The Redwall series by Brian Jacques surely must make this list. I am a 5th grade teacher in Westchester Co., NY, and my boys (and girls) eat this stuff up.

Dan, South Salem, NY, USA

How about The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall? WW2 on the Home Front as experienced by wily and resourceful schoolboys, realistic, gritty, exciting yet with deep insight into human relationships. A classic.

ann varley, Corsham,

I grew up hating to read. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries especially for boys 8 - 13, who also may not like to read.

NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF, are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

My blog, Books for Boys, ranks in the top 5 on Yahoo and the top 20 on Google and you can find it at http://booksandboys.blogspot.com There you will also find links to my author's web site and another blog with 50 pages of reviews. Available on amazon UK.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you,

Max Elliot Anderson
Author

http://www.maxbooks.9k.com
Now, from an author who hated to read...comes books kids hate to put down.

Max Elliot Anderson, Rockford, IL

Where's Robert A. Heinlein? Where are his juveniles? Where are Red Planet, Tunnel in the Sky, Citizen of the Galaxy, Starman Jones, Farmer in the Sky, Podkayne of Mars, Glory Road, Between Planets...yes, I am female and an older one at that who also actively avoided romances to wallow in science fiction from about age 9. I have two sons, aged 12 and 15, and they grew up on Heinlein as well. How could any list of great books for boys that have adventure as well as admonitions to work hard, think for yourself, be bold and couragous be left off this list?

And did I miss Terry Pratchett's Discworld books? My 15 year old drives me crazy insisting on my buying him both Pratchett and Gaiman.

Susan Paciga, Salisbury, MD USA

No Sharpe or Flashman!

Too many lists as well for my liking!

Rob, Wavertee, England

Prisoner of Zenda. And Count of Monte Cristo. MUST READS.

ken, london,

The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas by John Boyne?

I laughed out loud when I saw Jeremy Clarkson - embarrasing...

Marc Rowland, Amersham, Bucks

Reprint the Eagle comic and Capt. W.E. Johns's Biggles. It's what got my generation reading.

Lewis, Ipswich, UK

'october sky 'is a brilliant book and also 'the double helix.'..both are stories of scientific adventure and what about Primo levi 'the periodic table.' Should teenage boys be dumbed down by only giving them lists of teenage fiction? what about inspiring autobiographies like mandela or travel books like Palin????

anna normandale, london, UK

I'd be curious to see a similar list for girls. I'm female, and half the list up there is or was on my shelves. Stuff like Pratchett, Eddings, Gaiman and so on will appeal to girls if people would kindly stop assuming we like boys and music and makeup. I spent most of my time in the school library actively avoiding romance books so I could finish the Steven King collection, and I'm sure there'd be plenty more like me.

Del, London,

No Enid Blyton! as a boy I grew up on those tales. For teenage boys authors such as Philip K. Dick, H.P. Lovecraft, David Geddings, Philip Jose Farmer: The Riverworld booksand World of Tiers, Julian May: The Saga of The Exiles, Stephen Donaldson: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, this last one made me go out and buy a dictionary.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

How 'bout "Diary of a Nobody" by Alan Grossmith? Pretty "inspiring" for a boy of 14+ i say!

Toby, Calcutta, India

I know, i just didn't read it through properly. The dark is rising sequence by Susan Cooper and The Snow Spider Trilogy by Jenny Nimmo.

Lauren, Aldershot,

Lauren, the Dark is Rising Sequence is by Susan Cooper.

Barbara, Otago, NZ

I'm a girl of 13, and I read A LOT of books most of the one on your list included. I think it's really good! Ali Sparkes' Shapeshifter series is utterly the best!!!!!!!!
(and alex rider, although you only have one of those books here, and power of five books, you only have one of those to, it would probably be a cleverer idea to put the first books of a series on the list not just the latest one in the series if your trying to get people into reading, you know?)

There are a lot more good books that I think would be really suitable on this list as well, and trust me the ones I would have in mind wouldn't be all girly. Like the Dark is Rising Sequence by Jenny Nimmo, now those are brilliant.
Anyway its a great idea!

