The Best Books for 12 Year Old Boys

Talking to parents and educators around the country, I know they're always hungry to find books that boys love. 

According to statistics in a 2016 Psychology Today article, boys have a much harder time than girls finding books that they like. So for all the parents and teachers out there who are looking to unlock the magic of reading for the boys in their lives, here are some of the top books for 12 year old boys. 

As Psychology Today reported back in 2016: 

On Scholastic’s 2016 survey of over 2000 U.S. children, ages 6-17, only 52% of boys (versus 72% of girls) said they liked reading books over the summer, while only 27% of boys (versus 37% of girls) said they read books for fun at least 5 days a week. Forty-five percent of boys (versus only 36% of girls) said they often have trouble finding books they like.

There's nothing like getting lost in a book, and we all want our kids to know that joy and spark their creativity. 

Of course, as a father of daughters, I write for boys AND girls. Young Captain Nemo is the story of the descendent of Jules Verne's famous Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Gabriel Nemo is a 12-year old boy, and his sister, Captain Nerissa, is an adventure-seeking, smart and powerful girl. Together, their adventures may save the oceans. 

If you're looking for the top books for 12 year old boys, here are a few suggestions that I love and that lead in sales—and of course if you preorder Young Captain Nemo now, you'll be able to give your reader a brand new experience on March 12th.  

The Best Books for 12-Year Old Boys: 

1. Young Captain Nemo, by me, Jason Henderson (2019)
2. Holes, Sachar and Radunsky (2011)
3. Lawn Boy, Paulsen (2008)
4. Tales of a Fifth-Grade Knight, Gibson (2015)
5. The Indian in the Cupboard, Banks (2010)
6. Turtles all the Way Down, John Green (2017)
7. The Last Kids on Earth and the Cosmic Beyond, Brallier and Holgate (2018)
8. Fish in a Tree, Hunt (2015)

If you’ve got an 11-year-old, you can go with these suggestions as well. For 10 year olds, here are a few others that are great reads!

1. Wonder, Palacio (2012)
2. The Giver, Lowry (1993)
3. The Phantom Tollbooth, Juster and Feiffer (2011)

We are just one month from the release of Young Captain Nemo, and a whole new wave of great books for boys—pre-order it today!