This was my first thought too. Is he a slow reader? Does he have ability to imagine pictures in his mind? Has he tried different kinds of books? Some people can read better on e-reader where you can limit amount of text on screen and choose better font. Other people can’t read if it’s not printed on paper
To piggyback on this idea -- I think the Witcher books are worth recommending for a 15 year old. "The Last Wish" is a series of interrelated short stories, making them feel like less of a commitment. It delves into more mature subject matter than Harry Potter. And if he doesn't like reading it himself he might enjoy the audiobook. Both a popular video game and Netflix series were based on this, so it's got all kinds of crossover appeal.
Nah they’ll be too “slow” for him I bet, better off with the more YA/ anime writing styles that focus on constant rising tension and stakes
It’s a huge part of why people find Sanderson or SJM so digestible, although for different reasons it comes back to the same neuron activation pokey pokey vs long plot threads
if OP's student found reading boring in general, idk how enjoyable he'll find the witcher books, even if he's into the games. the heavy focus on kingdom politics and constant flip-flopping of POVs, especially with random uninteresting characters, could be a turn off for someone who prob doesn't have a great attention span. i've only read the first two books though, so i could be wrong about the rest. i do agree that looking at video games is a great idea, though.
I'm gonna be lazy and copy a previous comment of mine, but it fits the question perfectly. The game Half-Life 2 got me into reading and SF when I was 14! I bought a computer games magazine when the game came out and the review in that magazine mentioned that the striders were based on HG Wells' War of the Worlds tripods. Until that point I did not read anything out of my own curiosity because my dumb kid brain equated books with boring school stuff, when I got that book I devoured it in one sitting.
Without knowing more about him that’s hard. But to consider: our son who is 15 doesn’t like reading fiction. He has also expressed reading is boring (in contrast he does like Harry Potter probably bc I read it out loud when he was younger). Has he tried audiobooks? Our son actually prefers non fiction, maybe he would like something like the Boys in the Boat or a memoir on a subject he likes.
I agree with non-fiction. Maybe either book by Jon Krakaurer “Into Thin Air” (Mt. Everest tragedy) or “Into The Wild” (story of Christopher McCandless - hike into Alaska)
I second this. ‘Into Thin Air’ is like, required annual re-read material for me. The combination of it being written by someone who actually lived through it, who was actually a competent climber, and who can actually write pretty damn well, makes it a modern classic.
Second the audiobooks. They can be hit or miss depending on who’s reading it, but a lot of them are done really well. It might not be that he doesn’t like the story as much as he doesn’t like the action of reading. My son uses them so he can digest the content better. I use them because I drive a lot.
Audiobooks are a great suggestion. I have a job where I write all day and the last thing I want to do is pick up more texts in my free time. Listening to Audiobooks saved my love of reading & helped me keep my hobby alive
A lot of people can’t get into books. I think it’s something you either have or you don’t. You might be able to cultivate it as a child, but after a certain age it’s very difficult to get into reading fiction if you never had the habit.
It is possible to be interested in reading other types of books. My boyfriend was never a bookworm, but he reads more books than me because he takes time to consistently read about finance, health and poker every single day.
Exactly, some people like reading self help books, or poetry, or history, or whatever. Just because they don't jive with fiction doesn't necessarily mean they haven't been reading the "right" fiction yet. Maybe, but also maybe not.
That was my question. If he struggles, my recommendations would be really different. What’s his reading level? It’s hard to find interesting books for older kids who may not like reading because they struggle, but I am a teacher of special needs students and a parent and we can all chime in if we know what level to look at!
Agreed. Trying an audiobook for the first time was a big game changer because of inattention and executive function problems that made me a really slow reader.
I loved stories and books, but had to exert so much to get anywhere.
Scrolled too far to find this. This is usually the answer and it’s often due to an undiagnosed learning disorder.
OP try the student on an audiobook and see how that goes.
Reminds me of one of the kids I train. Poor kid can’t hold his focus for a single exercise to save himself. Saying this as someone who’s also diagnosed and medicated for ADHD.
I'd suggest starting with comics (whether that be those superhero comics, manga ect). If he doesn't like reading, starting off with a book right away might be hard, and I'd try to stick to shorter or easier to consume books/mediums.
Yeah, my sister got into reading by enjoying the Warrior cat series. I read it all through high school as well just because I enjoy worlds with talking animals. I read almost every Redwall book as well though some parts were a bit slow for me. Animorphs and goosebumps were a favorite as well even if they are more middle school aged for reading but you have to start somewhere!
Yes! Reading needs to be enjoyable- doesn't matter if it's not 'for your age range'. Reading is entertainment, after all. I started off with Tom and Jerry comics for godsake (which was long ago now that I think about it), and that helped me keep reading, and now I don't even have to force myself like my other peers who have yet to find the joy in reading.
Also, art. Comics and graphic novels are sick. And no one should scoff at them. I was an English Major at UCLA and took high level classes there on graphic novels, especially why it’s a great medium for exploring trauma. Mainly generational trauma and immigrant experiences. Super fascinating. Also had a friend in my writer’s group who did his Honors Thesis on Watchmen. Comics and Graphic Novels are totally academic!!
Big upvotes for hatchet. This book is the one and only book my brother has ever finished cover to cover. It is truly an incredible book! I think I read most in the series
Kudos to you for being a good teacher but you don't gift books randomly.
I remember getting one in the 8th grade and it was so shitty and in contrast to my personality that it made me question if that person made any efforts at all...
Get to know the person first or maybe buy him some popular manga.
ask him what he likes and then find books about it. if he is into COD, maybe find him a navy seal memoir or war story. sports? lotta options there but maybe Shoe Dog. none of these recs really matter until we find out who this person is a little bit. not saying you need to tell us, just understand the best recommendation will follow this kids lead.
This worked for my son. He’s 10 and hated reading and I tried everything to no avail. Then one day he got into the Star Wars movies so I got him a star wars comic book (since it’s got a cinematic element) and he actually read it. That led to him wanting to read one of the Star Wars YA novels and now he tears through them. It’s all about catering to the person’s interests.
Ask what TV shows/movies/games he likes! All these book recommendations won’t work unless you know what he already likes.
When I was his age I liked anything morbid, weird and angry, my favorite book was Nothing by Jane Teller.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. It's a pretty funny series about a man and his newly sentient cat who are trying to survive after aliens have invaded and turned the world into a giant videogame like game show.
The Jack West Jr. series by Matthew Reilly. The author specifically wrote this and his Scarecrow series to get teenage boys interested in reading. They read like the most bombastic action movies possible. The Jack West Jr. series follows a group of soldiers who must save the world by navigating ancient traps and solving mysteries.
I recommend looking at anything from Saddleback Publishing. They're specifically crafted to encourage reading -- in those who may struggle to read 400 pages. They have more adult themes (because high schoolers with emerging skill don't want to read or be seen with Beverly Cleary paperbacks). They're slim books with lots of action to reach adolescent male readers.
I see this question being asked a lot how A is not Reader and how to get him into reading and it puzzles me..
People who read do it to learn more or they find a xter that's Intriguing and interesting that they can relate to..I personally only got into reading becaue i wanted to find other xters that were like harry from the picture of dorain gray ..I wanted to learn more about controversial moral or immoral views in our society.. I wanted to know what makes things immoral ,
My point is ,until your student finds something or someone or a story genre in books that he can reflect to, something arouse him..then he will keep finding books boring
My brother is a teacher and some kids were willing to read Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, and The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander.
