25 Books for 9 Year Old Boys to Get Excited About
Published:
April 6, 2025
Contributor:
Sarah Shelton
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Finding the right book can make all the difference in helping your child develop a love of reading. If you’re looking for books for 9 year old boys, you are going to want to choose stories with relatable characters, exciting adventures and lots of humor!
Books for 9 Year Old Boys
Sometimes, finding books for your children to read can be quite the task! That’s why I love creating book lists for different ages and grades. It just makes it so much easier to find things to pick and choose from.
Whether your son is a reluctant reader or already enjoys reading chapter books, finding the right story can turn reading into something he looks forward to. With so many good books to choose from, you’re sure to find a book series or standalone novel that will keep your 9-year-old boys excited about reading.
This list of books is packed with stories that will capture his imagination. From action-packed adventures, graphic novels and comedies, these book recommendations include some of the best books for your young readers.
Timeless Classics
I love introducing my kids to classics that I read when I was their age. Here are a few timeless classics you may have grown up loving and reading when you were 9 years old. If they love these titles, make sure to check out their sequels!
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
This classic story follows young Charlie Bucket as he embarks on a magical tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It is full of unique characters and surprises for young readers.
2. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
This classic action-packed adventure story follows Sam Gribley, a boy who runs away to live in the wilderness with a peregrine falcon and other animals as his companions.
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum
A Kansas farm girl named Dorothy and her little dog Toto get swept up in a cyclone and dropped into a fantasy world. Oz is filled with flying monkeys, talking scarecrows, and powerful wizards!
Comedy and Humor Books for 9 year old Boys
Boys love comedy and a little bit of potty humor. It’s silly, but it really does keep them interested! If your guys are reluctant to read, just give them any of these hilarious books and they will be hooked!
4. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
This comic book-style series is filled with doodles, jokes, and hilarious escapades of Tom Gates as he navigates school, family, and fun. There are more than 25 books in the series.
5. Captain Underpants Book Series Collection by Dav Pilkey
Packed with laughs, pranks, and plenty of action, this series follows two mischievous kids and their hypnotized principal turned superhero. This 12 book series is a great way to get young readers hooked on reading.
6. Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown
When Stanley gets flattened by a bulletin board, he discovers he can slide under doors and even be mailed in an envelope! This is a fun and easy read. There are over 20 books in the Flat Stanley series.
7. Frindle by Andrew Clements
Nick Allen turns a simple idea of renaming a pen as a “frindle” into a nationwide sensation. It is a fun and thought-provoking read for 9-year-old boys who enjoy stories about creativity and clever ideas.
8. Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Follow Henry and his stray dog, Ribsy, as they get into all sorts of mischief. This heartwarming story is full of humor, friendship, and relatable adventures that make it one of the great books for boys.
Graphic Novel Series
Graphic Novels are a great choice for reluctant readers. The illustrations and comic book style keeps children engaged. They will get so excited to find out what happens next in the story, they will forget that they are actually reading a book. Here are a few good books for 9 year old boys:
9. Mouse Guard by David Peterson
This beautifully illustrated graphic novel series follows brave mice on a secret mission to protect their land. There are 7 books in the series.
10. Dog Man The Super Epic Collection by Dav Pilkey
From the creator of Captain Underpants, this fun series follows a half-dog, half-human crime-fighter in his hilarious and heroic escapades. There are 9 books in this series.
11. Star Wars Jedi Academy Series by Jeffrey Brown
Set in a fantasy world inspired by Star Wars, this 7 book series follows a boy learning to become a Jedi. With humor, adventure, and fun illustrations, it’s a great pick for 9-year-old boys who love sci-fi.
12. Bird & Squirrel Series by James Burks
This comic book adventure has 7 volumes that follows a cautious bird and a carefree squirrel as they embark on wild journeys. The funny dialogue and action make it one of the best books for kids who love humor.
13. Bone Graphic Novel by Jeff Smith
This great book series blends adventure, humor, and fantasy as three lost cousins are forced out of their home into a strange land. In this mysterious valley they encounter forces and creatures they could never have imagined.
14. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley’s middle school struggles and funny mishaps are captured in this wildly popular comic book-style series. It’s one of the best books for boys who love comedy. There are 19 books in the series.
Fantasy Books for 9 year old Boys
If your boys love fantasy, adventure or science fiction they are going to love these books. My adult son personally read all of these when he was younger, and he still collects the Origami Yoda Series as new books come out!
15. The Origami Yoda Series by Tom Angleberger
This first book in the series is The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, where an ordinary kid’s paper Yoda puppet starts giving wise advice. It’s a quirky and fun read for Star Wars fans of all ages. There are 8 books in the series so far.
16. The BFG by Road Dahl
This story follows a young girl who befriends a kind-hearted giant on a mission to stop the evil giants. It’s a magical and exciting fantasy adventure story.
17. Guardians of Ga’hoole Series by Kathryn Lasky
This series follows a young owl who is captured and taken to a mysterious academy with a dark secret. As he and his friends escape and search for the legendary Guardians, they embark on a secret mission to protect their world from evil. Perfect for young readers who love epic animal adventures.
18. How to Train Your Dragon Series by Cressida Cowell
This series follows Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, on daring adventures. It’s packed with humor, heart, and excitement. The movies are closely based on these books. There are 12 books in the series.
19. Geronimo Stilton by Scholastic Inc.
These fun and easy-to-read chapter books follow a timid mouse journalist on thrilling adventures all over the world. The colorful text and illustrations make it a favorite for young boys.
Adventure Books for 9 year old Boys
Action adventure, mystery and fantasy intertwine with these adventure books that will delight your boys and get them excited for more!
20. The Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne
This good book series follows two siblings on time-traveling adventures using their magical treehouse. The mix of history, fantasy, and fun makes it a great choice for curious kids.
21. The Wild Robot Trilogy by Peter Brown
This action-packed adventure trilogy follows Roz, a robot stranded in the wilderness, as she learns to survive and make friends with wild animals. The books in the trilogy are: The Wild Robot, The Wild Robot Escapes, and The Wild Robot Protects.
22. Holes by Louis Sachar
This classic story follows Stanley Yelnats, a boy sent to a desert camp where he must dig holes as part of a mysterious punishment. With humor, mystery, and survival elements, it’s a great book for adventure lovers.
Animals Books for 9 year old Boys
If your kids love animals, they will have a lot of fun with these book titles. All of my children (boys and girls) loved these books. They especially love it when the animals talk.
23. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
A young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of excitement when a boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check in to the Mountain View Inn. Ralph the mouse discovers he can ride a toy motorcycle, leading to a day full of adventure for the both of them.
24. The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
A cricket, a cat, and a mouse form an unlikely friendship in this classic story. It’s a gentle and charming tale perfect for young readers. This was one of my favorite books growing up!
25. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
When Mr. Popper receives a penguin as a gift, his house soon turns into a snowy playground! This hilarious escapade is a fun and timeless read for 9 year olds.
Free Reading Tracker for this Boys Book List
FREE Reading Tracker | Books for 9 year old Boys
We know it can be hard to remember such a great list of 9 year old boys so we’ve created a FREE book tracker for you. In addition to the titles we’ve also included a place to record the date read, a quick comment space as well as the option to give each book a 1-5 heart rating.
Be sure to keep a copy with your records at the end of the school year.
Final Thoughts
Finding engaging books for 9 year old boys can be the difference between between reading battles or an enjoyable part of your homeschool day. Encourage those boys to explore the books on this lists and we’re sure they’ll find some to get excited about!
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Sarah Shelton
Sarah is a wife, daughter of the King and Mama to 4 children (two homeschool graduates) She is a an eclectic, Charlotte Mason style homeschooler that has been homeschooling for over 20 years. She is still trying to find the balance between work and keeping a home and gardens. She can only do it by the Grace of God, coffee and green juice!
