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Books for boys

This is a selection of authors and books that boys might like - if they like excitement, fun, mystery, adventure or action!

coverElijah Greenface by Moses Aaron
Joe Hagarsson is 17 and he falls in with a bizarre gang. To join it, he must find a man in a black cloak, mug him, and steal his cloak. This mysterious man, Elijah Greenface, turns out to be a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust.
Burger Wuss by M T Anderson
They first met as she was handing over his order at a takeaway. They spent a magical night together with a gang of young rebels but just when it seemed things couldn't be better, tragedy struck. Anthony caught Diana making out at a party with another guy. Now Anthony must devise a vengeful plan by which he can humiliate his humiliator and win back his girl.
coverLester, Red Cliff, Jolt by Bernard Beckett (NZ)
Michael Patts has moved to Langton to get away from trouble. It's a fresh start. Unfortunately it coincides with the arrival of a tramp called Lester and a mysterious explosion of hatred in the town. Michael shouldn't get involved, but he is about to get into trouble again.
Red Cliff tells the story of a teenage boy's attempts to "beef up" to impress the most popular girl in the school. Predictably, Samuel's body building project does not work out as planned.
In Jolt, Marko surfaces from a drug induced haze to find himself hidden from the world in a psychiatric ward. Who can Marko trust and how much time does he have? Time enough to write it all down, his story of a coast to coast trip, and the earthquake which ripped his world apart.
The Black book: diary of a teenage stud by Jonah Black
Jonah reveals his difficulty in separating his rich imaginary life with the real world. Between writing about his steamy, disturbing encounters with the beautiful and possibly made-up Sophie, Jonah also documents some cold, hard facts about himself: he was expelled from his Pennsylvania boarding school, his former Florida high school is forcing him to repeat 11th grade, and his mom is a scary New Age sex therapist who writes books like Hello Penis! Hello, Vagina! Who wouldn't retreat into a fantasy world.
Midget by Tim Bowler
A thriller about a physically handicapped boy who, after years of sadistic abuse by his older brother, finally wreaks his revenge. Cursed with a deformed and undersized body and a serious speech impediment, fifteen-year-old Midget also suffers from uncontrollable fits as a result of years of psychological torment by his older brother Seb. Midget finds solace in his dream of sailing a small half-built dinghy that has been lying, seemingly in wait, at the local boat yard.
Bloodtide by Melvin Burgess
Set a century or so in the future, after the government has moved out of London, leaving the city to warring ganglands, this is a terrifying yet utterly compelling story of human cruelty, and the need for love.
The Book of the Lion by Michael Cadnum
In twelfth-century England, after his master, a maker of coins for the king, is brutally punished for alleged cheating, seventeen-year-old Edmund finds himself travelling to the Holy Land as squire to a knight crusader on his way to join the forces of Richard Lionheart.
Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody
In a world struggling back from the brink of apocalypse, life is harsh. But for Elspeth Gordie, born with enhanced mental abilities that would see her sterilised or burned if discovered, it is also dangerous.
Deucalion, The View from Ararat by Brian Caswell
Across light years of space, millions of settlers have come to the planet Deucalion to escape their past and build their future. Deucalion is a source of great wealth, and a chance for a new beginning. But what does this mean for the Elokoi, who lived there first, or for the children of "Icarus", who made the journey for a different reason? And why are the people dying mysteriously? In the sequel, one hundred years on, Deucalion's existence is threatened by a plague of immense proportions.
coverTalking to blue, Blue murder by Ken Catran (NZ)
"It all begins on Monday with another murder. It begins for me, that is. I became involved from then on. Although more true to say I was sucked in. But Monday is where it starts so that's where I will. Because it led to the other killings and what happened with Blue."
Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers
This story intertwines the past and the present, the old and the young. The story of the present is of an English teenager, Jacob Todd, visiting Holland to commemorate the Battle of Arnhem. Lying behind this is a story of the past, the Second World War and British soldiers fighting on Dutch soil. It is the story of a love affair between a young Dutch girl and a wounded British soldier.
Tenderness, I Am the Cheese, The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
In Tenderness, eighteen-year-old Eric has just been released from juvenile detention for murdering his mother and stepfather. Now he's looking for tenderness - which he finds in caressing and killing beautiful girls.
I am the cheese is a horrifying tale of government corruption, espionage, and counter espionage told to an innocent young victim.
The Chocolate war is the story of a high school student who is first a hero and then a victim in this novel of intimidation and the misuse of power.
Gary Crew
Chinese Handcuffs, Ironman by Chris Crutcher
Still troubled by his older brother's violent suicide, eighteen year old Dillon becomes deeply involved in the terrible secret of his friend Jennifer, who feels she can tell no one what her stepfather is doing to her. In "Ironman" Bo Brewster has been at war with his father for as long as he can remember. Following angry outbursts at school that cost Bo his spot on the football team, Bo is sent to an anger management group. There he meets a hard-edged pack of survivors whose own defenses are rigged as high as his.
Hunters and warriors by Justin D'Ath
The voices moved away and he was left alone once more. His secret was safe. Leaving his clothes on the sand, Bass crept down to the water, washed his bloodied hands and then immersed himself completely in the chill green waves. Inspired by a true story, this is a bold, absorbing, novel about friendship, belonging and decent people's capacity for violence.
cover48 shades of brown, After January by Nick Earls
Dan is going his last year at school and trying not to spin out. He falls for his 22 year-old aunt's friend and things become much more confusing. In After January Alex has eighteen days until he finds out if he got into Arts Law, a week in Caloundra to sleep, swim and watch the cricket, and a mother with a keen interest in his sex life. Fortuna keeps bees, has a nose ring, and a father who likes to do pottery in the nude. When this unlikely pair meet the results are both hilarious and heartwarming. And for both of them it means that things will never be the same after January.