Lauren, Aldershot,

I must say i think this list is quite good. I have only a couple of problems with it; many are sequels and in one case the fifth book in a series, Ender's Game was not included (I have given this book to 10 boys and about 6 adults and it was loved by them all), Jenny Nimmo was not included( nearly all of her books have a boy as their main character). Jenny Nimmo charlie bone series are excellent and ideal for 11 to 12 year olds, while her snow spider series is darker and very suitable for 13 to 15 year olds.
I believe the reason a lot of the classics are not included in this list is that most schools already possess these books and the boys who are not readers have chosen no to read them. Unfortunately nowadays children are used to constant excitment. So it is better to start them on exciting books.
By the way for those interested there are many James Bond-esque books in this list, ex. the cherub series, Alex Rider.

Aoife De Burca, Cork, Ireland

As a fan of Terry Pratchett, I would also recommend his books, but why pick A Hatful of Sky, which is not only aimed at younger readers but has a girl as the main character? I would recommend Guards! Guards! which has a man as the main character and is full of action and interest for boys. Soul Music also has male central characters, though there is a significant female role, and Mort is another good one. These two have teenagers as their central characters, too, so a point of identification for teenage boys.

Anne Penfold, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

You don't know me by David Klass is a marvellous book dealing with abuse with wit , humour and immense courage from the main character who is also the narrator.
Where are Leon Garfield, Joan Aiken and Alan Garner?Ursula le Guin is another conspicuous absence.

Claire Friedli, Oxford, UK

This needs the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane. They've been written over twenty years and the ninth is coming out soon.

So You Want to Be a Wizard
Deep Wizardry
High Wizardry
A Wizard Abroad
The Wizard's Dilemma
A Wizard Alone
Wizard's Holiday
Wizards at War
A Wizard of Mars (forthcoming)

Nick, White Bear Lake, USA/Minnesota

You might consider adding Ian Serraillier's The Silver Sword, 1956, a great hit with all the boys I have recommended it to. About a Polish family in the Second World War. It doesn't seem dated, even to boys with the most modern reading tastes.

Henry Treece is also excellent: both his Viking stories and his Roman Britain stories. The Queen's Brooch is a brilliant, sparely written account of the defeat of Boadicea.

Victoria Taylor, Violes, France

hi im 13 a girl and love horror and a lot of it.
I'm reading the last bit of the 1st trilogie in the darren shan book's tunnels of blood and i love it he is the best writer in the world.
I think that the artical saying the top 167 can - and for me will - if there horror - be good for girls to read.
im just girls might like some fo the books on hear.

Emma , Fetcham, England

As a boy who this is aimed at ,14, there are so many great books missing from the list.

lord of the rings
lord of the flies
anthony horowitz
terry pratchett
the great sci-fi writers, asimov, arthur c clarke etc.
to name just a few

Admittedly i am already an avid reader, but i have read 60% of these books and i shall make it a mission to track down the others. No list like this can ever be truly complete without running to thousands, but its a good start.
Also i agree with wat other people have said and theres no point including many of the sequels, even though they are better reads than the first in the series.

archie, Hastings, UK

im in year ten and love reading and you got a lot of my favourite books on that list by some brilliant authors. i think this is a great chance to get a lot of school libaries to apeal more to boys.

james, london, england

How can you leave "Tomorrow When the War Began" by John Marsden off the list. There is not a boy in my school who won't read this before they head off to work on the family farm. Dragon's may appeal to some boys but reading about a world that could be their own appeals more. I enjoyed the book at 39 and it has 'must read' sequels to keep the lad reading.

Mrs P Librarian, Southland, New Zealand

In my view, any list of young men's recreational reading, that omits the Horatio Hornblower series by C. S. Forester. is void of authority!

Garry B. Moreland, seattle, Wa. USA

Wow!!
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson at number 3 in books for boys? I only just managed to finished it and I'm 31!
One of my favourites as a teenager was William Golding's "Lord of the Flies", which I'm suprised isn't mentioned.. I am glad there are a few classics mentioned... Shelley, Twain e.t.c
Seems to be a pretty boy-typical list though... time travellers, monsters, football, spies, crime, fantasy, science and Jeremy Clarkson.....

