Suggested reading for a teenage boy

myself

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

My son lives on the computer these long summer days. As his mother I would like to see him do more productive things, like read. So I am going to make him read a chapter or two in a good classic book for the rest of his summer. I am looking for recommendations as to what to have him read.Thanks

BTW I plan on reading right along with him so we can talk about the book.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Atlas Shrugged.

[maestro]

......'Cinderella Man'.......would make a good family outing too!

[mlmr]

Kidnapped.

[lowbridge]

By the way, here is my favorite book of all time:

Soft Pretzels With Mustard by David Brenner

It's out of print, but you can buy used copies very cheaply online.

[onehipdad]

Les Miserables - my all-time favorite.

Martin Chuzzlewit - Not so popular Dickens but in addition to being an excellent and humorous look at human nature, an insightful criticism of 19th century American consumerism & shucksterism for which Dickens later wrote an eloquent apology.

Pillars of the Earth - dare you to say it's not a favorite after reading

The Stand - my favorite Stephen King

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - probably the best opportunity for establishing an interest in American Indians and history of the West.

[Asphalt]

Let's see. I'm not a big fan of classics as in Dickens, Bronte, Austin, etc. I tend to prefer non-fiction actually. Jon Krakauer (sp?) books are good. Depends on what kind of reading you want him to get. If you want him to read classics give him Pride and Prejudice (ick), Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, etc.

[LongElegantLegs]

You're so welcome. :-)
Don't let people discourage you from pushing the classics! I really recommend Two Cities; If you're looking for discussion topics, you won't be disappointed; The behavior of a gentleman vs the mob, love, selflessness, redemption, etc. A really great book.
Also, The Scarlet Pimpernel is a cute, short, easy to read classic that might be good for getting his feet wet.

[Tax-chick]

What about science fiction? Roger Zelazny was my favorite writer when I was that age; many of his later books (from the early 90's :-) involve computers. Try your library!

[LongElegantLegs]

Also, Captain's Courageous. God, that's a great book for a 15 year old boy! It's about a spoiled rich kid that falls off a cruise ship and gets picked up by a tiny fishing trawler. GREAT read!

Sorry, I'll quit now. :-)

[Asphalt]

Harry Potter? I've heard they are very well written and all, but as far as educational value or things they will teach him they are very limited. Unless you believe in magic.

[wildcatf4f3]

Lord of the Flies
Call of the Wild
Huckleberry Finn
Incredible Victory-Walter Lord
The Big E - Edwin P. Stamford
The Jungle Book

[Asphalt]

I would have to agree. Tokein, Krakauer, Herriot, Savage, Sowell, Solzhenitsyn, Hildenbrand, etc.

[Asphalt]

A Christmas Carrol is excellent.

[Asphalt]

Good list. There are a few on there I keep meaning to read.

[Asphalt]

Never read. I'll have to get it from the library.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

The Heinlein Juvenilles:

Time for the Stars
The Rolling Stones
Have Space Suit -- Will Travel
Citizen of the Galaxy
The Star Beast
Starman Jones

and a bunch more.

[Asphalt]

IMHO Ray Bradbury is tops in Sci-Fi, but that's just me.

[I'm ALL Right!]

Jungle Pilot - Steve Saint (true story)
Cold Mountain (so well written...the movie sucked)

Just a couple of suggestions...though not "classics" they are good books. Good luck.

[LongElegantLegs]

A Christmas Carol! What a great book. I liked the Muppet version almost as well.

[Tax-chick]

To each his own.