Need Al Capone or WW2-era Teen Fiction for 13-yo Boy

Nalgarryn · 01-02-2013, 03:50 AM

Hi Guys,

I am looking for some fiction to pass onto a 13 year old boy who doesn't have a long history of reading. I am reticent to suggest adult fiction because I think his vocabulary needs some buttressing before he gets to it (and I would prefer to avoid strong adult themes!). He has expressed an interest in Mafioso, Prohibition, and World War Two settings. I appreciate any feedback I receive. He has an Android tablet so naturally e-books are fine, but I would not have a problem borrowing from the library if there are good works unavailable in electronic format.

HarryT · 01-02-2013, 04:02 AM

Try the "Biggles" books by Captain W.E. Johns. Excellent "boy's own adventure"-type books set in both WWI and WWII (the first one was published in 1932). Lots available as eBooks. True classics.

JoelArnold · 01-02-2013, 11:59 AM

I just finished reading "Isle Royale" by John Hamilton -- it's a YA with a boy protagonist, and takes place during the 1930's. It involves smugglers, and is a good adventure that takes place in Lake Superior (mainly on the Isle Royale of the title!) It was a fun read.

Nalgarryn · 01-02-2013, 07:58 PM

Thank you both, I'll look into it! If anyone has other suggestions I'm glad to hear them... I'm not sure how picky a reader he may be.

issybird · 01-02-2013, 08:14 PM

Black Duck is a terrific book about Prohibition and smuggling set in Rhode Island; I read it as reading buddy with my middle-school niece for a school program. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Duck-Jan.../dp/0142409022

NickyWithNook · 01-02-2013, 08:17 PM

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Book Thief (which has a female protagonist, but I'd think would appeal to boys as well.)

Both set in WWII, and both are pretty recently written.

JoelArnold · 01-09-2013, 10:46 AM

There are two books by Gennifer Choldenko that take place on Alcatraz and are for mid-grade readers - Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes.

paola · 01-11-2013, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nalgarryn

Hi Guys,

I am looking for some fiction to pass onto a 13 year old boy who doesn't have a long history of reading. I am reticent to suggest adult fiction because I think his vocabulary needs some buttressing before he gets to it (and I would prefer to avoid strong adult themes!). He has expressed an interest in Mafioso, Prohibition, and World War Two settings. I appreciate any feedback I receive. He has an Android tablet so naturally e-books are fine, but I would not have a problem borrowing from the library if there are good works unavailable in electronic format.

don't know whether this one sails too close to adult themes, in the sense that here war starts as an adventure but then you do see war (though nothing gross), but Italo Calvino's The path to the spider's nest is a great WW2 book, with a teenager as protagonist, and as I also founded listed in teenagers book list (e.g. here it should fit the bill
http://www.amazon.com/Path-Spiders-N.../dp/0060956585

A great read for adults, too

01-02-2013, 03:50 AM	#1
Nalgarryn Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 492286 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: PC; literati; Nook	Need Al Capone or WW2-era Teen Fiction for 13-yo Boy Hi Guys, I am looking for some fiction to pass onto a 13 year old boy who doesn't have a long history of reading. I am reticent to suggest adult fiction because I think his vocabulary needs some buttressing before he gets to it (and I would prefer to avoid strong adult themes!). He has expressed an interest in Mafioso, Prohibition, and World War Two settings. I appreciate any feedback I receive. He has an Android tablet so naturally e-books are fine, but I would not have a problem borrowing from the library if there are good works unavailable in electronic format.

01-02-2013, 04:02 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Try the "Biggles" books by Captain W.E. Johns. Excellent "boy's own adventure"-type books set in both WWI and WWII (the first one was published in 1932). Lots available as eBooks. True classics. Last edited by HarryT; 01-02-2013 at 04:06 AM.

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01-02-2013, 11:59 AM	#3
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	I just finished reading "Isle Royale" by John Hamilton -- it's a YA with a boy protagonist, and takes place during the 1930's. It involves smugglers, and is a good adventure that takes place in Lake Superior (mainly on the Isle Royale of the title!) It was a fun read.

01-02-2013, 07:58 PM	#4
Nalgarryn Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 492286 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: PC; literati; Nook	Thank you both, I'll look into it! If anyone has other suggestions I'm glad to hear them... I'm not sure how picky a reader he may be.

01-02-2013, 08:14 PM	#5
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,514 Karma: 236076651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Black Duck is a terrific book about Prohibition and smuggling set in Rhode Island; I read it as reading buddy with my middle-school niece for a school program. Highly recommended. http://www.amazon.com/Black-Duck-Jan.../dp/0142409022

01-02-2013, 08:17 PM	#6
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	The Boy in the Striped Pajamas The Book Thief (which has a female protagonist, but I'd think would appeal to boys as well.) Both set in WWII, and both are pretty recently written.

01-09-2013, 10:46 AM	#7
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	There are two books by Gennifer Choldenko that take place on Alcatraz and are for mid-grade readers - Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes.

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