Adventure & Fantasy:
* Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan (Greek mythology, action, humor)
* The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (dystopian world, survival, action)
* The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (classic fantasy, allegory, adventure)
* A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (time travel, adventure, family themes)
* The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (classic fantasy, adventure, journey)
* The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan (medieval fantasy, adventure, training)
Sci-Fi & Dystopian:
* Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (military science fiction, strategy, suspense)
* The Maze Runner by James Dashner (dystopian world, action, mystery)
* Divergent by Veronica Roth (dystopian world, choices, action)
* Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (virtual reality, 80s nostalgia, adventure)
* The Martian by Andy Weir (survival, science, humor)
Realistic Fiction:
* Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (coming-of-age, individuality, friendship)
* The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (coming-of-age, Native American themes, humor)
* The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (YA contemporary, social justice, race relations)
* Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (coming-of-age, dealing with trauma, friendship)
* The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (coming-of-age, mental health, friendship)
Historical Fiction:
* The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (World War II, coming-of-age, power of words)
* Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (World War II, courage, friendship)
* The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (World War II, perspective, innocence)
* Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (Civil Rights era, racism, family)
Humor & Graphic Novels:
* Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (middle school humor, relatable experiences)
* The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin (friendship, relatable experiences)
* The Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Portman (middle school humor, graphic novel)
* The Amazing World of Gumball by Ben Bocquelet (animated series, humor, family)
To get better recommendations, consider:
* His age and reading level.
* His interests. Does he like video games, sports, history, music?
* What kind of books he's enjoyed in the past.
* Ask him directly what he wants to read!
Bonus tip: Local libraries and bookstores are fantastic resources for finding recommendations! Librarians are experts at matching readers with books they'll love.