What Boys Really Want to Read this Summer Feature

As a mother of three girls and only one boy I am afraid to say that our book choices may be a bit lopsided. This got me thinking, What do boys like to read anyway? To find out, I interviewed a friend’s ten year old son.

His answers were nothing earth shattering, but his attitude toward reading was completely different than my daughter’s attitude. Below are his answers, what I learned, and book recommendations.

What Boys Really Want to Read this Summer

What is your favorite book? To help with this question I also asked if there was one book you would grab if the house were burning down… He said he might just burn with the house trying to make a decision. Later his mom thanked me for reminding her to talk about fire safety. Oops. 

“Lego Handbooks”

These are the handbooks that come in some lego set. Boys really love non fiction. These were the first types of books mentioned as we talked.

Ok, what about your favorite story?

“Guardians of Ga’hoole by Kathryn Lasky”

What are your favorite types of books to read?

“Science books, space books, science fiction, books about shipwrecks, and Lego how-to books.”

Even in their fiction, they enjoy technical descriptions. I tried to read The New Tom Swift Adventures and found it to be dry. I handed the book to this boy and he devoured it.

What makes a good book?

“I like science. So, lots of science stuff. Not science fiction that can have lasers go through planets and then destroy something. Science fiction where it sounds like it might actually happen in the future. I like Hardy Boys because of the mystery and adventure, and the characters are funny.”

He was also quite realistic. He didn’t want science fiction books that were too over the top, but just enough of a stretch for him to believe that this could happen someday! 

What advice would you give someone picking out a book in the library?

“Pick a book on a subject you like.”

What Boys Really Want to Read this Summer Interview

When you pick out books for the boys in your life this summer, stretch them yes, but help them to enjoy their choices as well. Use our Enchanted Reading map to help them discover books they may enjoy from other sections of the library.

This amazing boy also came to the interview with a piece of paper filled front and back with his favorite books. I raised my eyebrows at his entry for Blood on the River. He assured me not to worry — it was only about Jamestown.

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Here are a few recommendations from his list.

Non Fiction 

         

Historical Fiction – Because this category falls somewhere in the middle, doesn’t it?

            

Fiction

             

What books do your boys like to read?

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