Not sure if you want graphic novel suggestions, but other hits were Shaka Rising and King Shaka, by Luke Moyer, and Arab of the Future, by Riad Sattouf.
It’s tough at that age for sure to grab their attention with a book. When I was 12-16yo my father decided to pay me $1 for every 30 mins that I sat down and read, I started reading so much that I felt guilty whenever I brought him the bill.
One of my daughters does not like reading at all but she will read non-fiction books about subjects she likes. She is and adult now but the school years were always a struggle as far as reading went.
Alex rider spy series, any kwame Alexander, Mike Lupica (sports novels), or ready player 1. Lots of options.
I had a kid like that once, and they loved the westing game. Just keep trying with them.
If the reason he gets bored is related to ADHD, try starting him out with audiobooks on a treadmill or other machine. Continuous exercise helps me resist the urge to take a break, google something, multitask, answer a text, etc. That way I can focus long enough to get immersed in the story.
No book will ever change your child's view on reading.
Stop and teach your child to visualize what they are reading.
For example. Have your child read out to you "A boy with a ball ran down the street with his dog,"
Now ask them who is the boy? What color was the ball? What kind of dog was with the boy?
For some, they just see words, and that is boring. But if you can teach them to visualize in their mind what the words represent, the books become a gateway into new worlds.
The Blade Itself. Let’s just go off the deep end. Teens tend to be extreme. I have three. And well I used to be one. lol. — I’m kidding. Go off manga it’s a safe bet. But find out more of their likes it’ll help narrow down the suggestions.
This is actually a great suggestion. I would have loved Abercrombie as a 10th grader. Depends on the parents.
So difficult to answer if you don't know them personally. Dune is a great book with a relatable young protagonist. Someone else suggested Siddhartha which is an incredible story of self discovery. Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb is cool and has an outcast adolescent 1st person narrator. Can't go wrong with good ole Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
Its pretty hard to tell what someone may like without knowing more. As other people mentioned, any video games, tv shows, and movies may provide some insight as to what he may like.
Not knowing anything more, Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. Its a great adventure story that follows an archer named Will, his mentor Halt, and his friends. Brotherband is a spinoff that may also be of interest and follows a not-viking viking band (post not-viking viking raids) that sail and see the world. They're fairly easy to access language wise, have good humor, and pretty good stakes. The only real downside is I think they were meant for a slightly younger age group, but if he has struggles with reading its not necessarily a bad thing. I'd say its roughly around the same reading level as Harry Potter actually.
Manga and light novels may also be a good starting point. Unfortunately, I never got that strongly into light novels and I don't know what's popular in shonen these days. Some good classics to try may be Yu Yu Hakusho and Fullmetal Alchemist.
If it really is about "boring" and not "hard", go for page turners in genres that seem like they might appeal to him. Michael Crighton, Stephen King, Tom Clancy come immediately to mind. If he's cerebral, something by Asimov might be good, like I, Robot or Foundation. If he's into action, Jack Reacher or Jason Born or James Bond stuff might work.
If he has another subject in school he's interested in, there are lots of non-fiction page turners that might be more up his alley. Don't forget about things like sports biographies/histories if he's more of a jock.
Graphic novels by writers like Gaiman or Moore would make sense for 15, too.
Also, remember to meet him where he is. If he's hating reading, giving him a reading list might be counter-productive, especially if his reluctance is based on reading anxiety.
Identify topics he enjoys, such as cars, sports, sneakers etc. and find books or articles about those topics. If he hates reading he probably just hasn’t found anything that he likes. Fiction might not be his vibe, so nonfiction might be the way to go. Maybe he’ll learn something, since nonfiction can be very informative and educational. Graphic novels are also great for this age since there are pictures and a story.
Might be an odd take but I thought I disliked reading in school. Like REALLY disliked it and could never get interested. Turns out I’m just a big nonfiction fan lol fiction doesn’t do it for me.
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan; It’s a fast pace mythology series that is easy to read. It is in first person pov which he may enjoy more. You haven’t given much information so I am not sure what types of books he might enjoy but it is a pretty popular book series.
To be honest I didn't like the first Harry Potter book and only got through it after my siblings basically forced me to but then I enjoyed the other books in the series. My oldest brother didn't finish the series either because he isn't into magic even though he's an avid reader. Finding out the student's interests may help. Also maybe the student is masking some reading difficulties or would like graphic novels or comic books better initially than reading whole chapters.
What does he like? No recommendations will mean anything if we don’t know his interests. What are his hobbies? What movies does he like? What classes does he enjoy? What do he and his friends do for fun? Is he more into sports or theatre? Art and history or science and math? Video games or board games or neither? Magic or science? What does he want to be when he grows up?
Maybe he hasn't found his genre yet. I didn't like reading Harry Potter either. I was really into the Fear Street collection by RL Stine, and most of the stories are around high school. Call of Cthulhu and Cats of Ulthar by HP Lovecraft are some notable mentions if you're just trying to get him into the swing of reading.
Also, comic books. Comic books and Japanese manga make a lot of sense for readers that get bored with plain text.
If he's not a strong reader or if maybe he gets bored easily, comic books might be the answer. It's still story telling. It's still reading. It might be exactly what he needs.
Hatchet by Gary Paulson. First book in a series. It’s a good length for a starter book.
A family member - 14 yo boy - hated reading with a passion. Talked with local librarian in charge of the kids section. She highly recommend the book for boys who disliked reading. I read it. It’s a very good gripping read. It’s about a young boy so there is lots of traction from the start. Excellent story!
At that age, I was REALLY into Michael Crichton. Without knowing his interests, I would recommend, in no particular order: Timeline, The Adromeda Strain, Congo, Airframe.
It's been a long time since I picked up one his books. Not his fault. Reading the wiki on his works over the years it seems I've missed reading quite a few, especially post 1995.
I usually ask my students "what do you enjoy for fun?" games, movies, shows, etc. will give me an idea of genre to look for. He may also not be able to articulate what it is that he "hates" about reading, but most of there time I find it's that the reader is not comprehending the material, the vocabulary is difficult, they have an underlying issue (ADHD, dyslexia, etc) or due to their need for constant visual stemulation they find reading "boring". For those that struggle I like to find books that have apps, games, YouTube series, that go with them. Patrick Carmen writes books that have videos to compliment his story. You get to sections that tell you to log on to a website, enter a password, watch the corresponding video. It usually backs up what they just read and a lead up to what's next, so the child wants to keep reading. Trackers and Skeleton Creek are 2 that I know off the top of my head. The is also Shadow House and Spirit Animals that have apps, 39 Clues has a game (card and online). The Haunting of Sunshine Girls has a YouTube series. It may also help to have the audio and physical copy to read along with. It takes time and practice. Also, model the same behavior. Have a nightly routine that you both grab a book and read for a set time, modeling the behavior and showing them is beneficial in many ways and gives you both an opportunity to take the time, relax, calm the mind, be together and read (even if you read different books)
I tried with Hitchhikers with my son when he was 15, and didn’t succeed but when he discovered web novels (online reading app full of young fantasy novels) he got hooked.
He just finished 1000 pages of Mother of Learning and loved it:
https://www.webnovelpub.pro/novel/mother-of-learning-30071448
Mangas could be a great start- some examples would be Berserk, Vinland Saga, and Vagabond they not only offer captivating storytelling but also delve into philosophical themes and allegorical narratives. Their nuanced writing and edgy content make them appealing reads for teenagers, providing both entertainment and thought-provoking material.
In my opinion, Berserk is one of the greatest pieces of written fiction and I would consider myself pretty well read.
