Modern YA novel that celebrates boys

[Anonymous]

I’ve found a ton of great “middle grades” books with male protagonists. Most of the ones mentioned here fit in the “middle grades” category.
The reason you’re not finding much is the YA category is that YA is a recently invented term that refers almost exclusively to schlocky romance novels aimed at teen girls. 30 years ago, YA did not exist as a category and teens read stuff that was written for adults. Then someone wrote twilight and everyone figured out you could make a mint selling schlock to teenage girls. It’s like asking why they are not more historical romance novels aimed at men.

I would loooove for there to be more decent fiction for teens of any gender.

[Anonymous]

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (her books all alternate perspectives with M/F characters--this series is fantasy but she also has contemporary YA if that's what your kid prefers)

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (he has many titles, all contemporary, usually romance)

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Dear Martin - Nic Stone

Swing - Kwame Alexander

Books by A.S. King - Everybody Sees the Ants has a male protagonist, Dig has multiple POVs

Darius the Great is Not Okay - by Addim Khorram

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus (multiple POV)

Jason Reynolds and Justin Reynolds (no relation) are both good suggestions too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve found a ton of great “middle grades” books with male protagonists. Most of the ones mentioned here fit in the “middle grades” category.
The reason you’re not finding much is the YA category is that YA is a recently invented term that refers almost exclusively to schlocky romance novels aimed at teen girls. 30 years ago, YA did not exist as a category and teens read stuff that was written for adults. Then someone wrote twilight and everyone figured out you could make a mint selling schlock to teenage girls. It’s like asking why they are not more historical romance novels aimed at men.

I would loooove for there to be more decent fiction for teens of any gender.

Which YA books have you read that have been published over the last 5 years? I'd argue that YA (and middle grade) literature is incredibly rich and varied right now--with more literary quality than most of the non-school books I read as a teen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve found a ton of great “middle grades” books with male protagonists. Most of the ones mentioned here fit in the “middle grades” category.
The reason you’re not finding much is the YA category is that YA is a recently invented term that refers almost exclusively to schlocky romance novels aimed at teen girls. 30 years ago, YA did not exist as a category and teens read stuff that was written for adults. Then someone wrote twilight and everyone figured out you could make a mint selling schlock to teenage girls. It’s like asking why they are not more historical romance novels aimed at men.

I would loooove for there to be more decent fiction for teens of any gender.

That is not true. I’m probably outing myself on DCUM, but in 1985-89, I served on the youth advisory board for my city’s public library system. The books we were given to read were identified as “Young Adult” and featured tweens and teens as the main protagonists. It’s when I read Ender’s Game for the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve found a ton of great “middle grades” books with male protagonists. Most of the ones mentioned here fit in the “middle grades” category.
The reason you’re not finding much is the YA category is that YA is a recently invented term that refers almost exclusively to schlocky romance novels aimed at teen girls. 30 years ago, YA did not exist as a category and teens read stuff that was written for adults. Then someone wrote twilight and everyone figured out you could make a mint selling schlock to teenage girls. It’s like asking why they are not more historical romance novels aimed at men.

I would loooove for there to be more decent fiction for teens of any gender.

That is not true. I’m probably outing myself on DCUM, but in 1985-89, I served on the youth advisory board for my city’s public library system. The books we were given to read were identified as “Young Adult” and featured tweens and teens as the main protagonists. It’s when I read Ender’s Game for the first time.

Also, according to Smithsonian magazine,

“Targeted at readers 12 to 18 years old, it sprang into being near the end of the turbulent decade of the 1960s—in 1967, to be specific, a year that saw the publication of two seminal novels for young readers: S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders and Robert Lipsyte's The Contender.“

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-young-adult-fiction-blossomed-with-teenage-culture-in-america-180968967/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted a similar question on here a few months ago-- books for my 12-year-old boy that weren't fantasy or science fiction. Someone recommended the historical fiction books by Alan Gratz-- many of them are about World War II. My son absolutely loved them-- he read them all this summer. Thank you to whomever made that recommendation!

NP. Good to know. My son picked one of these out in the library at school this week because he needed a book for English. It sounds like he will like it.

His books are great! Refugee was a favorite. Flips between three different stories from three different countries and time periods, all told from the perspective of a young teenager. Teens can't help but feel empathetic - it's a terrific book.

I've heard Gratz's more recent book about 9/11 is terrific, too!

My daughter and son have both loved his books, especially the 9/11 one.

[Anonymous]

Call of the Wild
Treasure Island
Tom Sawyer
But those might not be modern enough for what you want.

I also want to point out that while yes, there historically have have been many books with male protagonists, there have also been plenty of books for young readers with female protagonists for decades— Little House on the Prairie series, Nancy Drew, American Girl books, Heidi, The Secret Garden, snd so on.
I’m in my 40s & grew up reading lots of books featuring female protagonists. They were never hard to find.

[Anonymous]

Older audience probably but A Pho Love Story is written from both a female and male perspective. The male character is laudable (as is the female). Perhaps something with "Love Story" in the title wouldn't appeal to your son, but maybe it would. It's not a super cheesy/mushy book.

[Anonymous]

Here are two reviewed:
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/25/1039811216/fall-ya-fiction-roundup

[Anonymous]

This isn’t a novel, but it’s excellent:
https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Boat-Young-Readers-Adaptation/dp/0147516854/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14SCIRDRWRSH9&dchild=1&keywords=boys+in+the+boat+young+readers+edition&qid=1632654822&sprefix=Boys+in+the+boat%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

The Young Reader’s version is better than the adult version. It’s exciting and a wonderful celebration of teamwork, grit, leadership, and loyalty. I believe George Clooney bought the rights to film it.

[Anonymous]

I would like something like a Mighty Girl for boys - I don’t have time to start it myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son and I are reading The Raven Cycle books by Maggie Stiefvater, and we both really like them. There’s a quest, and magic, and excellent character development. There are 4 main characters, 3 boys and a girl. The audio versions are fantastic as well. The guy who reads them is incredibly talented.

I love those books!

+1

[Anonymous]

I just ordered The Body by Stephen King. Had no idea it was the basis for Stand by Me until yesterday!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just ordered The Body by Stephen King. Had no idea it was the basis for Stand by Me until yesterday!

Three of Stephen King's Different Seasons stories were made into movies (Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me and Apt Pupil).

[Anonymous]

Marcelo in the Real World
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (prequel to the Hunger Games)
The Great American Whatever
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
The Graveyard Book (though this is fantasy)