25 Books For Boys Who Don’t Like Sports

I’m not sure why reading is sometimes perceived as a “girly” pastime, but I wanted to write this blog post because I have seen an unfortunate trend that “books for boys” lists online are often just a list of books about boys who play sports. 

The problem is, there are many, many boys who do not enjoy sports and do not want to read about sports. And that’s ok! Fortunately, there are so many books out there that present a variety of “boys,” and I’ve listed some of my favorites here. These titles are all highly engaging, and I recommend them to middle schoolers with success, often. I’ve listed these titles from least mature to most mature. Click on any title to read more information on the book. 

(Also, it goes without saying, but I will just in case. Anyone in your classroom can enjoy these titles)

• The Wild Robot ~ Peter Brown

• Eleven ~ Tom Rogers

• Crush ~ Svetlana Chmakova

• New Kid ~ Jerry Craft

• Theodore Boone: The Accused ~ John Grisham

• The Honest Truth ~ Dan Gemeinhart

• Clean Getaway ~ Nic Stone

• Ghost Boys ~ Jewell Parker Rhodes

• Restart ~ Gordon Korman

• No Fixed Address ~ Susin Nielsen

• Refugee ~ Alan Gratz

• Closer to Nowhere ~ Ellen Hopkins

• Bruiser ~ Neal Shusterman

• Miles Morales Spider Man ~ Jason Reynolds

• House Arrest ~ K.A. Holt

• Knockout ~ K.A. Holt

• Boy Meets Boy ~ David Levithan

• Tight ~ Torrey Maldonado

• Golden Boy ~ Tara Sullivan

• Dear Martin ~ Nic Stone

• Long Way Down ~ Jason Reynolds

• All American Boys ~ Jason Reynolds

• Hey, Kiddo ~ Jarrett J. Krosoczka

• Patron Saints of Nothing ~ Randy Ribay

• Tyrell ~ Coe Booth

Grab book talk guides for these titles HERE!

And HERE!

Happy Recommending!

♥ Kara & Riley 

P.S. Book talking is the #1 way I turn my classes of reluctant readers into avid book-lovers. Book talk guides are my way of hitting home runs every time I book talk or recommend titles to kids. But if you’re like, what the heck is a book talk!? Read this!