Rangers Apprentice (series) and When you reach me (standalone) are both pretty good altho maybe a bit young.

Could do Sherlock Holmes, or the Flavia de Luce mysteries.

Neil Stevenson’s books such as Snow Crash

Maze Runner
Ready Player 1

This is all great.

He did read the Hunger Games. When I say not too dark and disturbing, I'm really thinking of anything that has to do with child sexual abuse, hard core violence against women...I would be fine with him reading Stephen King, at least the books I've read (The Shining, Pet Semetary)

Keep the good advice coming!

Anonymous wrote:The Michael Crichton's are all good reads. Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, etc

My DC liked these at that age.

The Michael Crichton's are all good reads. Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, etc

My teen son loved the Dan Brown book series, and also Steve Berry’s books. Also check out the Skullduggery Pleasant series - is is appropriate for tweens too but if your son hasn’t read it, he may enjoy!

Inheritance Games series maybe.

My son is reading Fairy Tale rn but I have no idea if it’s too dark / disturbing.

Agree on Hunger Games if he didn’t already read them.

Oh, and maybe the Jack Reacher series. I've read a few out of order, and they were quick and fun. Involved crime and murders, but I don't remember anything inlvolving kids or especially dark.

If he might want to start from the beginning, here's a link to the books in order:

https://www.jackreacher.com/us/books/

David Baldacci's books are fast-moving thrillers. Again, not great literature, but fun and may pull him back into reading.

At that age, I loved some of Stephen King's books. Not all are dark and disturbing, though I'm drawing a blank on which ones I liked best at the time. And again, they're books that have a way of pulling the reader in quickly.

Finally, The Hunger Games may bit a hit if he hasn't seen the movies. Dark and disturbing in concept, but neither of my kids seemed the slightest bit disturbed (which may be disturbing in its own right? LOL)

Ender's Game? I can't remember what the next set is after Percy Jackson, but he read those?
His Dark Materials?

My 13 year old won't read either. He read The Giver in school and asked for the series, but hasn't read them yet.

Anonymous wrote:Dan Brown books tend to get people reading. As a writer, I'm not necessarily going to endorse them as "good," lol. But most people can't put them down, and then want the next one.

I like this suggestion. Look for fast pace mystery/thrillers. I think some of reading is just associating it with being a fun way to pass the time. It doesn't all have to be literature and learning.

My 14 year old really liked Red Rising. It’s not a mystery though.

Dan Brown books tend to get people reading. As a writer, I'm not necessarily going to endorse them as "good," lol. But most people can't put them down, and then want the next one.

I'm determined to get my kid reading this summer - he used to love reading and read all the Percy Jackson books, Fun Jungle series, etc.

I want to give him a few YA or adult books to choose from - I'm thinking about some mysteries perhaps, but nothing too dark and disturbing. Any recommendations to share?