Steve Castle, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan

There are far too many sequels on this list. They're in good series, but nobody, boy, girl, woman or man, is going to enjoy a book that comes in halfway through the plot. Choose the first book of a series, and you've not only given someone an enjoyable read but you've probably got them reading the rest of the series, but it's very careless to pick books that will throw readers into a maelstrom of characters they haven't been introduced to. I fear a lot of boys will pick up book three or four of an established series, and go 'Huh? Who are all these people? What's going on? Maybe reading does suck after all.'

This list is a fine idea, but choosing sequels is counterproductive, and will undermine it.

And why not have some more lad lit? Lots of teenage boys aspire to be the age that, say, Nick Hornby writes about. Why not use the it's-about-football hook on Fever PItch, for instance, to encourage boys to read books that are emotionally intelligent?

Kit Whitfield, London,

I've got to say, I'm a man that grew up reading, have acctually filled my room with books, and have only read a handfull of the above titles. I've been reading longer than I can remember, and found that when I was drifting away from books (12-13, as previously mentioned) books by Michael Crichton kept me interested. I am very surprised there are none of his on there, but Frankenstien is - thats not really a book to tempt boys to read, one of the most difficult books I've read, Dracula was more suited. I do like the idea though, its very important to get children reading, and if this works, its well worth it.

Phil, Teesside,

Ray Bradbury is certainly worth considering.

lesley basu, swindon, uk

Only one Terry Pratchett and that more of a book for girls (although a good read for grown ups too). Unbelievable! I started my son on Terry Pratchett's 'Eric' when he was 9 (my son, not Eric or Terry Pratchett) and he has since read all of them and, now that he is 25, continues to look forward to every new one published, as do I. What about The Nome Trilogy? Or, for older boys, the Watch books? 'Johnny and the Dead', 'Johnny and the Bomb'?. This list would have been better if it had just said, "(Almost) anything by Terry Pratchett".

A. Watson, Exeter,

Ho can the Guinness book of records be on the list of books to read? Interesting as it may be, it is as much a reading book as the dictionary is.

If this is a must read list then I have a lot of work to do, as so many of the books I have read are not on the list and so many on the list ar eones I have not read. Surely a better idea is a list of 10 or so "must reads" and 150 on a list of "interesting reads"? Or do I just misunderstand what the word "Must" means?

Matthew Miller, durham, England

I think Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and "Good Omens" (which he wrote with Terry Pratchett) should be on this list.

Kate, Ashburn, VA, USA

Surely a lot of the above commentators are missing the point? As I understand it the aim of the list is to grab boys' attention and kick-start their reading habit? Kipling, Asimov etc will appeal only to boys who are already attracted to books and it is our job as adults to turn them in that sort of direction when they are ready. I am a school librarian myself and I am very happy with the list. I use many of these books to lure boys into reading and then guide them on. Lord of the Flies is a school set text, like Louis Sachar's Holes and Mark Haddon's Curious Incident. They do not belong here. However Alan Gibbons is another author whose books work well with boys.

Margaret Stewart, Walton-on-Thames,

As some of the comments have said, this is probably just a publicity stunt to sell off excess stock. I don't recognise many of those books, which in itself is no problem, but 160 best books and no mention of Biggles, the Hardy Boys, Enid Blyton, Teddy Lester, William, Dickens, to mention just a few of the obvious ones? Come off it.

Errol, Johannesburg, South Africa

Coming up with a list like this is so subjective, but the first few books that come to my mind are not here:

Holes by Louis Sachar

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and the subsequent books (one of which is listed)

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Kris , kona, HI

Thanks for a great 'catalyst'! As a Librarian perhaps I should say 'cata(logue) list'! Of course we would all add (or delete) BUT it had to start somewhere! I am going to use this list as a starting point for my next fiction orders for my High School (Western Academy of Beijing) Library in the new academic year as this section of the scool is less than one year old. (T/Librarian WAB, High School)

Helena Trevor, Beijing, China

Why oh why have you not included Hunter S. Thompson's " Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas".. a masterwork from the original outlaw journalist and one of the best political writers of the century!!