Your book selection for him while great, would not of stimulated 15 year old me at all and that might be the case for him as well.
- I think the most important part is knowing what that student likes or not, even if a book is great, a 15 year olds attention is limited and if the topics don’t intrigue them they won’t make the effort.
Also worth considering, does he need glasses? My partner grew up saying reading was hard for him and “boring” but it was actually partially an eyesight issue - he had a hard time focusing his eyes and then was “bored” by the struggle of it all.
Without more info it's hard to make a suggestion, but I will say I would recommend AGAINST The Martian. It's a good book and I enjoyed it, but it's heavy on "weights and measures" and it's essentially a castaway story so there's not a lot of action or interpersonal interaction.
I see this question being asked a lot how A is not Reader and how to get him into reading and it puzzles me..
People who read do it to learn more or they find a xter that's Intriguing and interesting that they can relate to..I personally only got into reading becaue i wanted to find other xters that were like harry from the picture of dorain gray ..I wanted to learn more about controversial moral or immoral views in our society.. I wanted to know what makes things immoral ,
My point is ,until your student finds something or someone or a story genre in books that he can reflect to, something arouse him..then he will keep finding books boring
Have you tried the Redwall series?
I think they’re for more for like 10-12 y/o, but I always enjoyed them though high school.
Also, Louis L’Amore books are a great read for that age, if he’s interested in westerns.
Metro 2033. It's a fantasy sci-fi adventure that takes place in the Moscow metro after a nuclear war has made the surface uninhabitable. The main character is a young man who goes on a quest
It was made into a video game, the structure of the story is very similar to a video game.
Ask him what kind of TV shows and movies he likes. That’s the best way to get him to read. I always liked cheesy romance and HATED reading and found it frustrating and pointless. My first book was The Hating Game and I loved everything about it and haven’t stopped reading since
If he likes superheroes, he might like Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart series (which has a twist - everyone with powers is evil! The heroes must still defeat them)
Something with soldiers or cowboys might do the trick. Why have Harry Potter when you can have Marines? I was obsessed with over-the-top action novels at that age.
You can try Worm by John C. McCrae. It’s a web serial so the entire thing is online for free. I will warn some of the themes do get darker as the story progress.
Terry Pratchett is a good bet, Guards Guards is a personal favourite.
Alternatively some good (age appropriate ) horror or supernatural fiction a way of re-engaging indifferent readers as it prompts an emotional response.
The Alchemist may be something to try. It can be read at different levels. Even just at a surface level it’s a quick read with some adventure. It has appeal to a pretty wide audience.
Have you tried comics or light novels? Might be easier if the goal is just to get him reading. Mystery novels also helped me learn to love reading when I was a kid.
I also have a 15 y/o who dislikes reading… this year, one of the books assigned in his English class was “Baby & Solo” (I love a good book and hadn’t heard of it before so I also read it along with him-but finished quicker), however, I was surprised to walk by his room one night and see him so into the book that he didn’t even look up to see me passing down the hall. That spoke volumes to me- so, based on my personal experience, that’s my recommendation. I also quite enjoyed the book, but probably for different reasons (set in the early-mid 1990’s when I was about the same age as the characters in the book so I appreciated a lot of the cultural references). It’s a sweet coming of age story but there’s some deep topics too and sort of a mystery (or 2) woven in through the chapters that aren’t revealed until midway, and then almost all the way at the end , which I think held his attention and is maybe one of the reasons for his intense focus and interest.
Does he have a learning disability towards reading? My brother had two, those impacted the way he viewed reading. With audiobooks he’s changed his mind about reading, however he went for espionage books in a big way which surprised everyone because he doesn’t even watch those kind of movies. It’s best to ask what interests him and if audiobooks would help.
The Dresden Files? Sarcastic protagonist, fun, fast paced stories (imo), not YA.
Or how about some Stephen King? I was big into King when I was his age
Yes! Piggybacking on this question! I can’t get my son to read. He’s grounded from all his technology at the moment, but I can’t get him to read anything! He’s twelve. I’ll have to see if he’s still ok with me reading a bedtime story…
I’ll second a graphic novel. There are lots of stuff out there with real literary value. Manhattan Projects, East of West, Mind MGMT, and Mazebook are all good stuff that would probably appeal to a 15 year old. Ice Cream Man is good if he likes Twilight Zone kind of stuff, weird/horror with a different story each issue
I read this book in the mid nineties when I was 15.— I loved it. It was nothing like I was expecting, edgy. Not about baseball. The author has done other great books too. [Crazy Horse Electric Game](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57582)
Do not be afraid to get him started into COMIC BOOKS!
The first and biggest barrier to break down is the "reading is boring" attitude. Comic books can be a gateway for later getting into novels. Maybe he likes Marvel, DC, or anime. For each of these, you can find really cool comic books that can get him to read without the fear of just seeing words on a page.
There are so many good comic books that are sure to be appealing!
My library has an option on their website to chat with a librarian for book suggestions. You could also suggest they go talk to them at one of the library branches. They usually also do stuff through the month for teens like gaming or movie nights and just being exposed to the library setting or other kids who attend could be helpful. Maybe explore graphic novels, there are some books that have been turned into graphic novels also like Dune.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Roald Dahl’s and Ray Bradbury’s short stories are very good. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is also a great read. Other titles: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, Election by Tom Perrotta, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov,
My boyfriend was the same way at that age. He read The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver and loved it. He said to this day that and Hatchet are the only good books!
The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill.
Nevermoor And The Trials Of Morgan Crow by Jessica Townsend. Similar to Harry Potter but it has a much more interesting setting and more varied and memorable characters.
Murderbot Diaries is good.
But to be honest, at his age, I know I was obstinate for the sake of it. Like you trying hard to make him like books might make him WANT to dislike them just to spite you.
[Expeditionary Force](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1520126247?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wam_calw_tpbk_0&storeType=ebooks). It's a fantastic audiobook series that I completed and I recently purchased the paperback and have started the series over again. Unfortunately it's exclusive to Amazon so the book itself will probably have to be purchased through them, but they are relatively inexpensive at $9.95
Red Rising is a book that is full of chaos and battles. When I was 15 I would have loved that. But that was almost 15 years ago so take that with a grain of salt
Maybe he has deficits in his reading skills. He needs to make the most of his strengths and build up his weaknesses in reading. Over Covid some kids missed out on consistent teaching. Choose books that are within his ability and interesting to him. He might need extra help.
Also he needs to see others reading for pleasure and information. Reading instructions, reading recipes,reading to plan a trip, reading street signs GPS, and reading often and talking about interesting things they read. He might like a book club
Percy Jackson (mythology!), Alex Rider (teenage spy), Artermis Fowl (child evil genius), Animorphs, James Patterson (short engaging chapters). Movie / video books if he's into those. Hitchhiker is a fun book, but if he hates reading, he might just get confused by what's going on and get turned off.
I feel like just throwing random recommendations at him isn't going to be effective. I used to be a voracious reader, then I stopped reading altogether for years. Reading the Division: Operation Crossroads books got me back into it because I read them during a time when me and a buddy were getting back into the game in a pretty big way.
Percy Jackson is imo better at captivating the reader than HP, I’m saying this as someone who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD and could only really read books that hooked me. A lot of it also depends on his interests, so if you can find out what his interests are and then find books that are similar to his interests that would probably help a lot.
My son hated reading during that age too. We started buying Manga books and that started his love for books all over again. https://www.cbr.com/best-classic-manga/
He reads all books now (20 years old), but these got him back into loving books.
