Today we are bringing you book series for teen boys! Finding good stories to keep boys reading is a bit harder as they get older.
Many of the books written for young adults seem to appeal more to girls than they do to boys.
When flipping through a book catalog I was not surprised, but was disappointed, to see the small number of books actually geared toward boys.
Not so with this list. We dug through to find excellent series. We talked to boy who read and those who found these books to be great even though reading is not really their thing. These are the books that made the cut.
These books are a thrill to read. They are exciting and will keep your boys’ interest right up through the last book!
See all of our books lists for boys here.
Enjoy this list of books that have boy appeal and are about right for boys 12 or 13-years-old and up.
This post may contain affiliate links which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. All opinions are our own and we share things we think would be of interest to boys.
Book Series for Teen Boys
Click on the books to learn more about the series or a specific title.
Once they read one of the books, they are likely to want to continue so be sure to check out the sequels as well. Make sure you are watching to see when they need more books!
These series books are all exciting and really great reads that your boys won’t want to put down.
If you want to know more about why book series are great for boys read our article.
Hatchet
(Brain’s Saga Series)
I know this book series is sometimes on lists for younger readers but I think this is a good one for teens who like the outdoors.
Brian is stranded after a plane crash and has to survive with only a hatchet. The rest of the books in this series are also adventure books and they are very good.
Hatchet (Book 1)
The River (Book 2)Brian’s Winter (Book 3)Brian’s Return (Book 4)Brian’s Hunt (Book 5)
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The Maze Runner
(The Maze Runner Series)
The Maze Runner is a wonderful book series for teen boys.
Thomas finds himself waking up in an elevator and he doesn’t know where he is and he can’t remember anything but his name. 60 other teen boys are there and a mysterious girl with a message shows up soon.
Rather violent, and a bit creepy, this is a popular action-packed choice among teen boys.
The Maze Runner (Book 1)The Scorch Trials (Book 2)The Death Cure (Book 3)The Kill Order (Book 4)The Fever Code (Book 5)The Maze Runner Series
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Leviathan
(The Leviathan Trilogy)
Set in the early 1900s World War I, this is a book with a twist that switches things up and includes genetically engineered animals vs steam-powered fighting machines.
Not terribly violent considering the setting but it does include death. The Leviathan is an airship and this is a steampunk adventure that will have boys asking for more.
Leviathan (Book 1)Goliath (Book 2)Behemoth (3)Leviathan (The Leviathan Trilogy)
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The Ruins of Gorlan
(The Ranger’s Apprentice series)
Magic, darkness and shadows are three words that describe these books rather well.
Will is a 15-year-old boy and is chosen as a Ranger’s Apprentice though he was hoping to be a knight. Follow his adventures in this classic good vs. evil story.
The Ruins of Gorlan (Book 1)The Burning Bridge (Book 2)The Icebound Land (Book 3)The Battle for Skandia (Book 4)The Sorcerer of the North (Book 5)The Siege of Macindaw (Book 6) Erak’s Ransom (Book 7)Kings of Clonmel (Book 8)Halt’s Peril (Book 9)The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Book 10)The Lost Stories (Book 11)The Royal Ranger (Book 12)
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The Alchemyst
(The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series)
A kidnapping, a special book, twins and lots of magic get this series started. Plenty of mythology to keep fans of Percy Jackson happy. These books are page-turners!
The Alchemyst (Book 1)The Magician (Book 2)The Sorceress (Book 3)The Necromancer (Book 4)The Warlock (Book 5)The Enchantress (Book 6)The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Complete Series
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Eragon
(The Inheritance Cycle Series)
Part of the reason the boys checked this one out was because it was written by a homeschool teen boy when he was 17-years-old.
This series of books is chock full of pages and adventures. They are a long! The first book is 528 pages.
Eragon finds a blue stone which isn’t a blue stone at all – it hatches a dragon. This is a saga of sorts and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. There are maps and glossaries to help your boy out. If he gives the first book a chance he will certainly want to continue on to read the rest.
Eragon (Book 1)Eldest (Book 2) Brisingr (Book 3)Inheritance (Book 4)Inheritance Cycle Boxed Set
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The Hunger Games
(The Hunger Games Trilogy)
The Hunger Games is one of those books that boys and girls alike just love.
I know so many teen boys who burned through this series that I had to include it.
Dsytopian in nature, the books are very violent. There are 20 deaths in the first book alone and there is teen on teen fighting/killing. I did not get too far in these books because they are just too violent for me and some sensitive boys agree. The story line is there however and most boys really like them.
