Reddit reviews Boy: Tales of Childhood

It was titled Boy. I read it to my son when he was about 10. We both loved it. The story about him being the seat warmer for the outhouse was the best.

Boy - Roald Dahl

Blessed - George Best It's about him growing up and then his struggle with alcoholism.

>the hell of having to use an outdoor farm loo in winter

This is completely off-topic, but this line reminded me of a part in Roald Dahl's autobiography Boy. He attended Repton in the 30s and as an underclassman was subjected to terrible treatment by the upperclassmen. One of his duties was to warm the latrine seat in the outdoor lav (by sitting on it himself) before the upper boys came for their daily constitutional. Then he was caned if the seat was not warm enough for their liking. I think that sounds like hell.

Don't feel like you need to 'challenge' him with hard stuff. If it's interesting, he'll read it. A few books I remember reading between age 10 and 14 that were enjoyable were:

• The Giver by Lois Lowry is great for young adults.
  
  
• Farenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
  
  
• Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
  
  
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (though to be honest, a lot went over my head the first time through - still loved it)
  
  
• The BFG, by Roald Dahl
  
  
• Boy - Roald Dahl.
  
  A lot of my friends at the time loved the Redwall books by Brain Jacques. I didn't get into them, but your son might.
  
  

Boy.

Dahl is also known for writing several very detailed accounts of corporal punishment in the autobiography of his school days, which had a, errr, formative effect on many kinksters.