Also.. i didnt notice catch 22 in the list either!! or anything by horror goddess anne rice!!?

for shame!!

benji, london,

A fine initiative, but the list seems to be paying lip-service to a perception of what "modern youth" wants, whilst ignoring proven classics. I'd echo the Call of the Wild, and going along with the historical theme, I'd also echo the call for Sharpe and Rosemary Sutcliffe - - on a similar vein to the latter, I'd add The Namesake and The Marsh King by C. Walter Hodges and Henry Treece's novels, especially The Viking Trilogy. Perhaps not fine literature, but good adventure - why not go for some Alistair Maclean (Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra etc. etc.). Oh, then there's Flashman, Clockwork Orange, Watership Down, the Larkins series by H. E. Bates.......so many books so little time.....

Ian, Chichester, UK

A terrific book because it involves real-life spy scenarios and lots of real spy gear but the protagonist is a boy, with adventures to challenge your average boy in real life, is "I, the Spy" by Allison Maher, a recent Canadian book

Nancy Ainsworth, East Falmouth, USA/Canada

Lord of the Flies?

Roland, Saint John, NB, Canada

It'll be interesting to see which 20 books get chosen. 20 books between 400 boys.....I suppose it's a start.

John Griffiths, Glossop, UK

Well done C Wright of Canterbury...well put. But Wot ? No James Bond, no Jack Kerouac...? Okay maybe those are for older boys, but despite having my nose in a book for what I consider a "normal" British upbringing in the 50's & 60's, I recognise from your list, very little indeed... Swallows and Amazons (the only reason I have a wooden sailing boat!)...Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill. If you want literature only, then forget anything by McNab or his mate Chris Ryan unless you want your sons to be well versed in 'slotting' someone...

HUBBLE, France,

How about H.E. Bates, Fair Stood the Wind for France or any of the Hornblower series? These books along with the likes of the Hardy Boys have stayed with me and brought me deeper into the enjoyment of reading with their tales of "dareing do".

Seán Harte, Dublin, Ireland

No Flashman?! Damn yer eyes.

S E, London,

Should be some Flashman in there as well. Maybe not the best role model for boys ever but a very enjoyable series and you learn some history as well. I agree that should also be some Asimov and Hardy Boys books in there as well.

Rick, London, UK

As a boy I devoured everything by Rosemary Sutcliffe - particularly "The Eagle of the Ninth". Not many adventure/history books in the list. It may not qualify as a book under your criteria but what about Tin Tin and Asterix? There's also the Three Investigators series of books, and the Hardy Boys.

Ian Yard-Smith, Mosman, Australia

I totally agree with many people here. This list is incomplete if Ender's Game is not on it.

Kn Timmermans, Abbotsford, Canada

I'll take this opportunity to promote what was for me the greatest book of my childhood, The Devil On The Road, by Robert Westall.

It was simply amazing and I read it 17 times on the trot! Unfortunately you don't see it anywhere nowadays. I'm not sure if it's even in print.

Also, I may have missed it, but what about The Dark Is Rising Sequence, by Susan Cooper?

Mark Denton, Belper, Derbyshire

I wouldn't WANT my son to read a lot of the books about Demons and blood etc. Just my opinion.

Jen, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Did anyone else notice that Christopher Paolini's "Eldest" is on the list, but "Eragon", to which "Eldest" is the sequel, is not? So read the second book in the series, but you can skip the first?

David, New Jersey,

I agree about Ender's Game and Heinlein's books; I'd also like to see Rosemary Suttcliffe's books on here. And no Harry Potter. . .?

It is nice to see David Eddings on here, though.

Michael, Pueblo, CO. USA

Forever War?
Robert Jordan?
Dan Abnett?

Most of the above is utter rubish. No wonder bys don't like reading if thats the stuff they're forced to read...

Andrew, St.Albans, Great Britain

There are some wonderul choices here. However I am not sure what criteria has been used to identify the different books. Tim Bowler has written a series books which have been very highly regarded - River Boy was awarded the Carnegie Medal! He writes about challenging themes, but they are also very good and accessible stories. He has visited my school and I can confirm a very positive response from students both male and female. I know his books are used a great deal in other schools. A real surprise that one has not been included.