The Hunger Games (Book 1)Catching Fire (Book 2)Mockingjay (Book 3)Trilogy Box Set: Foil Edition
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Ender’s Game
(The Ender Quintet Series)
An oldie but a goody. Do not discount this series!
Ender is a brilliant young boy who goes off to Battle School for military training.
This is a sci-fi winner and it has it all – aliens that are hostile and ready to attack, struggles within the main character and an unusual boy who just might be the one who has to save the world.
Ender’s Game (Book 1)Speaker for the Dead (Book 2)Xenocide(Book 3)Children of the Mind (Book 4)The Ender Quartet Set Kindle
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The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Series
I’m sure you are all familiar with this choice but . . . has your boy actually read them?
This is seriously an amazing book series for teen boys that they simply cannot miss.
You likely already know that there is a ring – a ring to rule them all, and hobbits, wizards, dwarfs, orcs, elves, a dragon and so much more wonderfulness that I can’t begin to share it.
If your boys watched the movies but didn’t read the books, I would strongly suggest they give them a try. This is one of my family’s favorite series of all time. Your teen boy needs to own these. Highly Recommended.
The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the RingsThe Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the RingsThe Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings Trilogy, 3 Volume boxed SetThe Hobbit An Unexpected Journey J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings 4 Volume Boxed Set
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I am a huge fan of book series and love to read them myself. My son is also very fond of series and once he finds one he likes he just plows through the books one after another. I hope you will suggest that your teen try a few of these series.
Let me know in the comments if there are other book series for teen boys you and your son like. We are always looking for new books to read!
Check out Book Series for Book Series for 9 – 12 year Old Boys as you may find more ideas there too!
Here are some other teen posts for you:
Amazing Inexpensive Gifts for Teenage Boys
Rocket Books for Teens! Read, Build, Blast Off!
Maker Books Boys Will Really Like!
Marie says
This is awesome! I will say I have read most of these and know my son will love them in the future. I can’t wait to reread The Hatchet with him. Such a great series!
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Marie,
Good to hear from someone else who likes these series as well! I’m sure Hatchet will be a bit hit with him.
Alli says
These are great! I think I’ve read most of them, my teenage son said he’s read them all except The Hunger Games, and added that this is a really great list for boys.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Alli and please thank your son. I am really happy he thinks it is a great list!
Clare says
I loved the Hunger Games – and these look great – especially Hatchet. I’m making notes for Christmas lists!
I’m wondering why Harry Potter didn’t make the cut? I know the early books seem to be for younger readers but I thought the later ones would have made an exciting read for a teen boy.
Sheila Rogers says
Hi Clare – good question – it was hard to decide where to put all the the different series. It is going in the one right before the teen series post. The early books are for younger readers. This was a tough one!
Our Home Of Many Blessings says
This is a great list! I don’t care for the Hunger Games either. That sucks when all the other kids are reading that series and you don’t really want your guys reading it…..I did not know that a 17 yr old homeschooler wrote Eragon!
Sheila Rogers says
Hi 🙂 Thanks for the nice comment. Yes, The Hunger Games was a bit too much for me. I know book choices can be hard and it is tough if everyone seems to be reading something but you don’t want your kids to read it. I know schools in my area that assigned the books as required reading and some parents who opted out (not easy). The author of Eragon was 17 when he wrote that book – so amazing.
WEndy says
Thanks for linking up with us at Hip Homeschool Moms! I always love summer reading lists! I enjoy sharing them with my teens, but I find that I like to read many of the books myself too. 🙂 Or sometimes my teens and I read them together. Have a great summer!
Sheila Rogers says
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for stopping by! I like that too 🙂 Glad to hear you enjoy them with your teens. Keeping the reading together and sharing books going into teen years is so rewarding. You have a great summer as well 🙂
Alicia Ritz says
Percy Jackson would be another great series.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Alicia,
I have Percy going on a different list 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to comment – thanks!
Rich says
I’ve read half of these and several more are on my list to read later. But I think this list is missing the ‘I Am Number Four’ series (Lorian Legacies) by Pittacus Lore, and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books. I can’t tell you how many times my son has read Percy Jackson.
Sheila Rogers says
Hi Rich,
I will take a look at I am Number 4. The Percy Jackson series is on a different list 🙂
Ashley says
Great list! Thank you! I’ll be saving this list for sure. Gregor the overlander by Susan Collins is another great series for boys.
Sheila Rogers says
Hi Ashley,
Thanks so much. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting. Gregor is on a different list – that is a good one!
sarah says
There’s a 3-book series by Patrick Ness that starts with ‘The Knife of never letting go’ that is really excellent. Teen boy protagonist, adventure series. War, fantasy, and an unusually gripping writing style.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks for the suggestion Sarah. I made a note of it!
