Anonymous wrote:East of Eden, All the Kings Men, or Lonesome Dove. These aren't coming of age stories, but they deal with becoming a man and male friendships which might be applicable to your DS's life.

Brokeback Mountain, too.

God, i hope I am not this involved in my son's school work when my kid is in high school. Wow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, when I said pretty average existence it came off totally wrong, it's more that I feel that I see a lot of books that deal with landmark moments in a persons life or other issues. He doesn't have any of that.

So allow him to have some real life experiences. Here's a possible opening to his paper:

"Just like Character X, I was facing a challenge I didn't think I could overcome. Here I was, at the tender age of 17, being forced to choose my own book for paper of astounding proportions--10 whole pages! (And I'm not talking any of this 16-point font stuff. No, this had to be 12-point Times. 1 inch margins. Unbelievable.) What did they think I was, a freshman in college????"

<snort>

East of Eden, All the Kings Men, or Lonesome Dove. These aren't coming of age stories, but they deal with becoming a man and male friendships which might be applicable to your DS's life.

Black Boy by Richard Wright.

Seriously.

Go for it. I bet it gets an "A".

OP here, I am not doing the work for him! He is a great kid but a little confused on what to chose and honestly I am not picking it for him just suggesting some topics. I would like to avoid the undo stress it will inevitably put on me if a week before the paper is due he realizes he can't get 10 pages out of the assignment. If you feel that all parents of 12th graders are as self righteous as yourself, you are very mistaken. Suggesting a few topics for him is a drop in the bucket compared to what some of the other parents I know will do to ensure a good grade.

Thank you to the people who gave some good ideas, I really appreciate it.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, when I said pretty average existence it came off totally wrong, it's more that I feel that I see a lot of books that deal with landmark moments in a persons life or other issues. He doesn't have any of that.

So allow him to have some real life experiences. Here's a possible opening to his paper:

"Just like Character X, I was facing a challenge I didn't think I could overcome. Here I was, at the tender age of 17, being forced to choose my own book for paper of astounding proportions--10 whole pages! (And I'm not talking any of this 16-point font stuff. No, this had to be 12-point Times. 1 inch margins. Unbelievable.) What did they think I was, a freshman in college????"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's a SENIOR and you're soliciting an anonymous message board for book suggestions? Well, that explains the noise I heard - it was your helicopter.

And what's your excuse for spending time here? (I have none, but I'm asking you). Stones, glass houses and all that.

I'm on a mission from God to combat stupidity wherever I find it. It's a full-time job.

Anonymous wrote:He's a SENIOR and you're soliciting an anonymous message board for book suggestions? Well, that explains the noise I heard - it was your helicopter.

And what's your excuse for spending time here? (I have none, but I'm asking you). Stones, glass houses and all that.

Sister Carrie - he can expand and recyle in college and graduate school.

Not sure where this falls under posting "rules" but I really think a high school seniour should be doing his own assignments, including picking his own books, and if he is having problems then he should talk to the teacher, or a librarian. What are you going to do when he's at college? Audit his courses?

All that said, maybe a good historical novel like Year of Wonders.

Not sure where this falls under posting "rules" but I really think a high school seniour should be doing his own assignments, including picking his own books, and if he is having problems then he should talk to the teacher, or a librarian. What are you going to do when he's at college? Audit his courses?

All that said, maybe a good historical novel like Year of Wonders.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could also try the Outsiders.

Not for 12th grade - that's a middle school book.
Agree that it doesn't have to be about a mundane life - you can contrast when you compare.

How about something set in a different culture - that way the comparisons can be about cultures, not just the details of his life.

To be fair, his mother is treating him like he's in middle school, so it's an easy mistake to make.

Honestly OP, for a 12th grade (!) assignment I am amazed that you are involved at all in this. Surely your child can come up with a book to read and do a paper on by that point in his life and if he can't he sure needs to learn how to. In terms of ideas, if you don't want to go with the "classics" people have already suggested, how about Atonement by Ian McEwan, one of the Pat Barker trilogy of books about WWI (these might be good because they are not too long, pretty dramatic, might appeal to a boy), About a Boy?