L Cunningham, Bath, England

Coraline, but no Neverwhere or Stardust from Neil Gaiman?!
Hobbit, but no Lord of the Rings from Tolkien?!
No Ayn Rand at all?!?
Some list...

Cynicus Prime, Houston, TX, USA

Did I miss it, or was there no Arthur C. Clarke? AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT shoud be on here along with Jack London's CALL OF THE WILD and WHITE FANG.

biosparite, Houston, Texas USA

Yes, read all you can. But too many recent books and not enough classics. How about:
Brendan Chase by B.B ( boys run away and live in woods)
England, their England A.G.McDonell
All of Hammond Innes and Nevil Shute
and, when they enjoy reading enough to be willing to work at it.... Puck of Pooks hill

Charts, Shropshire , G.B.

I haven't read all of these, but with a few exception (Tolkein, Stevenson, Twain, Adams), it seems to be an interesting combination of mostly 2nd rate fantasy and sci-fi with rather ridiculous "books" (Guiness Book of World Records?) However, I would have found many of them enjoyable at that age as well.
I do agree, however, that leaving Ender's Game and Starship Troopers off the list is an oversight, particularly as those two are both good literature and exceptionally enjoyable.

Alex, Chicago, USA

I recommend "Under the Wire" by William Ash, the autobiography of a Spitfire pilot who was shot down, captured by the Gestapo, and spent much of the war in a POW camp, trying again and again to escape, eventually succeeding. I am a school librarian and my 14-yr old son devoured it. My son, like many boys, is interested in military history and will read both fiction and non-fiction which fits his interest (the Sharpe novels went down well). Boys at this age are looking for role models and teachers should not underestimate the power of a good autobiography to inspire. Many boys who are not interested in fiction will become readers if they are turned on by reading the inspiring experiences of men they can look up to. Boys of this age are internally trying to sort out, in their own minds, where they belong in the world, what they believe is of value, and how to react. The right kind of book can act as a lighthouse and make a big impact at a crucial time in their lives.

C. Wright, Canterbury, Kent, UK

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Lord of the Flies
Harry Potter - unless everyone has read it
I am the Messenger - Zusak
Conan - the stuff written by Robert E. Howard alone
Dune

A Connell, Zurich,

That is the most bizarre list I have ever seen in my life. Eldest? (a book that mashups StarWars with all the bas sci fi ever written, a reads like it was written exactly like a 12 year old); books taken from the middle of series..., a calvin and hobbes book? (great cartoon, but still...). Almost all of Eoin Colfer (good author, but really, there are other great YA male authors out there).

i think they choose this list from what publishers had in overstock!

Sammy , binghamton, USA ,

Oh what the heck. I'm a girl and I own two-thirds of this list in my personal collection.

Katie, Staffs, UK

A second vote for Ender's Game.

John Schroeder, Everett, wa

Great to see Philip Caveney's "Sebastian Darke" getting the recognition it deserves! But just to set the record straight, my girls love it too. A classic in the making! :-)

Mark, Manchester,

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is missing from this list.

Dan, Toledo/Ohio,

Did Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke live in vain?

How about Tunnel in the Sky?
I, Robot?
The Martian Chronicles?
Nightfall?
Starship Troopers?

Ron Clark, Lakeland, Florida, USA

Any list that doesn't include Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card in a list of top books for boys doesn't know its backside from a hole in the ground.

Paul, Santa Monica, CA, USA

Please could you email me details of how my school can recieve their 20 free books

Miss C Woodcraft, Widnes, England

a fantastic idea! I am a retired English teacher, and I've know readers so keen until 12/13 and then all things electronic kick in. My rule in the job was that everyone had to have a book ( reading matter, but no comics /magazines)with them at all times, myself included. It worked. Now I'm keeping tabs on my grandsons, enjoying books with them.

sue daly, Taunton, uk

Where on earth is The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks?
Admittedly an adult novel but a story which will truly haunt the suggestive minds of any teenage boy.
Utterly compelling.

