Keeper by Mal Peet Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a sweet romance with a male protagonist. Blankets : an illustrated novel / by Craig Thompson. The perks of being a wallflower / Stephen Chbosky is another good one. Guys write for Guys Read / edited by Jon Scieszka. Nothing but the truth : a documentary novel / by Avi. The bronze bow / Elizabeth George Speare. A novel that takes place in the time of Christ; so beautifully written, I cried.
Donna Jo Napoli has stories based on familiar folk and fairy tales--Spinners is my favorite, based on Rumplestiltskin! Crazy Jack (Jack and the Beanstalk) and Beast (Beauty and the Beast) have male protagonists.
Tangerine by Edward Bloor Whale talk by Chris Crutcher
SUMMERLAND by Michael Chabon THE THIEF LORD and Cornelia Funke's other books are exciting and not violent THE CONCH BEARER by Divakaruni MacHale's PENDRAGON series Riordan's PERCY JACKSON series
He may find more ideas on my website. http://www.bookwink.com
Have you thought about the Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix? There might be some violence later on in the series. However, in the first one the main character's friend does die, but I don't remember it being described vividly at all. I am very sensitive to violence myself, and I loved the book.
The Thief Lord by Funke? That’s the only nonviolent boy book that I can think of offhand.
I am assuming that the violence he wants to avoid is all the kind of gritty real world stuff in so many YA books? I personally have a 15 year old son who is similar in not liking violence so I am basing some of these suggestions on books he loved (s) How about: Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli The Gospel According to Larry and it sequel whose name escapes me by Janet Tashjian The Dragonsinger books by Ann McCaffrey Hoot by Carl Hiiason The Stravaganza books by Mary Hoffman Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Room One and Frindle--Clements The Cay—Taylor
What about Diana Wynne Jones books like "Homeward Bounder", and the Chrestomanci series? Earthsea trilogy, Eragon has some violence but might work.
I have just finished The New Policeman by Kate Thompson and found it very good. It's based in Ireland, where time is mysteriously leaking from the human world to the fairy world. Well, I never have enough, so it has to be going somewhere. (Another one with a time theme, not necessarily for him though he might like it, is Tanglewreck by Janette Winterson.)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is another possibility. Has he tried any of Kenneth Oppel. It's a fantasy in which humans fly, but the airplane has never been invented. The boy (hero) is the cabin boy on the airship and sees the life & death battles. Is that too violent? or is that adventure?
"Love, football, and other contact sports" by Alden R. Carter. A series of short stories that follow sports kids in high school. Reads like a novel but really sweet.
Also, in the sports theme, "Eagle Blue: A team, a tribe and a basketball season in Arctic Alaska" by Michael D'Orso. Just finished it and it's an amazing, true story.
Also, "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang, the Printz Award winner this year, might be a good way to introduce a good story with the graphic novel.
Try Babcock, A single shard, Dogsong
Your patron might like the Blue Avenger books by Norma Howe--they have a boy protagonist and are pretty funny.
Also, the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffmann.
I would recommend titles by Gordon Korman too--Son of the Mob in particular is funny.
Here are some books I've taken booktalking at the high schools for that age. As far as I can remember, there's no violence in these ones:
The Wizard Texst - Hilari Bell 24 Girls in 7 Days - Alex Bradley Al Capone Does My Shirts - Gennifer Choldenko The Teacher's Funeral - Richard Peck So Yesturday - Scott Westerfeld Surviving the Applewhites - Stephanie S. Tolan Fat Kid Rules the World - K. L. Going Son of the Mob - Gordan Korman Dunk - David Lubar How Angel Peterson Got His Name - Gary Paulson Not as Crazy as I Seem - George Harrar Stoner & Spaz - Jon Koertge
I recommend Selig by David Almond. It has fantasy but no violence. There is a lead male character who has a friend who's a girl. The male character is very mild himself.
Here are a few possible titles:
The Egypt Game by Zilpha K. Snyder The Egyptian Box by Jane L. Curry The long-lost Map by pierdomenico Baccalario Casting the Gods Adrift: a tale of ancient Egypt by Geraldine McCaughrean Maia of Thebes by Ann W. Turner A Place in the Sun by Jill Rubalcaba The Mystery of the Pharaohs Treasure by Janet Neavles (an older title)
ORIGINAL POST: I'm seeking recommendations for a 14-year-old boy who would like to read books with little or no violence. He also isn't crazy about stories in which a single character gets ganged up on.
These are a few of the titles that he has read & liked-- Samurai Shortstop, Endymion Spring, Larklight, The Divide, Things Not Seen.