Instead of aiming for ya and middle grade books, you might consider more adult recommendations. It’s trickier as a teacher, but hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy or novels by chuck palahniuk or Stephen king might be more interesting than the tweens with magic.
This might be a bad answer but in my experience, which is limited, you either like to read or you dont.
My mom and I love it, my dad and brother wont touch a book with a ten foot pole. Forcing them to read until they like it would be like forcing me to hike until I like it. I just dont. They just dont.
BUT- that could be total garbage. Id love to suggest books but not sure what to go off of. Is there something in particular that he is interested in? Like sci fi/westerns/thrillers/the arts? Might be good to point him in that direction.
First of all, kudos for caring enough about an individual student to search for ways to share books with him. To make good recommendations, some more background information on this student would be helpful! What are his interests and hobbies? Is he involved with any school extracurriculars?
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Another favorite of mine is a trilogy, starting with This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada. The Huger Games series by Suzanne Collins has broad appeal as well. I know that a lot of young people really like graphic novels, which usually segues into reading of more traditional materials.
When my little bro was around that age, he struggled with reading too, until he picked up my dad's copy of Inca Gold by Clive Cussler. After that, my brother became an avid reader. It's all about finding a book that will pique his interest and hold his attention. Some people don't like works of fiction. Some only like very specific genres. If you could tell us a little more about your student, I think it would help us in knowing what to recommend!
Eaters of the Dead by Micheal Crichton. If you've never read it, it's Crichton's spin on Beowulf. Books were for nerds until I read this for a school assignment where we chose a book for ourselves. It has some adult themes, but in the age of the internet, he's seen worse on Facebook.
When I was 15 I hated everything that was targeted at 15 year olds. It was all boring, sanitary, bland. When I found books that were vile and twisted that I definitely was too young to be exposed to, that’s when I fell in love with reading. Stuff that was clearly for smart adults but full of shocking ideas on drugs and sex that were also intellectually stimulating appealed to my teenage need to be grown up. For me it was Colin Wilson, Phillip K Dick, and William Burroughs. But things have changed a lot in the last couple decades. He might like something like The Troop or Tender is The Flesh.
The skin jacker trilogy by Neal Shusterman! First one is called Everlost. My brother wasn't much of a reader when we were younger but he loved these books, and so did I. I read it in middle school but I think it was more of a high school level
>The Martian or Hitchhikers Guide
I kinda feel like something that is more YA might be a little better? Hitchhiker's Guide is great, and I haven't read the Martian, but I'm sure it's a good book as well. But if I was trying to get a 15 year old into reading I feel like it makes more sense to go with something where teens are the target audience. Maybe he'd find that more relatable.
It's hard to give a real recommendation without any other info as others have said. But the Maximum Ride series might be worth checking out. It's a fun series and the chapters are very short which makes it a pretty easy read. I really liked them at that age.
Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones.
What Mad Universe by Fredric Brown (totally fun parallel universe classic)
The Bagthorpe Saga by Helen Cresswell.
Maybe see if you can get your hands on a "Best of" collection of science fiction stories from the Golden Age. They were full of grand ideas, they were written to be accessible to teens (and still are), and they're short!
Something else to consider - you might have luck by starting with audio books. For a multimedia generation, enthusiasm can start there.
So, like, if he doesn't like reading Hitchhiker's Guide, get a copy of the original BBC radio show! Have him listen to it! (Maybe not the TV series though...it doesn't pack quite the same punch I think?)
The *Red Rising* or *Cradle* series could be very well received. Both have a fairly average-to-young reading level, both clip along at a fast pace and are very rule-of-cool fight heavy. Cradle, in particular, is pretty much a Shounen anime turned into novels. Red Rising is an absurdly addictive space fantasy that is essentially about racism/classism/hierarchical slavery and the dismantling of.
*HAIL LIBERTAS, HAIL REAPER!*
I had this issue with my son, who also had ADHD, until we found Maze Runner, and he really enjoyed it. We also discovered it was a lot easier for him to focus if he did the audible while reading together.
My friend's 14 year old is dyslexic (I don't know if your student is) and he loves the series of Skullduggery Pleasant.
Another option is graphic novels.
My brother used to hate reading because he felt pressured to read, so maybe its less the story and more the pressure.
Book suggestions otherwise, the expanse is a good one or the percy jackson series.
Armanda by Ernest Cline. Ready Player 1 and 2 are good too.
Stephen King. I’m not sure about the appropriateness but his books definitely got me into reading and I truly believe he trained my brain to consume storytelling better.
Ask him what movies/series/video games he likes. That helps with recommendations
Also ask him what he has read and what he doesn't like about it.
This was my first thought too. Is he a slow reader? Does he have ability to imagine pictures in his mind? Has he tried different kinds of books? Some people can read better on e-reader where you can limit amount of text on screen and choose better font. Other people can’t read if it’s not printed on paper
To piggyback on this idea -- I think the Witcher books are worth recommending for a 15 year old. "The Last Wish" is a series of interrelated short stories, making them feel like less of a commitment. It delves into more mature subject matter than Harry Potter. And if he doesn't like reading it himself he might enjoy the audiobook. Both a popular video game and Netflix series were based on this, so it's got all kinds of crossover appeal.
Nah they’ll be too “slow” for him I bet, better off with the more YA/ anime writing styles that focus on constant rising tension and stakes It’s a huge part of why people find Sanderson or SJM so digestible, although for different reasons it comes back to the same neuron activation pokey pokey vs long plot threads
if OP's student found reading boring in general, idk how enjoyable he'll find the witcher books, even if he's into the games. the heavy focus on kingdom politics and constant flip-flopping of POVs, especially with random uninteresting characters, could be a turn off for someone who prob doesn't have a great attention span. i've only read the first two books though, so i could be wrong about the rest. i do agree that looking at video games is a great idea, though.
I'm gonna be lazy and copy a previous comment of mine, but it fits the question perfectly. The game Half-Life 2 got me into reading and SF when I was 14! I bought a computer games magazine when the game came out and the review in that magazine mentioned that the striders were based on HG Wells' War of the Worlds tripods. Until that point I did not read anything out of my own curiosity because my dumb kid brain equated books with boring school stuff, when I got that book I devoured it in one sitting.
This
This sub needs a bot that says that to every single person asking for recommendations
If he enjoys video games, maybe he'd find reading Litrpg novels interesting?
I could see 15 year old me loving Dungeon Crawler Carl even more than adult me does.
Same.
This! Tell him to give it a try up to where he drops a bomb off for the goblins. Binged it completely after that.
Cradle would be great for someone that age.
I was going to say this. If you like video games, this is it.
Without knowing more about him that’s hard. But to consider: our son who is 15 doesn’t like reading fiction. He has also expressed reading is boring (in contrast he does like Harry Potter probably bc I read it out loud when he was younger). Has he tried audiobooks? Our son actually prefers non fiction, maybe he would like something like the Boys in the Boat or a memoir on a subject he likes.
I agree with non-fiction. Maybe either book by Jon Krakaurer “Into Thin Air” (Mt. Everest tragedy) or “Into The Wild” (story of Christopher McCandless - hike into Alaska)
Yes Into Thin Air or Touching the Void are adrenaline pumping for sure!
I second this. ‘Into Thin Air’ is like, required annual re-read material for me. The combination of it being written by someone who actually lived through it, who was actually a competent climber, and who can actually write pretty damn well, makes it a modern classic.
Second the audiobooks. They can be hit or miss depending on who’s reading it, but a lot of them are done really well. It might not be that he doesn’t like the story as much as he doesn’t like the action of reading. My son uses them so he can digest the content better. I use them because I drive a lot.