Dark wind blowing by Jackie French
Mike is just like any other normal kid - he lives with his mum in an ordinary house, in a small town, where nothing unusual ever happens. His next-door neighbour is Lance Loosley, a boy who's known at school as 'Loser' because he's so unpopular. Loser tells Mike that 'Tenterfield' - the old property nearby, which was recently bought by some foreign investors is being used as a laboratory to run dangerous experiments.
Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin
In eighteenth century London, Aaron grows up in the Coram Foundling Hospital, having been saved from death by a boy called Meshak. Meshak, Aaron and Toby, the child of an African slave, all have a narrow escape as Meshak's evil father sets sail to sell them into slavery. A page-turning historical novel that tells the often distressing story of the shadowy 18th-century figure, the Coram Man.
Deadly Unna?, Nukkin ya by Phillip Gwynne
A story about a teenage boy growing up in a rundown, football crazed beach town. It tells of his involvement in the local footy team, his friendship with a special Aboriginal boy, the adventures of his love life, his experiences with his parents and all the other trials and joys of being a teenager. The story touches on aspects of racism, drug-use, violence and death. In the sequel 'Nukkin ya', Blacky's romance with Clarence engenders even more racist behaviour from the residents of the Port.
S E Hinton
Yoss by Odo Hirsch
The dramatic, haunting tale of an innocent village boy's encounter with the corrupt life of a mediaeval town.
Stormbreaker, Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz
When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, Alex Rider goes from schoolboy to superspy within days as his world is turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in gruelling SAS training. Then, armed with his own special set of secret gadgets, he's off on his first mission. "Point Blanc" is the follow-up that sees Alex reluctantly adapting to his double life.
Paul Jennings
Pagan's series by Catherine Jinks
In twelfth-century Jerusalem, as the Infidels close in on the city, sixteen-year-old Pagan is assigned to work for Lord Roland, a Templar knight. Later they returns to his family home in France where his family clashes violently with their neighbours and Roland is drawn to a heretical young woman.
24 hours by Margaret Mahy (NZ)
Ellis is a teenager in limbo between school and university. He is drifting, and aching for experience. It comes his way big-time, and by the end of the book he has hung out in a weird commune called the Land-of-Smiles, spent a drunken night in bed with a girl only just met, had his head shaved, been given a tattoo, driven his mother's car in a dramatic chase sequence, had the same car peed in, and heroically intervened in a suicide bid.
The Tomorrow series by John Marsden
A series in which seven Australian teenagers return from a camping trip in the bush to discover that their country has been invaded and they must hide to stay alive.
Finding Joe by Anthony Masters
Joe is leader of the gang. But when his beloved dad walks out, Joe takes out his anger on his friends. Then Joe mysteriously disappears. Distraught, his sister Debs pleads with his friends to look for him. Reluctantly, they head for the obvious place, the marsh where they used to play as kids. How will they find him? And do they want to, after what he's done?
Touch me by James Moloney
For Xavier McLachlan, rugby is life. Winning means everything until he meets Nuala Magee. Has there ever been a girl like her? She's feisty, she's troubled, she's dangerous. What will his mates think?
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers
Despite his talents on the basketball court, sixteen-year-old Greg "Slam" Harris performs poorly in the classroom, and when his teachers confront him, an explosively angry Slam fears for his future for the first time.
Garth Nix
Owl by Joanna Orwin (NZ)
Owl and Tama are from very different backgrounds. Owl getting used to the death of his father and the family struggling to hold on to the family farm, and Tama, a disgruntled city kid. The boys are set for a stand off. Owl's discovery of some Māori cave drawings and the tension between the two unleash a disturbing malevolence from the past.
The Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen
After a plane crash, 13-year-old Brian spends 54 days in the Canadian wilderness, surviving with only the aid of a hatchet, and learning also to deal with his parents' divorce.
Terry Pratchett
Over the wall by John Ritter
Thirteen-year-old Tyler, who has trouble controlling his anger, spends an important summer with his cousins in New York City, playing baseball and sorting out how he feels about violence, war, and in particular the Vietnamese conflict that took his grandfather's life.
Holes by Louis Sachar
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.
Jerome by William Taylor (NZ)
Devastated by the death of their friend Jerome, Marco and Katie turn to each other for comfort and answers. Separated by thousands of miles, they converse through a series of online chats, faxes and e-mails.
Stuck in neutral by Terry Trueman
Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy and cannot function, relates his perceptions of his life, his family, and his condition, especially as he believes his father is planning to kill him.
The Lockie Leonard books by Tim Winton
Lockie Leonard, fourteen-year-old surfer, finds riding waves is smoother going than being in love or being popular.
Hard love by Ellen Wittlinger
After starting to publish a zine in which he writes his secret feelings about his lonely life and his parents' divorce, sixteen-year-old John meets an unusual girl and begins to develop a healthier personality.
Face by Benjamin Zephaniah
The story of Martin whose life is completely changed when his face is badly scarred in a joyriding accident.
Flyboy and the invisible by Matt Zurbo
This story is based around a young lout called Carlo and his best friend Will. Carlo has a dream of cool music, gutsy cars and open desert roads. He keeps this dream to help him get through the hard times when all the townspeople turn on him and his best friend. Will can fly using the Earths magnetic fields to fly around on, and there are a bunch of mysterious men around the town that seem to disappear every day but nobody notices.