Barbara Braxton is an award winnng teacher librarian from Cooma, who has spent her time in schools in the ACT where she developed a primary school library that Jackie French once described as “the best I’ve ever seen”. In 2003, Barbara was awarded the Dromkeen National Librarian’s Award for her contribution to children’s literature for her online activities, particularly running book raps, Read Around Australia, and the Young Australian Readers’ Award. Barbara is also the author of professional articles and teachers’ books including the All you need to teach information literacy series published by Macmillan Education. Although ‘retired’, Barbara is currently undertaking her third masters degree through Charles Sturt University . As part of her research for an assignment, she asked the members of OZTL_NET for their suggestions for titles that would appeal to young teenage boys struggling with their reading.  The following list of authors and titles is a collation of what was received, that Barbara has very kindly agreed to share with us. 

Bauer, Michael Gerard

Brooks, Terry – Shannara series, Magic Kingdom of Landover series

Child, Lee – Jack Reacher series (although I would have thought these were
for an older audience)

Coates, Jimmy

Colfer, Eion – Artemis Fowl series and other titles

Collins, Suzanne – Hunger Games series

Collins, Tim  – Diary of a Wimpy Vampire

Cowell, Cressida

Dashner, James – Jimmy Finchner saga

Delaney, Joseph – Last Apprentice

Eddings, David – The Belgariad

Ellis, Deborah – I am a Taxi, Sacred Leaf

Flanagan, John – Rangers Apprentice

Grant, Michael – Gone series

Griffiths, Andy – Just series

Grylls, Bear

Gwynne, Phillip – Swerve

Heath, Jack

Higson, Charlie

Hirsch, Odo

Hobb, Robin – Farseers

Horowitz, Alex

Kinney, Jeff – Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Landy, Derek – Skullduggery Pleasant

Lord, Gabrielle – 365 Conspiracy series

MacHale, D. J. – Pendragon series

Maloney, James – Book of Lies

Marsden. John – Tomorrow series

McNab, Andy

Measday, Stephen – Send Simon Savage

Metzenthen, David – Jarvis 24

Morphew, Chris – The Phoenix Files

Mowll, Joshua – The Guild of Specialists trilogy, esp in hardback

Mutchamore, Robert

Myers, Bill – Wally McDoogle

Nix, Garth – Mister Monday series, Keys to the Kingdom

Paolini , Chris- Inheritance Series

Patterson, James – Maximum Ride series

Reilly, Matthew

Riordan, Rick

Rodda, Emily – Deltora Quest

Ryan, Chris – Alpha Force

Sage, Ange – Septimus Heap

Scott, Michael – The Secret of Nicholas Flamel

Shan, Darren – Cirque du Freak, Demontia

Van der Ruit, John  – Spud, The  Madness Continues

Wilkinson, Carole – Dragonkeeper series

Wright, Joshua

Death Note and Naruto graphic novels; X-men; Maus I & II, Asterix

Series – Beast Quest, Zac Power, Midnighters (Westerfield), Specky Magee,
Panckridge sports novels, Goosebumps, Barrington Stoke; Quentaris
Chronicles; Adventures of Sherlock Homes;

Ripley’s Believe it or Not; Guinness Book of Records, Top Gear;

Agatha Christie

Bone

www.rhozbookraves.blogspot.com

comics (esp Marvel) & magazines

More accomplished readers head for:

Raymond E. Feist – all but particularly the later series ‘Conclave of
shadows’

Robert Jordan (‘Wheel of Time’ series)

Stephen Lawhead (Pendragon series, etc.)

Margaret Weis/Tracy Hickman
(‘Dragonlance’ and other series)

George R. Martin (Ice and Fire series)

Bernard Cornwell (‘Sharp’ series, Saxon series, Arthur, etc.)

Jack Whyte
(Saxon chronicles, etc.)

A favourite excuse of students who are reluctant readers is “there’s nothing in this library to read!”. I know our library staff will be using this list to display fantastic books for boys in an effort to encourage them to use the library and read some of the great books we have. Thanks Barbara and contributors.