Books your kids / teenagers actually enjoy

[Yapyap]

I don't have kids and I'm way out of that age range myself, but I read a lot of middle-grade / YA books and spend time on forums/websites with teenage fans, so...

Anything for kids by Rick Riordan - has pretty much already been mentioned (I'd say the original Percy Jackson series is aimed at slightly younger readers than Heroes of Olympus, but if a 10-year-old starts with PJ, there shouldn't be any issues with continuing with HoO). Liked by both boys and girls.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - the first five books have 9+ as suggested age on the back, the most recent ones have been 11+ but I'd say it'll depend on the child as they can get a bit gory at times. Liked by both boys and girls.

Boys 12+ seem to like anything by Darren Shan (Cirque du Freak, Demonata, Zom-B).

Mid-teens and older (15+) seem keen on anything by John Green. Girls and boys both.

Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments (and her other series) - mostly girls but also a surprising (to me) amount of boys like these. 13+, I'd say.

Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz and Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer are mentioned a lot - Alex Rider probably mostly (but not exclusively) by boys, Artemis Fowl by both. I can't really tell what the lower age range would be for those, 10-ish?

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - boys and girls, 10+.

A lot of the above-mentioned books have quite a bit of humour in them.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Melpomene

Gender is totally irrelevant in this.

Gender certainly isn't irrelevant; there are books that appeal to boys and books that appeal to girls. If you think gender is irrelevant, try giving a 10-year-old boy a Cindy doll as a birthday present and see what reaction you get .

Originally Posted by HarryT

Gender certainly isn't irrelevant; there are books that appeal to boys and books that appeal to girls. If you think gender is irrelevant, try giving a 10-year-old boy a Cindy doll as a birthday present and see what reaction you get .

You must not spend a lot of time around children, Harry.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Melpomene

You must not spend a lot of time around children, Harry.

On the contrary, it's the fact that I do that makes me 100% certain that there are books that appeal primarily to boys, and books that appeal primarily to girls. Not for very young children, perhaps, but assuredly by the age of 10 or so.

[mike_bike_kite]

Perhaps we should just accept that the gender of some kids is irrelevant. For the purposes of this list though, I'm happy to take a gender recommendation if they're supplied.

It just makes this list pointlessly segregationist and needlessly sexist.

[HarryT]

I'd recommend C.S. Lewis's "Narnia" series. It should appeal to both boys and girls from perhaps aged 10 upwards. Might be a little frightening in parts for young children.

For young teenage boys, Robert Heinlein's "Juvenile" SF novels are hard to beat. I certainly devoured them when I was in my teens, and 40 years later I still love them.

[NickyWithNook]

Gender is not irrelevant but there is a great deal of overlap as far as what boys and girls read.

[Geralt]

Originally Posted by Melpomene

It just makes this list pointlessly segregationist and needlessly sexist.

This list is of recommendatory nature, not normative one. Pointing out that some books appeal more to boys/girls doesn't make it segregationist or sexist. It simply acknowledges the fact that we do have two sexes and that children more often then not have different interests based partially on the them. Nobody's suggesting a boy cant read Sophie´s World.
No need for such indignation. It's just another list.

[WillAdams]

Second on Heinlein's juveniles (and add _Starship Troopers_) , _Hatchet_ and Christopher's _White Mountains_.

Surprised no one has suggested the ``Mad Scientist Club'' books: http://www.madscientistsclub.com/books.html

_Swiss Family Robinson_ for the younger kids.

_Escape from Warsaw_ as well.

_Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_ and _101 Dalmatians_ (we had a standing rule that kids had to read the book before seeing the movie)

[David Munch]

I am currently reading Richard Fords Quest for the Faradawn, and it seems to be perfect for age 10+. Especially if they are fond of animals or nature in general.

[Gazella]

Also, the Warriors series by Erin Hunter is very popular among kids.

[BenBanned]

Originally Posted by Melpomene

It just makes this list pointlessly segregationist and needlessly sexist.

Someone trolling Harry?
Slightly humorous, but absolutely wrong.

Even McDonalds knows boys and girls don't want the same stuff.

On behalf of a certain gentleman's birthday I would like to suggest some Kafka for 16 and ups with half empty glasses.
A Hunger Artist

[ccowie]

Here are a few other books that my kids loved around the ages of 8-11:

The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
Flush and Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Any of the books by Gary D. Schmidt are good. In particular Trouble and Lizzy Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

[Pablo]

My 11-year old son's favourites:

Rick Riordan
The Kane Chronicles series
Percy Jackson & the Olympians series
Heroes of Olympus series

Rick Riordan's homepage

Justin Somper

Vampirates series

Vampirates homepage

Darren Shan
The vampire's assistant

John Stephens

The Emerald Atlas