13 Great Books for Teen Boys

13 Exceptional Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books Every Teen Boy Will Love

August 9, 2024

One of the questions I frequently receive from parents via email is whether I have any book recommendations for their teenage sons. Fortunately, I’ve read a variety of books that are perfect for teen boys, and I’ve put together this list to help parents find a great read for them.

However, these books are enjoyable for anyone, so if you’re not a teenage boy, don’t hesitate to explore these fantastic novels. From thrilling science fiction to epic fantasy, here are some of the most engaging sci-fi and fantasy books that teenage boys (and readers of all ages) will enjoy. Promise! (My tip is to read them too. This provides a way to connect with your son.)

The Reckoners Series by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is the reigning king of science fiction and fantasy novels, so it’s no surprise I included this series. It’s about a teenage boy named David who lost his father and city to the Epics — the oppressive ruling class. He joins forces with a band of outcast rebels to overthrow the Epics and find justice for his father. Readers who enjoy this series will also want to read Sanderson’s sci-fi space adventure, The Skyward Series.

My son and I love Brandon Sanderson (& yet I’m not a lover of fantasy). His Mistborn and Stormlight series show that he really is one of the 21st century’s most iconic fantasy authors!

2) Nubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes

Teen boys who love Divergent or the high-tech world in Black Panther will enjoy this action-packed novel. Three teens from Nubia live in poverty in a tech-driven New York City while the wealthy look for ways to increase their power and influence. So, when Zuberi, Uzochi, and Lencho discover that they have supernatural powers, they know they have a ticket out of poverty. They must choose whether to use their newfound abilities to help themselves or help their people.

3) Red Rising series by Pierce Brown

YA readers who can’t get enough of post-apocalyptic novels will love this New York Times bestselling series. When Darrow learns his society has intentionally kept him in poverty and the (literal) dark, he sets out to change his fortunes. That requires him to infiltrate the elite and destroy them from the inside. With five books in the completed series, teens will have plenty of reading material to feed their obsession.

4) Otherworld by by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Actor Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) teamed up with YA author Kirsten Miller to deliver this fast-paced series about a hyper-addictive virtual reality game. When Simon’s best friend gets trapped inside Otherworld, he dives in after her and uncovers a chilling conspiracy. Now, he must decide how far to go to save his friend and society from the horrors inside the game.

5) Chaos Walking Movie Tie-in Edition: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Teens who loved A Monster Calls will enjoy this book from the same author. It’s a post-apocalyptic novel about a boy living in a male-only world where he can hear everyone’s thoughts. When he runs away, he stumbles across a real-life girl. A dangerous search for truth and edge-of-your-seat action will keep readers cruising through the pages.

6) Nemesis by Brendan Reichs

This captivating series combines an asteroid heading toward Earth, murders, and two teens with lives built on lies. But learning the truth puts them in danger, and they must fight for survival as they navigate their new reality.

7) The Nyxia Triad Series by Scott Reintgen

Send your teen into deep space to mine a semi-sentient, volatile substance on a distant planet. Readers will eagerly devour each page of this series with its high-stakes competition, gasp-worthy plot twists, and nail-biting suspense. Once you’ve recovered from the inevitable book aftereffect this series will give you, check out the author’s other series, Ashlords.

8) The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

Jake Livingston is a teenage medium that helps ghosts find closure and move on. But Jake meets his match when the vengeful ghost of a school shooter starts haunting him. Soon, Jake fears for his life as he tries to banish the spirit. This novel is the perfect blend of thought-provoking issues and chilling suspense.

9) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Whether or not you’ve seen the movie, the book is an incredible thrill ride that every sci-fi enthusiast should experience. Ernest Cline invites readers into a well-developed futuristic world obsessed with 80s pop culture, video games, and corporate corruption. While this book is technically considered an adult novel, teenagers will also love it. Some schools have used it as their class novel.

10) The Martian: Classroom Edition by Andy Weir

The movie is excellent, but the book is better. The classroom edition of The Martian has been adapted for teens with age-appropriate language and discussion questions but includes the full-length novel. Sci-fi lovers will hang on every word as astronaut Mark Watney fights for survival alone on the surface of Mars.

11) Hell Followed Us by Andrew Joseph White

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji, fleeing from a destructive cult that infected him with a bioweapon, is saved by a group of LGBTQ+ teens led by the enigmatic Nick, who knows Benji’s dangerous secret. Nick offers shelter, but as Benji becomes part of the group, he uncovers Nick’s hidden agenda and secrets within the ALC, leading to a suspenseful struggle for survival.

12) Eragon by Christopher Paolini

This book is the first installment in The Inheritance Cycle series. It’s a fantasy series about a teenage boy who finds a dragon’s egg in his backyard. The discovery pulls him into a quest for magic, freedom, and hope. YA readers who love immersive fantasy books will find this series irresistible.

13) Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Movie Tie-In Edition) by Ransom Riggs

Teens who love their fantasy novels to come with a helping of chills will love this bestselling series. Jacob discovers the ruins of an orphanage on a remote island and learns it was once home to children with unusual abilities. He gets caught up in the mystery of the island, orphanage, and previous inhabitants while making shocking discoveries that will keep readers glued to the page.

Please share with other parents ~ we know the benefits of getting books in boys’ hands!

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