Gift Ideas for Boys (Aged 9-12)

giftkidsmiddlefic

Boys aged nine to twelve are a notoriously tricky bunch to buy for. Many bemoan the fact that they’re just not big readers, but anyone who’s seen the enthusiasm with which fans will pick up their favourite books can’t deny that the desire is there, it just needs to find the right book. These six books are all proven favourites of male middle readers, so if you’re buying for a picky reader, you can’t go wrong with these.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley can be more than a little self-centred at times, but that’s what makes this brilliant series so funny. In the newly-released sixth book, Greg gets snowed in with his family – a fate worse than death. These comic-illustrated books are absolutely hilarious and will turn any reluctant reader into a true believer.

The Alchemyst
Michael Scott

Twins Sophie and Josh discover that magic is real after a man named Dr John Dee tries to destroy their boss and friend Nicholas Flamel. But that’s not all – as Dee’s plot unfolds, they learn that the fate of the world rests on awakening their magical powers. This series is starting to gain in popularity in Australia, owing to its exciting action scenes and brilliant world-building.

The 13-Storey Treehouse
Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

If you don’t know who Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton are, ask any nine-year-old and they’ll tell you. This Australian duo are the superstars of middle fiction comedy, so if you’re looking for something to get the boy you’re buying for, you can’t go past Griffiths and Denton. One of their latest is The 13-Storey Treehouse, which counts a bowling alley and a shark tank as some of its upgrades.

Read our review

Wonderstruck
Brian Selznick

Some of you may recognise Selznick as the author of the brilliant The Invention of Hugo Cabret which has been adapted into a film by Martin Scorsese. He’s written another illustrated novel in the same vein as Hugo, this time telling the stories of Ben and Rose, set fifty years apart. The beautiful illustrations really need to be seen to be believed, and will captivate any reader.

The Lost Hero
Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is the author of the hugely popular Percy Jackson series, a tale of a boy who discovers that the Greek gods are real, and that he’s related to them. The Lost Hero is a new series set in the same world as Percy Jackson, but following three new characters: Jason, Piper and Leo. These exciting adventure quests are huge hits with boys nine and up, and really pack in the action.

Darth Paper Strikes Back
Tom Angleberger

It sounds like a bizarre concept at first – the collected pleas of a class of kids trying to save their friend who could be expelled for dispensing wisdom from an origami Yoda on his finger. But this follow-up to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is simply brilliant. The hilarious story which is illustrated throughout with small, comic-style drawings is one of the best I’ve ever read, and will appeal to even those readers who aren’t Star Wars fans.

Read our review

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holly-pic Holly Harper is a children’s bookseller at Readings Carlton. She also writes books for younger readers under the name H.J. Harper. Find out more about her books here and follow her on twitter - @hj_harper.