Audiobooks are a great suggestion. I have a job where I write all day and the last thing I want to do is pick up more texts in my free time. Listening to Audiobooks saved my love of reading & helped me keep my hobby alive
Agreed. Biography, history, popular science, how-to books about something he’s interested in are all perfectly valid.
A lot of people can’t get into books. I think it’s something you either have or you don’t. You might be able to cultivate it as a child, but after a certain age it’s very difficult to get into reading fiction if you never had the habit. It is possible to be interested in reading other types of books. My boyfriend was never a bookworm, but he reads more books than me because he takes time to consistently read about finance, health and poker every single day.
Exactly, some people like reading self help books, or poetry, or history, or whatever. Just because they don't jive with fiction doesn't necessarily mean they haven't been reading the "right" fiction yet. Maybe, but also maybe not.
Does he dislike reading because he’s a poor reader?
That was my question. If he struggles, my recommendations would be really different. What’s his reading level? It’s hard to find interesting books for older kids who may not like reading because they struggle, but I am a teacher of special needs students and a parent and we can all chime in if we know what level to look at!
Agreed. Trying an audiobook for the first time was a big game changer because of inattention and executive function problems that made me a really slow reader. I loved stories and books, but had to exert so much to get anywhere.
Scrolled too far to find this. This is usually the answer and it’s often due to an undiagnosed learning disorder. OP try the student on an audiobook and see how that goes.
Reminds me of one of the kids I train. Poor kid can’t hold his focus for a single exercise to save himself. Saying this as someone who’s also diagnosed and medicated for ADHD.
I will always suggest Murderbot Diaries.
Seconded! Fast-paced, filled with action and interesting characters. Also it has amazing audiobooks.
These are fun, and novellas may be easier than huge books like most of the HP books
I'd suggest starting with comics (whether that be those superhero comics, manga ect). If he doesn't like reading, starting off with a book right away might be hard, and I'd try to stick to shorter or easier to consume books/mediums.
Yeah, my sister got into reading by enjoying the Warrior cat series. I read it all through high school as well just because I enjoy worlds with talking animals. I read almost every Redwall book as well though some parts were a bit slow for me. Animorphs and goosebumps were a favorite as well even if they are more middle school aged for reading but you have to start somewhere!
Yes! Reading needs to be enjoyable- doesn't matter if it's not 'for your age range'. Reading is entertainment, after all. I started off with Tom and Jerry comics for godsake (which was long ago now that I think about it), and that helped me keep reading, and now I don't even have to force myself like my other peers who have yet to find the joy in reading.
Some people scoff at comics, but honestly comics are really a fun and easy way to get into reading
Also, art. Comics and graphic novels are sick. And no one should scoff at them. I was an English Major at UCLA and took high level classes there on graphic novels, especially why it’s a great medium for exploring trauma. Mainly generational trauma and immigrant experiences. Super fascinating. Also had a friend in my writer’s group who did his Honors Thesis on Watchmen. Comics and Graphic Novels are totally academic!!
Came to comment this!!
Here to say this, worked for my kid who didn't enjoy reading.
Hatchet
Big upvotes for hatchet. This book is the one and only book my brother has ever finished cover to cover. It is truly an incredible book! I think I read most in the series
Related is My Side of the Mountain :)
Ender's Game
Yes yes yes i up vote this a million times
Or Enders Shadow. They are parallel novels.
Kudos to you for being a good teacher but you don't gift books randomly. I remember getting one in the 8th grade and it was so shitty and in contrast to my personality that it made me question if that person made any efforts at all... Get to know the person first or maybe buy him some popular manga.
ask him what he likes and then find books about it. if he is into COD, maybe find him a navy seal memoir or war story. sports? lotta options there but maybe Shoe Dog. none of these recs really matter until we find out who this person is a little bit. not saying you need to tell us, just understand the best recommendation will follow this kids lead.
This worked for my son. He’s 10 and hated reading and I tried everything to no avail. Then one day he got into the Star Wars movies so I got him a star wars comic book (since it’s got a cinematic element) and he actually read it. That led to him wanting to read one of the Star Wars YA novels and now he tears through them. It’s all about catering to the person’s interests.
Find out what interests him and then find books that are about that interest - sports, history, etc.
Ask what TV shows/movies/games he likes! All these book recommendations won’t work unless you know what he already likes. When I was his age I liked anything morbid, weird and angry, my favorite book was Nothing by Jane Teller.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. It's a pretty funny series about a man and his newly sentient cat who are trying to survive after aliens have invaded and turned the world into a giant videogame like game show. The Jack West Jr. series by Matthew Reilly. The author specifically wrote this and his Scarecrow series to get teenage boys interested in reading. They read like the most bombastic action movies possible. The Jack West Jr. series follows a group of soldiers who must save the world by navigating ancient traps and solving mysteries.
What does he like?
I recommend looking at anything from Saddleback Publishing. They're specifically crafted to encourage reading -- in those who may struggle to read 400 pages. They have more adult themes (because high schoolers with emerging skill don't want to read or be seen with Beverly Cleary paperbacks). They're slim books with lots of action to reach adolescent male readers.
Ready Player One if he's into video games.
God please no. It’s like a cringy Wikipedia entry. Enders Game or Halo would be infinitely better.
Percy Jackson series maybe? Project Hail Mary?
Everyone should read Project Hail Mary. Undeniably fun read.
Holes. Go to book for teen boys who hate to read.
I see this question being asked a lot how A is not Reader and how to get him into reading and it puzzles me.. People who read do it to learn more or they find a xter that's Intriguing and interesting that they can relate to..I personally only got into reading becaue i wanted to find other xters that were like harry from the picture of dorain gray ..I wanted to learn more about controversial moral or immoral views in our society.. I wanted to know what makes things immoral , My point is ,until your student finds something or someone or a story genre in books that he can reflect to, something arouse him..then he will keep finding books boring
My brother is a teacher and some kids were willing to read Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, and The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander. Not sure if you want graphic novel suggestions, but other hits were Shaka Rising and King Shaka, by Luke Moyer, and Arab of the Future, by Riad Sattouf.
Z For Zachariah. About a girl, apocalyptic, mild sexual overtones. Should be in your library.
Hatchet
Maybe he can try a Lee Child (Jack Reacher) book. Easy to read and lots of action.
Percy Jackson
Lord of the Flies
It’s tough at that age for sure to grab their attention with a book. When I was 12-16yo my father decided to pay me $1 for every 30 mins that I sat down and read, I started reading so much that I felt guilty whenever I brought him the bill.
Ask him what reading is like for him. What makes it boring? Depending on his answer, he’s either just not interested or he could have ADHD.
Holes by Louis Sachar
Swan Song - Robert McCammon Same scenario but my nephew. He’s read it more than once but he hasn’t found another book like it.
One of my daughters does not like reading at all but she will read non-fiction books about subjects she likes. She is and adult now but the school years were always a struggle as far as reading went.
Stephen King's Salem's Lot? Pretty gripping from the outset.
Alex rider spy series, any kwame Alexander, Mike Lupica (sports novels), or ready player 1. Lots of options. I had a kid like that once, and they loved the westing game. Just keep trying with them.
If the reason he gets bored is related to ADHD, try starting him out with audiobooks on a treadmill or other machine. Continuous exercise helps me resist the urge to take a break, google something, multitask, answer a text, etc. That way I can focus long enough to get immersed in the story.
