looking for steampunk reads for my 12 year old son

[Cathy]

I recently read a steampunk novel and thought that my son would really enjoy the genre. I'm looking for recommendations that are, unlike the book I read, G rated. Any suggestions?

[akumabito]

Jules Verne - 20,000 leagues beneath the sea

It's a classic, every kid that age should read it

[Theosophus Grey]

Generally, anything by Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, or HG Wells, the trinity of Victorian science fiction, would be appropriate - I'd read them all by middle school. 

[Mr. Boltneck]

Definitely agree with the Verne! Also look at The Mysterious Island, Robur the Conqueror, and The Master of the World. And of course, there is HG Wells: The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, and The Island of Doctor Moreau, in particular, although The War for the Air may deserve a look, too.
You might consider Michael Moorcock's Oswald Bastable novels, now collected as The Nomad of the Time Streams, although I am not certain if they are suitable for a twelve-year-old. More accurately, I am not certain if a parent of a twelve-year-old would consider them suitable. While I don't, offhand,  recall any particular amount of naughtiness (the main character is very much a late Victorian Englishman), you may or may not be ready to talk about issues like apartheid, European and American colonialism, the Russian Revolution, the slave trade, the bombing of Hiroshima, Buddhism, violence, and alternative histories with your child. Also, if he did read and enjoy them, many of the interconnected series, such as the Jerry Cornelius books, The Dancers at the End of Time stories, or the Colonel Pyat novels, are decidedly not appropriate, even by my rather lax standards.

[Pheobsky]

I'd recomend "the secret Ray" it's a Jo & Zette book by Hergé
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo,_Zette_and_Jocko
It's not really steampunk, but it has plenty of steampunk elements to it plus much mad science & secret underwater lairs! Also despite being a comicbook I can attest to it being excellent to read out loud, both having had it read to me when small and myself read it to small cousins

[Oswald Bastable]

Hello
I started reading Mr Moorcock's books when I was about 12 or so (I found a whole load of yellowed paperbacks in the loft at home) - and one book leads to another. I don't think that the subject matter in Nomad of the Timestreams was too racey. More importantly perhaps for a younger reader none of the individual volumes are too long and intimidating. I'd give one a read first you'll enjoy them although they may read as a product of the 1960s & 70s. I think my first Moorcock book was The Jewel in the Skull - set in pseudo feudal time in the future when Europe and its surrounds are ruled over by a corrupt and decadent British Empire.

[Countessa Lenora]

Everyone has mentioned the classics, so how about a new one, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld.  Perfect for a 12 year old boy.

[Thalesia Turnblood]

Larklight by Philip Reeve seems a good choice.

[Lady Deborah Butcher]

Mortal Engines?

[Maj. Clive Hathaway]

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/01/trailer-for-scott-we.html
Very entertaining, easy to approach and the 1st book in a trilogy with two more to come.

[darkshines]

Anything by Terry Pratchett. While he isn't inherantly steampunk as such, he does incorperate SP ideals and inventions into the Discworld (and other) universes. I am a bit of a fast reader so by 12 I was already well into the Discworld novels, but your son might enough the Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers and Wings), or the newer Tiffany Aching central books

Some of the adult Discworld books contain language, references etc that you might not find suitable for a 12 year old

[Thalesia Turnblood]

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. It's the first in the Books of Ember series and takes place in an underground city that's running out of power and falling apart.

[Pheobsky]

Anything by Terry Pratchett. While he isn't inherantly steampunk as such, he does incorperate SP ideals and inventions into the Discworld (and other) universes. I am a bit of a fast reader so by 12 I was already well into the Discworld novels, but your son might enough the Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers and Wings), or the newer Tiffany Aching central books

Some of the adult Discworld books contain language, references etc that you might not find suitable for a 12 year old

As has already been pointed out, not inherently steampunk, but none the less awesome, and I whole heartedly second the suggestion!

[Cathy]

Thank you so much! My son's really enjoyed the H.G. Wells and Jeanne DuPrau that he's read, so I know that you're on the right track. He also is a big fan of Tin Tin, as are his 8 and 10 year old brothers, so we're really looking forward to The Secret Ray. Many of the other suggestions grabbed his attention as well, so I thank you all for taking the time to send your suggestions. This should keep my avid reader busy for a while.

[maltedfalcon]

Twenty-one Balloons
 by
William Pene DuBois

Balloons, machines, diamonds, volcanos tropical islands. Self making beds, Bumper car furniture...
Great illustrations

Cant be beat...

[Rocketeer and Roll]

If he enjoys ships and pirates, I would totally recommend the L.A. Meyer "Under the Jolly Roger" series.

Oh and definitely, go out and find the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics...they are fifty times better than the movie and filled with actual, readable dialogue.

ANYTHING by Tim Powers, including The Anubis Gates.  That one is just slam bang one of the best time travel meets evil wizards books you will ever read.

It may be a bit advanced in terms of thick prose, but "The Diamond Age A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" by Neal Stephenson is one of my favorite books of all time and I absolutely cannot recommend it enough.

I like to recommend challenging books to young people his age.  I think trying to give them just kids lit is kind of offering them just snacks when they could be eating a whole meal. 

[JackNova]

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest was pretty good, a fun Alt-History, Steampunk, Zombie romp with content perfect for a teen audience.

Larklight by Phillip Reeve is fun, fantastical victorian space adventure that EVERYONE should read.

Mortal Engines, also by Phillip Reeve is fantastic but very bleak, dark, violent and cruel in contrast to the lighter, more fun Larklight.

[Cpt Wallace]

I have to echo Leviathan I'm 27 and I'm loving it...

also some of the Pax Britannica books would be worth a look

George Mann is also a good read but maybe later on in his teens 

[greensteam]

Back to the classics and not always a light read as such but Kipling and Rider Haggard for the gentleman explorer side, and John Buchan for the gentleman spy side.

Never too young to start inculcating gentlemanly behaviour on the sly.

I read all the above at his age.

[Theosophus Grey]

Seconded, the Jungle Books are partly about a 12-yo boy and generally marvelous, and King Solomon's Mines is the definitive boy's-own-adventure of the period. 

[Captain Paradox]

The His Dark Materials Trilogy might be a good place to look. It's got strong Steampunk elements.

I know it's been said before, but the sheer joy of Leviathan cannot be over-stated.

[Armydillo978]

I know it's been said before, but the sheer joy of Leviathan cannot be over-stated.

Agreed. My son loved this book and wants a sequel.  I do hope one is in the works. 

If your son is up to the challenge, perhaps Fitzpatrick's War by Theodore Judson. 

[Theosophus Grey]

Seconded, the Jungle Books are partly about a 12-yo boy and generally marvelous, and King Solomon's Mines is the definitive boy's-own-adventure of the period. 

And, the definitive boy-at-sea adventure from Kipling, Captains Courageous.

[clockworkbird]

Knightely Academy(middle grades), Pendragon series(slightly steampunk, middle grades),Candle Man(middle grades), Incarceon(teens),Levithan(teens),
His Dark Materials series(first one is golden compass, middle grades), The Hunchback Assignments(teens). thats all i can think of right now. I work in the kids section in a big bookstore, so i have been keepin an eye out on whats coming in^___^ if he;s a good reader, i dont think the teen level will be too hard for him, and there isnt much in mature content in them, either.

[hexidecima]

also some of the Pax Britannica books would be worth a look

definitely the first one, Unnatural History.  El Sombra is a bit intense.  Leviathan Rising is a bit also, like reading The Poseidon Adventure.   

I'd also recommend most anything by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Tarzan, etc.