Angie says
This is a great series. Patrick Ness’ trilogy is dystopian with a new twist.
He also has a couple stand alone books worth checking out…
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks for chiming in Angie! I’m excited to take a look.
Kirsten Toyne says
This is great. It is tough to know what is good for their age. I am going to run these past my son. Thank you.
Sheila Rogers says
Thank you so much for the comment Kirsten. It is tough! I hope you son finds some good reads.
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
What a wonderful collection of books! I don’t have any teen boys in my life right now but I’ll keep this in mind if friends are looking for gift ideas!
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely evening.
xoxo
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Jennifer,
I liked some of them myself 🙂 Glad you liked the selections. Have a great day.
Fawn thomas says
Hello!!! I have a 10 year old son to whom I am always trying to find new reading meterial for!!! I am glad that I found one seires on this list that he hasn’t read yet!!! (that would be The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Sries by Michael Scott) My son recently just got done reading the Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare!!! He found these riveting!!! He read The Immortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare before that!!!
I also have a 7 year old son that I am looking to find new book series for also!!! He has read all the books in The Box Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner (and other various authors). He is now starting on the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling!!! Any other suggestions???
Thank you and sorry about the long post!!! =)
Sheila Rogers says
Fawn,
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment. I appreciate the book suggestions! I will take a look at them for my son and for possible inclusion in our next list. Have you seen the series books for 9 – 12 year olds? You could check there for additional books for your son. We also happen to have a list of books for 7 – 9 year old boys 🙂 Fantastic Book Series for Boys 5 – 7 Hope these help!
Aimee says
The Alex Rider series is great
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Aimee!
Lisa says
My 11-year old has read most of the books on this list. His newest obsession is the CHERUB Series by Robert Muchamore. He’s flying through them and says they’re the best books he’s read since Harry Potter. (Different genre, these are about teen spies)
Sheila Rogers says
Thank you so much for the comment, Lisa. I will have to check that series out. I appreciate you letting me, and other readers, know about it. We have new teen book lists planned for the coming year!
HZ says
I would endorse the Cherub series; my son loved them and each of my teenage boy and girl students that I have recommended them to have devoured them as well.
Sheila Rogers says
I have not heard of that one HZ. I will have to take a look and see what it is about. Thanks for sharing!
Linda says
I am a teacher librarian at a large boys school. The Cherub series have been our most popular series consistently for the past 7 years. Boys absolutely LOVE these books.
Sheila Rogers says
Linda,
I worked in libraries for many, many years, including a middle school library. I will be sure to check out the Cherub series based on your recommendation. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and to leave a comment!
Sheila
Tiffany Curtin says
My 13-year-old son loves the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans. There’ve been 5 books released so far. I think perhaps 7 are planned. Very exciting books with some violence in them. Basically Michael Vey is a boy born in a hospital and placed in the nursery at the same time as when an experiment was conducted with a special MRI-type machine near it. An accident occurred and of the 20 babies that survived in the nursery, they all developed special “electrical” powers. As a now-teenager trying to lead a normal life, he learns that he’s not the only person in the world with these powers, and he’s not the only one who knows about them. I definitely recommend them: as a mother reading what her son reads, they kept me interested and entertained throughout.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks for sharing the series Tiffany! I appreciate you taking the time to help out others looking for good books for their sons. It sounds like an interesting series. I will be passing this on to a couple of boys I know 🙂
Kathy Stevenson says
I would like to mention the series by Michele Paver, called Wolf Brother. There are 6 books in this series that kept my boys reading and wanting more.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Kathy. I will check that one out. So happy you stopped by to share 🙂
A says
This is the first list of yours I have seen so forgive if you have it on other lists… Our families favorite read aloud will probably always be The Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. We went through all 8 books and then began reading them again. We start other books but keep coming back to Little Britches!
Sheila Rogers says
Hi A,
Thank you for visiting and for taking the time to comment. I do not believe we have The Little Britches on any of our lists. I will be sure to take a look at it. It sounds like a good one if you and your family are reading the series for a second time! I appreciate the suggestion and I’m sure others will as well.
Cat says
Little Britches is an amazing series. The audio books are very well done. We have really enjoyed listening to them on long road trips.
modflowers says
Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines Quartet is great for boys…
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks for the suggestion modflowers. I will take a look.
MaryAnn says
As a 16 year old girl with two teenage younger brothers, I’d say this is a good list. Some other series I would add are The Belgariad, The Mallorean, The Elenium, and The Tamuli, all by David Eddings. My brothers and I really enjoyed them. I would note, however, that The Mallorean takes place after The Belgariad and The Tamuli takes place after The Elenium. Also for younger teens, there is also the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Finally, there is the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams. Thank you for your suggestions!