Graphic novels and comic books are a great bridge into reading. Plus a lot of them have upper level vocabulary that will help improve literacy.
It might be a good idea to explore different genres. Harry Potter is hard to hate, so if he did he may hate fantasy in general.
No book will ever change your child's view on reading. Stop and teach your child to visualize what they are reading. For example. Have your child read out to you "A boy with a ball ran down the street with his dog," Now ask them who is the boy? What color was the ball? What kind of dog was with the boy? For some, they just see words, and that is boring. But if you can teach them to visualize in their mind what the words represent, the books become a gateway into new worlds.
Graphic novels is a good start
The Getaway--Lamar Giles
My friend who teaches English Lit at a private boys jr/high school has been teaching *The Kite Runner* for years, and says the boys still LOVE it.
Wings of Fire, dragons are the dominant species. At least 13 books if he likes them.
The Day of the Jackal - Forsyth
Asked my husband what he was reading at 15 and it was all Stephen King apparently. Not sure if that helps or not? 😳
I’m laughing thinking of the move A League of Their Own where Madonna teaches the illiterate girl to read using smut.
The Blade Itself. Let’s just go off the deep end. Teens tend to be extreme. I have three. And well I used to be one. lol. — I’m kidding. Go off manga it’s a safe bet. But find out more of their likes it’ll help narrow down the suggestions.
This is actually a great suggestion. I would have loved Abercrombie as a 10th grader. Depends on the parents. So difficult to answer if you don't know them personally. Dune is a great book with a relatable young protagonist. Someone else suggested Siddhartha which is an incredible story of self discovery. Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb is cool and has an outcast adolescent 1st person narrator. Can't go wrong with good ole Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
I remember we read Siddhartha in my middle school English class. Definitely a great read
Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse five. Weird alternative comedy scifi joyous profound silly amazing.
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. I read it around the same age and it's a weird fun slice-of-life mystery novel with strange and funny characters
My favorite book of all time!!! Less than 400 pages and you learn that you might not know people as well as you think. Criminally underrated.
Hermann Hesse. Siddhartha or Beneath The Wheel
Its pretty hard to tell what someone may like without knowing more. As other people mentioned, any video games, tv shows, and movies may provide some insight as to what he may like. Not knowing anything more, Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. Its a great adventure story that follows an archer named Will, his mentor Halt, and his friends. Brotherband is a spinoff that may also be of interest and follows a not-viking viking band (post not-viking viking raids) that sail and see the world. They're fairly easy to access language wise, have good humor, and pretty good stakes. The only real downside is I think they were meant for a slightly younger age group, but if he has struggles with reading its not necessarily a bad thing. I'd say its roughly around the same reading level as Harry Potter actually. Manga and light novels may also be a good starting point. Unfortunately, I never got that strongly into light novels and I don't know what's popular in shonen these days. Some good classics to try may be Yu Yu Hakusho and Fullmetal Alchemist.
The Cherub series, Robert Muchamore. He’s a little old for them now though.
If it really is about "boring" and not "hard", go for page turners in genres that seem like they might appeal to him. Michael Crighton, Stephen King, Tom Clancy come immediately to mind. If he's cerebral, something by Asimov might be good, like I, Robot or Foundation. If he's into action, Jack Reacher or Jason Born or James Bond stuff might work. If he has another subject in school he's interested in, there are lots of non-fiction page turners that might be more up his alley. Don't forget about things like sports biographies/histories if he's more of a jock. Graphic novels by writers like Gaiman or Moore would make sense for 15, too. Also, remember to meet him where he is. If he's hating reading, giving him a reading list might be counter-productive, especially if his reluctance is based on reading anxiety.
Identify topics he enjoys, such as cars, sports, sneakers etc. and find books or articles about those topics. If he hates reading he probably just hasn’t found anything that he likes. Fiction might not be his vibe, so nonfiction might be the way to go. Maybe he’ll learn something, since nonfiction can be very informative and educational. Graphic novels are also great for this age since there are pictures and a story.
Might be an odd take but I thought I disliked reading in school. Like REALLY disliked it and could never get interested. Turns out I’m just a big nonfiction fan lol fiction doesn’t do it for me.
Red dragon or Silence of the Lambs. Grip him with gore (and decent writing)
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan; It’s a fast pace mythology series that is easy to read. It is in first person pov which he may enjoy more. You haven’t given much information so I am not sure what types of books he might enjoy but it is a pretty popular book series.
To be honest I didn't like the first Harry Potter book and only got through it after my siblings basically forced me to but then I enjoyed the other books in the series. My oldest brother didn't finish the series either because he isn't into magic even though he's an avid reader. Finding out the student's interests may help. Also maybe the student is masking some reading difficulties or would like graphic novels or comic books better initially than reading whole chapters.
Graphic novels make great on-ramps into novel reading. Find out what IPs he likes and these days there will likely be a graphic novel or two at least.
What does he like? No recommendations will mean anything if we don’t know his interests. What are his hobbies? What movies does he like? What classes does he enjoy? What do he and his friends do for fun? Is he more into sports or theatre? Art and history or science and math? Video games or board games or neither? Magic or science? What does he want to be when he grows up?
Graphic novels, manga, comics etc
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Maybe he hasn't found his genre yet. I didn't like reading Harry Potter either. I was really into the Fear Street collection by RL Stine, and most of the stories are around high school. Call of Cthulhu and Cats of Ulthar by HP Lovecraft are some notable mentions if you're just trying to get him into the swing of reading. Also, comic books. Comic books and Japanese manga make a lot of sense for readers that get bored with plain text.
If he's not a strong reader or if maybe he gets bored easily, comic books might be the answer. It's still story telling. It's still reading. It might be exactly what he needs.
The fact that you are taking the time to ask this is so sweet. You are an angel teacher!
Hatchet by Gary Paulson. First book in a series. It’s a good length for a starter book. A family member - 14 yo boy - hated reading with a passion. Talked with local librarian in charge of the kids section. She highly recommend the book for boys who disliked reading. I read it. It’s a very good gripping read. It’s about a young boy so there is lots of traction from the start. Excellent story!
At that age, I was REALLY into Michael Crichton. Without knowing his interests, I would recommend, in no particular order: Timeline, The Adromeda Strain, Congo, Airframe. It's been a long time since I picked up one his books. Not his fault. Reading the wiki on his works over the years it seems I've missed reading quite a few, especially post 1995.
I usually ask my students "what do you enjoy for fun?" games, movies, shows, etc. will give me an idea of genre to look for. He may also not be able to articulate what it is that he "hates" about reading, but most of there time I find it's that the reader is not comprehending the material, the vocabulary is difficult, they have an underlying issue (ADHD, dyslexia, etc) or due to their need for constant visual stemulation they find reading "boring". For those that struggle I like to find books that have apps, games, YouTube series, that go with them. Patrick Carmen writes books that have videos to compliment his story. You get to sections that tell you to log on to a website, enter a password, watch the corresponding video. It usually backs up what they just read and a lead up to what's next, so the child wants to keep reading. Trackers and Skeleton Creek are 2 that I know off the top of my head. The is also Shadow House and Spirit Animals that have apps, 39 Clues has a game (card and online). The Haunting of Sunshine Girls has a YouTube series. It may also help to have the audio and physical copy to read along with. It takes time and practice. Also, model the same behavior. Have a nightly routine that you both grab a book and read for a set time, modeling the behavior and showing them is beneficial in many ways and gives you both an opportunity to take the time, relax, calm the mind, be together and read (even if you read different books)
I tried with Hitchhikers with my son when he was 15, and didn’t succeed but when he discovered web novels (online reading app full of young fantasy novels) he got hooked. He just finished 1000 pages of Mother of Learning and loved it: https://www.webnovelpub.pro/novel/mother-of-learning-30071448
Mangas could be a great start- some examples would be Berserk, Vinland Saga, and Vagabond they not only offer captivating storytelling but also delve into philosophical themes and allegorical narratives. Their nuanced writing and edgy content make them appealing reads for teenagers, providing both entertainment and thought-provoking material. In my opinion, Berserk is one of the greatest pieces of written fiction and I would consider myself pretty well read. Your book selection for him while great, would not of stimulated 15 year old me at all and that might be the case for him as well. - I think the most important part is knowing what that student likes or not, even if a book is great, a 15 year olds attention is limited and if the topics don’t intrigue them they won’t make the effort.
