As hard as they seem to be to find, December's reviews feature wonderful books written for boys. Although most of these books can also be enjoyed by girls as well, the strong male protagonists are sure to keep your teen boys entertained throughout the coming year.

Erec Rex: The Dragon's Eye by Kaza Kingsley

In this delightful fantasy, young Erec Rex wakes up one morning to find that his mother is missing. Thinking that she has gone out looking for work, he doesn't worry until he has a “cloudy thought” or a vision that tells him to go to the subway station to find her. Erec has had these occasional cloudy thoughts throughout his life, and although they are always an irritant to him, for some strange reason he must always obey and do the things that the visions tell him to do. On the way out the door to find his mother, he finds himself grabbing a picture of her as well as her ever-present glasses — which she has left behind.

Once at the subway station, Erec feels foolish as he asks people if they have seen his mother. A candy stand girl, Bethany, has seen Erec's mother and unbelievably knows where she has gone. Bethany will only give Erec the information he seeks if he promises to take her with him to find his mother. Reluctantly Erec agrees, and the two teens go through a magic portal that leads them to anything but an ordinary subway. Following the crowd through the subway and onto what seems like a skyride at an amusement park, the children are literally thrust into a strange, new kingdom filled with magic.

Upon their arrival in Alypium, a world where everyone knows magic and uses it as normally as breathing, Erec and Bethany find out that the quest to find Erec's mother will have some strange twists and turns. Among other things, Erec and Bethany enter a contest in which the top three winners will become the next rulers of the kingdom. While in the contest, they find out that things are not always as they appear and that life in this magical universe for Erec is strangely familiar.

This is a fun-filled Harry Potteresque novel that despite the similarities can stand on its own. It is also a book that fantasy lovers are sure to devour and enjoy. This story can be enjoyed by both boys and girls alike.

Also available in stores is the sequel novel, Erec Rex: The Monsters of Otherness by Kaza Kingsley. I highly recommend this book as well.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Holling Hoodhood is a seventh-grade Protestant boy who lives in the middle of a town where half of the people are Catholic and half of the people are Jewish. This wouldn't matter much except for on Wednesdays, when the Catholic kids go to Catechism and the Jewish kids go to Hebrew School.

Holling, having no reason to be excused from school early on Wednesdays, spends the afternoon with his classroom teacher, Mrs. Baker. Holling thinks that Mrs. Baker hates him, and when she gives him endless afternoon classroom chores he is sure of it. He knows that Mrs. Baker would rather be anywhere on Wednesday afternoons but “babysitting” him, and when she starts to require him to study Shakespeare he is sure that he might die of boredom.

When he tries to explain this to his family, his concerns fall on unsympathetic ears and all that is left for Holling to do is to make the best of his situation. From heinous rats, crushes, and bullies, to many embarrassing, laugh-aloud situations, the adventures of Holling Hoodhood captivate the reader until the very end. This hilarious story is one that I am sure to read again and again. I recommend this book for either boys or girls.

Nothin' But Net by Matt Christopher

In this realistic short novel the main character, Tim, loves basketball. Although he doesn't quite have the height that is typical of star basketball players, he does have the speed and love of the game that are needed to be successful.

When his father suggests that Tim go to a basketball summer camp, he is overjoyed. His happiness is short-lived when he finds out that his less-than-coordinated friend, Billy, is going to the same camp. Although Tim likes Billy, he is worried that by association, Tim will be grouped with Billy as a basketball loser. Is friendship more important than basketball? A question that can be answered by reading Nothin' But Net .

I recommend this book to boys who love sports, especially basketball.

Samurai Shortstop by Alan M. Gratz

Toyo has recently been enrolled in an elite school for Japanese boys who are being trained as the next generation of leaders of Japan. One of the elective options in his elite school is the new foreign sport, baseball. Toyo loves baseball, especially when he plays shortstop. The only problem with Toyo playing the sport he loves is that the upperclassmen rule not only the school, but the field as well. He may have to pay his dues in left field for a long time before he ever gets to the infield.

Toyo's father does not understand his obsession with baseball. One of a long line of Samurai, Toyo's father does not approve of many of the new things that have come into their country with the “gaijin” (foreign) influence that has appeared in Tokyo. Toyo wants desperately to learn the old ways of his family and become a Samurai, but at what cost?

This book is a great book for boys. I especially liked the themes of honor, courage, and father/son relationships. This book was so interesting that I found that I couldn't put this book down. I recommend this book to readers who like baseball or Samurai.