Arjun Chelley, Leicester,

where's Brendon Chase ? and many other of BB's books

Pat Richards, London,

How can you call this a list of the top books for boys if you have not included the works of Tim Bowler - notably Starseeker, Apocalypse, Frozen Fire or Stormcatchers - or David Almond - Skellig, Kit's Wilderness, Heaven Eyes, Clay - or Lian Hearn - Across the Nightingale Floor etc? Boys love these books: they are not only utterly gripping and compelling stories but thought provoking and superbly written too.

Peter Nixon, Sevenoaks, UK

It's nice to see Coraline on the list, but Thief of Always by Clive Barker precedes it by many years. Give Barker his due, the list already has more than one excellent work by Gaiman there.

AG, Manila, Philippines

Pleased to see the wonderful Calvin & Hobbes in there, and delighted that Terry Pratchett gets a mention, but why specifically A Hat Full of Sky? Why not Men at Arms, Guards, Guards or Reaper Man? Why not Ann Holm's excellent I Am David? And why nothing by Ian McEwen? All of these have kept my two (very active) boys happily page-turning!

Gill , Southampton, UK

Why are there so many books around evil? Over 3 with Devil in the title, 5 with Blood, trolls, beasts, vampires. Is this what teenage boys really want? There are so many incredible books, many mentioned in these comments - why dwell in darkness? Mystery, adventure, thriller - they can tingle the spine without blackening the heart.

JP, Edinburgh,

Add "Devil On The Road" by Robert Westall, and any of the Asimov stories.

Sumocat, London, UK

Are these really the best or just from publishers that the Government could get discount for bulk orders.

In my experience any book with blood, guts, skullduggery, intrigue and that is short attracts boys to reading - that is why I always keep a supply of Black Library titles for lads to read.

Huw Evans, Catterick,

Nice to see some Neil Gaiman in there, though I would have suggested hi collaboration with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens.

While Bill Bryson's A Short History Of Nearly Everything is educational, I found it a harder read than his travel books. I would suggest A Walk In The Woods as being a nicer choice.

John Edwards, Llandudno,

Orwell,Dahl,Dumas should be on the list..

Ciaran Caughey, Dundrum, Co.Down.

What about "To Kill a Mockingbird", Harper Lee, "Kane and Abel", Jeffrey Archer and "The Silver Sword" Ian Serraillier?

Paul, Grand Cayman,

Nothing by David Gemmell and where was Stig of the Dump?

Kath, Nottingham,

Sad to see that only british or american writers are included in the list. Extremely "little england". I am afraid that whoever worked on the list is not fit to recommend anything to anyone.

Sebastian Lincke, London,

Where's EVERYTHING by Bernard Cornwell? (As read and re-read by both my son and me.)

Pen, London,

I would add Biggles, Sherlock Holmes, My Family and Other Animals, A Yankee at King Arthur's Court, the Phantom Tolbooth, War of the Worlds, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
White Fang should definitely be on there.
I think the list needs to be better organized regarding genres and reading ages.

Jonathan Lowenstein, Tel-Aviv, Israel

For 11-12 year old boys I highly recommend the "Gregor the Overlander" series by Suzanne Collins and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (starting with "Lightning Thief") by Rick Riordan.

T.C., San Diego,

I reckon chris ryans "the one that got away" should be on there. if people are worried about violent teenagers this one should cut that right down (when you find out what war is realy like it kind of takes the fun out of it)

andrew wride, southampton,

What, nothing by Jack London? No "Call of the Wild" or "White Fang?"
Has to be nonsense then.

Herkimer Schlukewater, Houston, Texas

This list and the government's donation of 20 books to every secondary school are great news but how many will actually reach the intended targets without someone to promote them? I am a secondary school librarian and already have many of these books in stock but they would never be borrowed if I hadn't personally recommended them to individuals based on my own knowledge of them. Whilst I applaud the sentiments behind the list and do not deny that there are many great books on it, lists in themselves are useless without someone to say, "Try this, it's a brilliant read," or "I've just finished this and I know you'd really enjoy it!".

We have so many brilliant authors of teenage books whose books deserve to be read more widely and the benefits of reading to boys from all social backgrounds cannot be denied but I feel this initiative is a short term fix without investment in the statutory provision of libraries and professional librarians in every school.