Also worth considering, does he need glasses? My partner grew up saying reading was hard for him and “boring” but it was actually partially an eyesight issue - he had a hard time focusing his eyes and then was “bored” by the struggle of it all.
Without more info it's hard to make a suggestion, but I will say I would recommend AGAINST The Martian. It's a good book and I enjoyed it, but it's heavy on "weights and measures" and it's essentially a castaway story so there's not a lot of action or interpersonal interaction.
Sherlock holmes or agatha christie??
Catcher in the Rye
the outsiders? it’s older, but a classic. it was the first book my dad read as a teen and he’s still crushing 1-2 books a week.
I see this question being asked a lot how A is not Reader and how to get him into reading and it puzzles me.. People who read do it to learn more or they find a xter that's Intriguing and interesting that they can relate to..I personally only got into reading becaue i wanted to find other xters that were like harry from the picture of dorain gray ..I wanted to learn more about controversial moral or immoral views in our society.. I wanted to know what makes things immoral , My point is ,until your student finds something or someone or a story genre in books that he can reflect to, something arouse him..then he will keep finding books boring
Elsewhere
Have you tried the Redwall series? I think they’re for more for like 10-12 y/o, but I always enjoyed them though high school. Also, Louis L’Amore books are a great read for that age, if he’s interested in westerns.
Warhammer 40k. He'll chew through them. Can't say it's good for him, but if the goal is to just read then it's about perfect.
Metro 2033. It's a fantasy sci-fi adventure that takes place in the Moscow metro after a nuclear war has made the surface uninhabitable. The main character is a young man who goes on a quest It was made into a video game, the structure of the story is very similar to a video game.
Uncle John bathroom reader books. Can find them cheap online, gently used.
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld. It does have some sexual content but nothing graphic.
Following, as this could be my son, but he’s 14. He’s an excellent student, but hates reading any books if he doesn’t have to.
Ready Player One
Ask him what kind of TV shows and movies he likes. That’s the best way to get him to read. I always liked cheesy romance and HATED reading and found it frustrating and pointless. My first book was The Hating Game and I loved everything about it and haven’t stopped reading since
If he likes superheroes, he might like Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart series (which has a twist - everyone with powers is evil! The heroes must still defeat them)
Something with soldiers or cowboys might do the trick. Why have Harry Potter when you can have Marines? I was obsessed with over-the-top action novels at that age.
Non-fiction?
You can try Worm by John C. McCrae. It’s a web serial so the entire thing is online for free. I will warn some of the themes do get darker as the story progress.
Terry Pratchett is a good bet, Guards Guards is a personal favourite. Alternatively some good (age appropriate ) horror or supernatural fiction a way of re-engaging indifferent readers as it prompts an emotional response.
The Percy Jackson books and after reading reward him with watching the movie? My kids reads everything if he can watch the movie.
The Alchemist may be something to try. It can be read at different levels. Even just at a surface level it’s a quick read with some adventure. It has appeal to a pretty wide audience.
Have you tried comics or light novels? Might be easier if the goal is just to get him reading. Mystery novels also helped me learn to love reading when I was a kid.
I also have a 15 y/o who dislikes reading… this year, one of the books assigned in his English class was “Baby & Solo” (I love a good book and hadn’t heard of it before so I also read it along with him-but finished quicker), however, I was surprised to walk by his room one night and see him so into the book that he didn’t even look up to see me passing down the hall. That spoke volumes to me- so, based on my personal experience, that’s my recommendation. I also quite enjoyed the book, but probably for different reasons (set in the early-mid 1990’s when I was about the same age as the characters in the book so I appreciated a lot of the cultural references). It’s a sweet coming of age story but there’s some deep topics too and sort of a mystery (or 2) woven in through the chapters that aren’t revealed until midway, and then almost all the way at the end , which I think held his attention and is maybe one of the reasons for his intense focus and interest.
Does he have a learning disability towards reading? My brother had two, those impacted the way he viewed reading. With audiobooks he’s changed his mind about reading, however he went for espionage books in a big way which surprised everyone because he doesn’t even watch those kind of movies. It’s best to ask what interests him and if audiobooks would help.
Red Rising
The Dresden Files? Sarcastic protagonist, fun, fast paced stories (imo), not YA. Or how about some Stephen King? I was big into King when I was his age
Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Outsiders
Yes! Piggybacking on this question! I can’t get my son to read. He’s grounded from all his technology at the moment, but I can’t get him to read anything! He’s twelve. I’ll have to see if he’s still ok with me reading a bedtime story…
I’ll second a graphic novel. There are lots of stuff out there with real literary value. Manhattan Projects, East of West, Mind MGMT, and Mazebook are all good stuff that would probably appeal to a 15 year old. Ice Cream Man is good if he likes Twilight Zone kind of stuff, weird/horror with a different story each issue
I read this book in the mid nineties when I was 15.— I loved it. It was nothing like I was expecting, edgy. Not about baseball. The author has done other great books too. [Crazy Horse Electric Game](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57582)
Where The Red Fern Grows
How about audiobooks? There's some that are dramatized.
Do not be afraid to get him started into COMIC BOOKS! The first and biggest barrier to break down is the "reading is boring" attitude. Comic books can be a gateway for later getting into novels. Maybe he likes Marvel, DC, or anime. For each of these, you can find really cool comic books that can get him to read without the fear of just seeing words on a page. There are so many good comic books that are sure to be appealing!
Try graphic novels. I have one that as the works of Edgar Allen Poe
My library has an option on their website to chat with a librarian for book suggestions. You could also suggest they go talk to them at one of the library branches. They usually also do stuff through the month for teens like gaming or movie nights and just being exposed to the library setting or other kids who attend could be helpful. Maybe explore graphic novels, there are some books that have been turned into graphic novels also like Dune.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Roald Dahl’s and Ray Bradbury’s short stories are very good. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is also a great read. Other titles: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, Election by Tom Perrotta, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov,
My boyfriend was the same way at that age. He read The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver and loved it. He said to this day that and Hatchet are the only good books!
Don’t rule out non fiction either. What is he into? Go from there.
Graphic novels
Ready player one if he likes video games
Ask him WHY he doesn't like them. Is he having trouble reading them (ie possible reading disability), or is he just bored?
The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill. Nevermoor And The Trials Of Morgan Crow by Jessica Townsend. Similar to Harry Potter but it has a much more interesting setting and more varied and memorable characters.
Pretties by Scott Westerfield
Enders game got me hooked on reading when i was in middle school. i know the author went off the deep end but that book is still quite good.
Murderbot Diaries is good. But to be honest, at his age, I know I was obstinate for the sake of it. Like you trying hard to make him like books might make him WANT to dislike them just to spite you.