Sheila Rogers says
Thank you for the suggestions MaryAnn. I will certainly take a look at them. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to leave a comment 🙂
Hayley says
My son loved the Zom B series by Darren Shan. Had a kid that hates reading gripped from start to finish!
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Hayley, I’ll have to check that one out. I appreciate you taking the time to share!
Hailey says
I’m a teenage girl, but I have read most of these and I think they’re great choices! I can’t wait to give them to my brother when he’s a little older.
Sheila Rogers says
Hi Hailey,
Thanks for visiting and taking a look at the list. I appreciate your feedback. These books are, of course, great for everyone and I am glad you like the choices. Your brother is lucky to have you to recommend books to him!
Best wishes,
Sheila
nehemiah says
where is harry potter ima thirteen year old boy and my name is nemo and i have read every harry potter book there is
Sheila Rogers says
Hey Nehemiah,
Thanks for stopping by. The Harry Potter series is actually in our book series list for 9 – 12 year olds. It is always hard to choose where to put the books, I can tell you that! The Harry Potter series in particular can go under so many age groups. Great to hear you have read them all.
Susanna says
I love many of the series on this list and the list for 9-12. Redwall, A wrinkle In Time, The Brotherband Chronicles and Ranger’s Apprentice, The Inheritance Cycle. I appreciate the lists. There are a couple of series that I am interested in checking out and hopefully collecting for my son. (He is only 5 now.) John Flanagan has written two prequel novels to the Ranger’s Apprentice series. (The Tournament at Gorlan and The Battle of Hackham Heath) If you haven’t read Roland Smith, I would highly recommend him! Especially his Cryptid Hunters series. Cryptid Hunters, Tentacles, Chupacabra, (Sasquatch *a companion novel that follows the timeline) and Mutation.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks so much for the comment. I will check out Roland Smith as we have not read any by him. Appreciate the tip!
Kamilla says
I’m a girl and I’m 13 years old. I love reading books like that.
I recently read a book serie called ‘Gone’ by Michael Grant and I think the books would fit perfectly on this list!
( Sorry if there is any spelling mistakes, but I’m not English)
Sheila Rogers says
Kamilla,
Thanks for the suggestion!
jLow says
This is a great list! I’m an avid reader but my 13 YO son is not so much. But when he finds something good, he is really excited. One of his most favorites to date is John Grisham’s Theo Boone series. Unfortunately, Mr. Grisham doesn’t crank them out fast enough!
Sheila Rogers says
Thank for mentioning that series. I’m aware of it and am going to be doing a follow-up article whenever I can find the time to fit it in!
I just love it when a child finds a good series and burns through them. 🙂
Jan Fetcho says
Ender’s Game has two sets of sequels. The first written are the books you list, Speaker for the Dead, Xenoncide, and Children of the Mind.
The second set look at the other children in Ender’s Game, starting with Bean in Ender’s Shadow. It is essential the same story, told from Bean’s prospective.It continues on for many more books than the series that follows Ender.
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks Jan! I’m sure this will be helpful to fellow readers.
Anne says
Love your lists, thank you. As a teacher, I’m reading my way through the Newberry Award winners and I discovered The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. I don’t usually enjoy fantasy or sci-fi, but I’m enjoying this series. I accidentally read them out of sequence, beginning with The Grey King, but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference in understanding the storyline. You can enjoy each book on its own.
Sheila Rogers says
Hi Anne,
I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying the lists! I did a list for Caldecott Metal winners but have not done the one for Newberry yet so thank you for mentioning it and your title choice.
JEss says
Have you seen the Alex Rider series? (Excellent, with a teen boy protagonist.)
Sheila Rogers says
I have heard of it as someone else mentioned it but we have not read the series. Thanks for bringing it up!
Mindy says
Any of the Brandon Mull Series. My son really learned to love reading with the Fablehaven series. He then went on to read Beyonders and the Five Kingdoms. I loved all of these as well!
Sheila Rogers says
Thanks much for the recommendation. It is always wonderful to hear about new series. Appreciate it!
Angie says
My 11year old just finished the Enemy series- 7 books. I believe Zombies were involved but it kept him asking for the next book immediately after finishing another.
Thanks for the suggestions!!
Sheila Rogers says
Yes Angie, I looked and there are zombies! Thanks for sharing, I know some boys who will love it. I really need to write another post with additional books. I appreciate you reading the list. I’m glad you like it 🙂