Helen Farrar, Cockermouth, UK

Umm, maybe I just grew up in a different era, but everybody I knew read Stephen King. I, personally, never liked his writing, but I would think that many of his books would have a prominent place on a list like this.

Damian, Brooklyn, NY

What happened to Shadowmancer - Wormwood and Tersias by GP Taylor heralded as the new CS Lewis?

Peter Barnes, London, London

No Flashman, no James Bond? What's going on...

Hop, London,

Great list, not afraid to be really diverse and up to date. I've read quite a few of these and it's great to see classics like Mark Twain up there with brand new works like The Inventors. If this doesn't get boys reading then there's no hope for them!

Cassie White, North Walsham,

I can say I have read 10 on this list and I plan to read 3 of the others (Clash of the Sky Gallions, Minotaurs Mines and Lady Friday) though I have to admit that there are quite a good selection of books, some which I have wanted too read before. But saying this is a list for boys I suprised (unless I missed it ) that I couldn't find the Dangerous book for boys.

Zoe, Sheffield, England

In response to a previous comment, the actual list (as produced by the SLA) is divided up quite well into categories, which makes it much easier to browse. It also marks which books are suitable for reluctant readers, as well as a few other features which make it more useful than just a plain old list.

You can access the original list through the SLA website.

Personally, I can't complain about the list at all - but that's because I'm on it. (See number 124, above.)

Joe Craig, London,

Where is ENDER'S GAME, by Orson Scott Card?

Sara Burnham, New York, NY

If Alan Johnson is serious about boys reading more books then he should abolish SATs testing and scrap National Literacy Strategy 'three part lessons' format. Give English teachers the freedom to teach whole texts again. When I first started teaching in an all boys school 20 years ago the students loved reading the whole thing. Nowadays, they have to make do with a six paragraph extract and then its time to move on to the next one.
With the current GCSE Specifications in literature, it is possible to gain a grade A in literature without ever having read an entire novel or playscript.
I called it a day on English sducation last year when I quit to teach out here in Asia. Here, we are free to study the whole text and the kids cant get enough and I am enjoying my job once more.

Paul, English Teacher in exile, Brunei.

Paul Westwood, Bandar Seri Bagawan, Brunei Darussalam

What! No Biggles, nor Flashman books! Shame

John, London,

What a vast list. Books for boys? Yes, I suppose so - even if only because so many books are listed. But a list that is helpful in finding books for particular boys? I don't think so. How about fiction and non-fiction? Ages? Books that are specifically for reluctant readers? Without some definition the list confuses more than it illuminates...

Leonie, London,

I was amazed and delighted to find Calvin and Hobbes on your list. I didn't think they were that well known over here. We discovered them in India. Never mind them being great for boys, the whole the family can really identify with this pair and the long suffering parents. Fantastic.

Interesting list, of course you can never please everyone and I take it that the list is in just a random order and not best to worse.

I agree with Amanda Craig from the Times that it is a huge pity that Cressida Cowell was overlooked, the Hiccup books are some of the best reads around at that moment. Also, I don't understand why they have recommended books which come towards the end of a series ie Eoin Colfer's "The Lost Colony" instead of highligting the whole series.

Mrs Jill Wilson, Blackmore, England

As a Librarian of an all boys state boarding school I welcome any initiative to help stuimulate teenage boy's reading but why is it that English departments are so strectched with the curriculum they have to follow that there is no time for reading for pleasure?

Pam Jamieson, Bridgwater, UK

I am the ibrarian in a boys' secondary school and am pleased to see that this list of 160 books includes a lot of books that I have recommended to students to read. I run a Reading Club along with a member of the English department and this is extremely popular.

With regards to the 20 free books for all secondary schools, this is great as no doubt like most school libraries, we are always short of funds.

Lesley Petersen, Birmingham, West Midlands

the Jimmy Coates books are the best!!!

Ben King, London,

All the Anthony Horowitz Alex Rider books!!!

jane joseph, london,

A Whisper of Wings - Paul Kidd

S M, North Tonawanda, NY

The Thirty NIne Steps by John Buchan

Andrew Lownie, London,