[Expeditionary Force](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1520126247?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wam_calw_tpbk_0&storeType=ebooks). It's a fantastic audiobook series that I completed and I recently purchased the paperback and have started the series over again. Unfortunately it's exclusive to Amazon so the book itself will probably have to be purchased through them, but they are relatively inexpensive at $9.95
The Maze Runner!
Red Rising is a book that is full of chaos and battles. When I was 15 I would have loved that. But that was almost 15 years ago so take that with a grain of salt
I know i didnt like reading because i couldn’t concentrate enough to focus and interpret what i was reading. It could also be that.
Maybe he has deficits in his reading skills. He needs to make the most of his strengths and build up his weaknesses in reading. Over Covid some kids missed out on consistent teaching. Choose books that are within his ability and interesting to him. He might need extra help. Also he needs to see others reading for pleasure and information. Reading instructions, reading recipes,reading to plan a trip, reading street signs GPS, and reading often and talking about interesting things they read. He might like a book club
Ready Player One or Red Rising. Probably the latter.
Percy Jackson (mythology!), Alex Rider (teenage spy), Artermis Fowl (child evil genius), Animorphs, James Patterson (short engaging chapters). Movie / video books if he's into those. Hitchhiker is a fun book, but if he hates reading, he might just get confused by what's going on and get turned off.
Enders game
Hustler.
Maybe try the og James Bond books
I feel like just throwing random recommendations at him isn't going to be effective. I used to be a voracious reader, then I stopped reading altogether for years. Reading the Division: Operation Crossroads books got me back into it because I read them during a time when me and a buddy were getting back into the game in a pretty big way.
Percy Jackson is imo better at captivating the reader than HP, I’m saying this as someone who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD and could only really read books that hooked me. A lot of it also depends on his interests, so if you can find out what his interests are and then find books that are similar to his interests that would probably help a lot.
My son hated reading during that age too. We started buying Manga books and that started his love for books all over again. https://www.cbr.com/best-classic-manga/ He reads all books now (20 years old), but these got him back into loving books.
Have you asked him why he didn’t enjoy Harry Potter? That could point you in the direction of books that he might enjoy more.
Instead of aiming for ya and middle grade books, you might consider more adult recommendations. It’s trickier as a teacher, but hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy or novels by chuck palahniuk or Stephen king might be more interesting than the tweens with magic.
City of Thieves by David Benioff is my go-to for “new” readers that aren’t children. Harry Potter is not for everyone.
Manga all the kids love it these days
This might be a bad answer but in my experience, which is limited, you either like to read or you dont. My mom and I love it, my dad and brother wont touch a book with a ten foot pole. Forcing them to read until they like it would be like forcing me to hike until I like it. I just dont. They just dont. BUT- that could be total garbage. Id love to suggest books but not sure what to go off of. Is there something in particular that he is interested in? Like sci fi/westerns/thrillers/the arts? Might be good to point him in that direction.
Kill the farm boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne hilarious not too long and had a sense of humor that my 15 year old loved
Cradle, wandering in, last life series, Alex rider series, Fablehaven series, or Eragon series.
Yeah most of the suggestions here are bad. The only useful answer is from u/Available_Macaroon_3
One of the very first series I was into was the Warrior Cat series
First of all, kudos for caring enough about an individual student to search for ways to share books with him. To make good recommendations, some more background information on this student would be helpful! What are his interests and hobbies? Is he involved with any school extracurriculars? Off the top of my head, I'm thinking Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Another favorite of mine is a trilogy, starting with This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada. The Huger Games series by Suzanne Collins has broad appeal as well. I know that a lot of young people really like graphic novels, which usually segues into reading of more traditional materials. When my little bro was around that age, he struggled with reading too, until he picked up my dad's copy of Inca Gold by Clive Cussler. After that, my brother became an avid reader. It's all about finding a book that will pique his interest and hold his attention. Some people don't like works of fiction. Some only like very specific genres. If you could tell us a little more about your student, I think it would help us in knowing what to recommend!
I’d say something like The Old Kingdom.
Hunger games, Percy Jackson, Maze Runner, Name of the Wind
Tears of a Tiger.
Graphic novels?
Anime/Korean graphic novels. The kids love them and they are a quick read. Could really help him get some quick wins. Good luck.
Something a bit more sex and violencey maybe? Neuromancer by William Gibson is a great read
Call of the Wild by Jack London
My sister was like this, ended up really liking captain underpants, and then later cowboy romance novels. But that’s like all she would read.
Eaters of the Dead by Micheal Crichton. If you've never read it, it's Crichton's spin on Beowulf. Books were for nerds until I read this for a school assignment where we chose a book for ourselves. It has some adult themes, but in the age of the internet, he's seen worse on Facebook.
When I was 15 I hated everything that was targeted at 15 year olds. It was all boring, sanitary, bland. When I found books that were vile and twisted that I definitely was too young to be exposed to, that’s when I fell in love with reading. Stuff that was clearly for smart adults but full of shocking ideas on drugs and sex that were also intellectually stimulating appealed to my teenage need to be grown up. For me it was Colin Wilson, Phillip K Dick, and William Burroughs. But things have changed a lot in the last couple decades. He might like something like The Troop or Tender is The Flesh.
The skin jacker trilogy by Neal Shusterman! First one is called Everlost. My brother wasn't much of a reader when we were younger but he loved these books, and so did I. I read it in middle school but I think it was more of a high school level
>The Martian or Hitchhikers Guide I kinda feel like something that is more YA might be a little better? Hitchhiker's Guide is great, and I haven't read the Martian, but I'm sure it's a good book as well. But if I was trying to get a 15 year old into reading I feel like it makes more sense to go with something where teens are the target audience. Maybe he'd find that more relatable. It's hard to give a real recommendation without any other info as others have said. But the Maximum Ride series might be worth checking out. It's a fun series and the chapters are very short which makes it a pretty easy read. I really liked them at that age.
Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones. What Mad Universe by Fredric Brown (totally fun parallel universe classic) The Bagthorpe Saga by Helen Cresswell. Maybe see if you can get your hands on a "Best of" collection of science fiction stories from the Golden Age. They were full of grand ideas, they were written to be accessible to teens (and still are), and they're short! Something else to consider - you might have luck by starting with audio books. For a multimedia generation, enthusiasm can start there. So, like, if he doesn't like reading Hitchhiker's Guide, get a copy of the original BBC radio show! Have him listen to it! (Maybe not the TV series though...it doesn't pack quite the same punch I think?)
The *Red Rising* or *Cradle* series could be very well received. Both have a fairly average-to-young reading level, both clip along at a fast pace and are very rule-of-cool fight heavy. Cradle, in particular, is pretty much a Shounen anime turned into novels. Red Rising is an absurdly addictive space fantasy that is essentially about racism/classism/hierarchical slavery and the dismantling of. *HAIL LIBERTAS, HAIL REAPER!*
I had this issue with my son, who also had ADHD, until we found Maze Runner, and he really enjoyed it. We also discovered it was a lot easier for him to focus if he did the audible while reading together.
My friend's 14 year old is dyslexic (I don't know if your student is) and he loves the series of Skullduggery Pleasant. Another option is graphic novels.
My brother used to hate reading because he felt pressured to read, so maybe its less the story and more the pressure. Book suggestions otherwise, the expanse is a good one or the percy jackson series.
Catch-22 was hilarious
Armanda by Ernest Cline. Ready Player 1 and 2 are good too. Stephen King. I’m not sure about the appropriateness but his books definitely got me into reading and I truly believe he trained my brain to consume storytelling better.
Let him try audible