Books for Boys

Just a short post to recommend some of my favorite books to boys looking for something enjoyable to read this summer. I think that the books in this post are best read between 4th grade and somewhere around the end of Middle School.


#1- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
When I sat down to read this book I was immediately sucked in to the mystery. This book required my intellect to solve the different mysterious scenarios that the four main characters found themselves sucked into. I really don't want to give away the main plot-line. This is a must read! Also, I appreciated the fact that there were no hints of romance or awkward middle school topics that seem to be included in most children's literature. I don't always find those necessary, if you know what I mean. There are three books in this series by Trenton Lee Stewart. And I just checked the prequel out of the local library last week. So that means there are officially four. I will let you know how it is after I finish. I am very excited about that!

#2- The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

I discovered this wonderful piece of literature on my way through the Newbery list. It is about a Jewish boy in the time of the rule of the Roman Empire; and guess who steps onto the scene... That's right. A carpenter from Nazareth: Jesus. This boy has various encounters with Him throughout the book. I thought Elizabeth George Speare did a great job of writing this historical fiction novel. I pictured myself vying for a chance to see and listen to Christ preach in many scenarios retold in this story. 

#3- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

I recommend this book with great caution. This was my "read in a day" book last Thursday. While I greatly enjoyed the story-line following the friendship of Leslie and Jess, I found that this book taught Universalism. (SPOILER WARNING: Do not read the following remarks if you plan on reading the book and don't want it to be ruined for you.) In Chapter 8 entitled "Easter", Jess and his family attend church for Easter Sunday. It is quite clear that they are portrayed as the Christian family in this story. Leslie asks to join Jess, and she is allowed to come along. It is the stereotypical description of a loud, screaming, red-faced preacher whom Jess decides to ignore for the entire sermon. Afterwards when Leslie is questioning Jess, she asks him if he believes all of "that stuff about Jesus". Jess has no idea what she is talking about but says yes, and she decides to disagree with him. She says she would like to read the Bible, and she doesn't think that it is all true just because a preacher said so. Leslie is the Universalist. She is a free thinker and doesn't see how an all-loving God could send anyone to Hell. I don't appreciate how the Christian family is portrayed in this book. After Leslie tragically dies, Jess asks his father if she is in heaven. There was a part of him that was upset by the conversation he had with Leslie about God previously in the story. His dad tells him that God could never send anyone so sweet to Hell. 

While this poor portrayal of Christians bothers me a lot, I think this book presents many conversation starters to have with your child: 

1. What could this family do differently to follow Christ?  

2. How could Jess share the gospel with Leslie? 

3. Would an all-loving God send a sweet person such as Leslie to Hell? 

These are big questions, and I would use this book to get the ball rolling on answering some of them.