your shopping prowess. :)

As for a book for a 16-year-old boy...that's a toughie. Does it have to be YA? He might enjoy a thriller or a mystery from the adult section of the bookstore.

Anne Gallagher said...

What does he like? There's all kinds of coffee table books out there -- architecture, rockets, trucks, horses, NASCAR, etc.

16 yr. old boys in my house usually get gift certificates. To a BOOKSTORE. lol

Jennifer Shirk said...

Thanks, ladies. i usually do the gift certificate thing so I was trying to be different--and cool. LOL
I always give my niece a rockin' book so I wanted to do the same for him.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I think I'm stuck in girl land for the rest of my life w/ three of them and w/ three sisters.

But the first thing I thought of was Catching Fire and those books (or are those mostly for girls?) Shows you what I know.

~ Wendy

Maria Zannini said...

16 is a tough age. And the only thing they're thinking about at that age is girls. LOL

I would go for non fiction. Games, sports, ahem...something with girls in it. But nice girls, nothing nekkid.

Joanne said...

How about a real classic? Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine is a great coming of age story of a young boy, with timeless themes.

Liz Mays said...

Wow, age 16 is a toughie. I was prepared to answer for a younger one.

Linda Kage said...

Can't beat Harry Potter. My 13-year-old nephew loves him. But anyone who wants an HP book probably already has those. So...Then there's Percy Jackson. Or...Lots are talking about "The Book Thief" or "The Hunger Games", but I haven't read either so I'm not too sure about the age-groups there.

'Kay, I'm out of ideas. Sorry.

Karen Baldwin said...

16? Yikes! Even having raised one, I still have no idea except may a graphic novel?

Colene Murphy said...

Wow! Black Friday? You dare devil you! I wish I could be so near done with Christmas shopping.

I had to ask that same question not too long ago. I don't remember what everyone told me specifically, but The Hunger Game is one of a 14 or 15 year old boy's favorites that comes into my office. Maybe?

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I don't think I even KNOW any 16-year-old boys right now, let alone what they would read. I bought a book for my nephew this year but he's only 8. Let us know what you end up with!

Kat Heckenbach said...

I agree with the suggestion of The Hunger Games. I know several older teen boys who really loved that series.

Something by Scott Westerfeld might be a good option, too. I've heard Leviathon is really good.

If he hasn't read Ender's Game and likes sci-fi at all, it is a total guy book and REALLY good.

Wendy Ramer, Author said...

Joanne suggested a timeless book, and so will I:
A Separate Peace by John Knowles. A real coming-of-age story of two guys/friends. I read it in high school and was moved by it. Since protagonist and antagonist are both male, it would work well for a 16-yr-old guy.

good luck.

Anonymous said...

My 16 year old didn't like to read so his 'books' were sports magazines! SciFi tends to be a hit for teen boys. Or even classics like Christine by Stephen King. Alex Cavanagh's blog may be helpful to you!

Niki Turner said...

My 16-year-old and 18-year-old boys really enjoyed "Vanish" by Tom Pawlik.

Kimberly Franklin said...

Presents for teenage boys. I imagine that is not a fun thing to shop for. What in the world do you buy for them? Obviously I have no clue. Thankfully my nephew is only 2, so he's still pretty easy to shop for. For now... :)

Joanna St. James said...

yeah am going to go with Sci fi too if he is into it if not then I am just as lost as u are. Good luck Jen

Tana said...

My teens actually like a World War II choose your own adventure novel. I don't think it's for the squeamish and you might end up dead, but hey, you get to fight in the war and that seems pretty cool to my boys. ;)

Susan Fields said...

I'm reading The Marbury Lens right now and I'd say it's a boy's book. It deals with adult themes for sure, and I wouldn't let my 14-year-old daughter read it, but a 16-year-old might be okay. I don't want to ruin the book for anybody, so if you have any questions you can email me about it. It's a gripping book and very hard to put down.

I haven't gone Christmas shopping in any stores yet, though I did do some online shopping today and over the weekend.

Jemi Fraser said...

You are a brave girl heading out on Black Friday! And only 4 more presents ... I'm impressed... and jealous!!!

If he likes war Band of Brothers was a hit with my son who hates to read.

Leviathan is fantastic - based on an alternate WWI history - very cool. Behemoth is the sequel and it hasn't arrived yet so I can't tell you about it.

The Book Thief is one I just started - dark, a little (okay maybe a lot) twisted. Narrator is Death. Set in WWII and brutally honest about life and emotions. It's a little intense and written in a unique style/voice. If he's not a real reader I'm not sure this would work.

There's a series called The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod that I haven't read that a lot of boys enjoy.

Ric Riordan (Lightning Thief) has a few new books out - Red Pyramid & Lost hero. Then there's Ender's Game & Maze Runner too.

Hope that helps!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

"Here, There Be Dragons" by James A. Owen. I LOVE that book!

Bossy Betty said...

My guys loved the Redwall series!

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Rula Sinara said...

I think the tough part is knowing what books he has already read. My oldest is thirteen. He hasn't read the Hunger Games yet, but I know that one is popular with teens. Also, I have to agree that Ender's Game is popular too. It depends on the boy because I hear that both story lines are a bit dark.

Maybe like Anne said, you could get a ref. book on some hobby he has and pair it with a certificate? My kids love getting books with all the pictures from movies like Star Wars etc...

Susan R. Mills said...

First off, I'm totally jealous that you have so much of your shopping done. I haven't even started. As for books for teenage boys, I'm at a loss. I read a lot of YA (because that's what I write) but I usually pick "girl" books. Good luck with your search.

Bethanne said...

Oh. I'm sorry he's so old. My first thought was Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series. I'm reading Eagle Strike right now... but that might be too young. :(

I'm no help. But will be interested in hearing what you end up getting. :D

Jill Kemerer said...

Only four gifts left?? I'm very jealous! And I have no clue what book to buy him. So sorry! Give me a three-year-old girl, and I can help you out, though!

Diane said...

My son is only 8 so I have no idea what is cool for 16! A driver's license manual??? :O)

Jessica Nelson said...

What about the Percy Jackson books? I've never read them but I watched the movie. *grin*
Hope you find something perfect for him!

Caryn Caldwell said...

All of my book ideas have been said already. As for Black Friday, I did pretty much ALL of my Christmas shopping then - from home. I love the internet. Good sales, free shipping, and no crowds.

Shannon said...

I'm impressed with your list. Well done! =)

I'm with Jessica - he might like the Percy Jackson books.

Let us know what you decide!

Anonymous said...

What about a gift card for a book store? Then your nephew could pick out his own book. Just a thought.

Heather Sunseri said...

If he reads alot, I'm thinking Stephen King or Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy (comes in one volume).

Patti Lacy said...

I LOVED "The Book Thief." They say YAs rave about it (it's actually a best seller.)

It is extremely literary, extremely different. If YAs are buying all the copies of this book, there's a lot of smart and curious kids out there.

Stephanie Faris said...

Did anyone suggest Hunger Games? I've heard great things about that series.

Anonymous said...

Wow, rather interesting post. Where will I get that subscription?

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TheBookGirl said...

I have known kids his age who loved this novel, Truancy by Isamu Fukui. Fujui wrote the novel when he was 16, and there is a website where you can read about it:
http://www.thetruancy.com

Thanks for stopping by my blog and following :)

Nick said...

You're brave to venture out on Black Friday. Due to the crowds, I call it Black & Blue Friday.