40+ MUST READ Books for Christian Teen Boys

High school is a time when the loose opinions of childhood begin to solidify. It's a time when many Christian teens begin to stand on their own faith legs and develop a worldview that is autonomous to that of their parents. Contrary to the popular trend of extended immaturity, the teen years can be a time when God can use a person in ways that He can not use them at any other time in their lives. Teens have free schedules, growing passions, and liberal amounts of physical energy. When aimed in the right direction, a teen can do great things for the cause of Christ.

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In only a few short weeks, my son will launch headlong into those crucial high school years, followed by his three younger brothers. Admittedly, I'm no mathematical genius, but I've crunched the numbers. Four years of higher learning only leaves his dad and me with 1460 days to teach him all-the-things.

As a homeschooling mother myself, I know what you're thinking. Right about now, you're forming a rebuttal to my math that goes a little something like this...

Learning is for life. You can still teach him after he graduates from high school. Eighteen does not have to be the default cut-off of parental influence.

While all of that is true, I think you and I can both agree that my influence will and should look different once he leaves my home. I'll not be able to pour into him in the same way that I can right here, right now. So I've got four years left, and I plan to use them well. 

The Plan

Since I choose to homeschool, I've got a leg-up on societal influence. I get to choose what and how he learns. While I'd never want to play the part of the Holy Spirit in his life, I do think that it is my job as his mother to help train him up "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) One way I can disciple him towards spiritual maturity is through quality reading material. 

I've curated a list of 40 books that will challenge and encourage both his faith and his character in the next four years. Since he will be using a literature-rich language arts program, I've not included any fiction books, but instead have focused my efforts on books about Christian heroes, books centered around faith-building, books about Christian living, and books that teach practical life skills. While some of these titles are applicable to both teen boys and teen girls, many have been specifically selected because of their predominately male message.

The Process

I do not expect my son to read through this list in its entirety. Rather, I'm laying out a buffet for him. I've added them all to my GoodReads highschool and older boys' shelves. Each month, I'll expect him to peruse those two shelves and choose one title for his "mom-assigned book." I'm hoping that each book on this high school list will inspire lots of discussion and contemplation between the two of us. I've not read every title that I've included, but have vetted them through friends and trusted book lists.

The Books

Biography

Bruchko by Bruce Olson

End of the Spear by Steve Saint
Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew
In God's Underground by Richard Wurmbrand

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
Any of the Christian Heroes Then and Now series by Janet Geoff Benge

Faith

But Don't All Religions Lead to God by Michael Green

Disciplines of a Godly Young Man by R. Kent Hughes

Finding God's Life for My Will by Mike Donehey
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

Radical by David Platt

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas*

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster
Wild Grace by Max Lucado

Christian Living

A Young Man's Guide to Making Right Choices by Jim George
Biblical Economics in Comics by Vic Lockman
Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend

Choose Greatness by Gary Chapman
Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

Good Man by Nathan Clarkson
Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
Living in a Gray World by Preston Sprinkle
Love, Sex, and God by Bill Ameiss

The Guy's Guide to God, Girls, and the Phone in Your Pocket by Jonathan McKee
Money, Greed, and God by J. W. Richards
You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado

Practical Life Skills

Adulting for Christians by Jenny Ingram
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

Manual to Manhood by Jonathan Catherman
Teens' Guide to College & Career Planning by Justin Munchnick
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens by Oliver DeMille
You Have a Brain by Dr. Ben Carson

*fiction title

Want a printable copy of the book list to take with you to the library? Of course, you do! Feel free to download a copy today. And don't forget to check out the companion list made for teen girls.

Looking for more lists like this?

Once a month I email a book list to the members of the Biblio-files community. Every title on the list has been personally read and vetted by me and has been compiled by age range in order to help you navigate the library with your kids. In addition, I also include a few books that you should be aware of--books that contain explicit language, sexual agenda, graphic violence, etc. so that you can make an educated decision when/if your kids should ever be interested in reading any of them. What's more, members are invited to join me in a private Facebook group where we help each other find just the right books for our kids. We'd love to have you join us!

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