I'm proud to be a Reading Champion for the National Reading Campaign as one of a number of writers, sports people, entertainers, fathers, grandads, big brothers and friends who promote books for unstruck boys. Sexist? Yes - but let's be charitable and think of it as positive discrimination. Here is a selection of six books - some new, some older favourites, all paperbacks - to tempt the lads, none of which would fail to tempt the girls either.
Gene Kemp's The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler (Puffin Modern Classics, £4.99) is rebel Tyke's own account of helping underdog Danny Price to overcome his problems. It's got heart, it's fast and it's funny - with an edge-of-the-seat climax and a smack of a surprise waiting at the end.
Anyone into bikes and laughs and satisfying plots will enjoy Chris Powing's The Mustang Machine (Barn Owl Books, £3.99). Despite its sharp realistic edge, the story's big "grip" is a fantasy bike with a stallion's mind. But who tames it? Tim, a flushed, fever-eyed, serious hospital case. An exciting read, with depths.
The Killer Underpants by Michael Lawrence (Orchard Books, £3.99) needs to be read by kids themselves because no adult will get the words out for laughing. Jiggy's new underpants have a power of their own; they control him, chasing their own devil plans. But like Tim, Jiggy lives in our world of home and school. Fantastic and real - and very funny.
Kara May's Yeti Boy (Collins, £3.99) is Fenn, who lives with the abominable snowmen in the Sanaskar Mountains. In saving them from disaster he gets to grips with the tragedy in his own life. This is a thrilling and moving "other world" story that bears upon us all.
If you're hooked on Friends, Jonathan Meres' Yo! Diary! 2 (Piccadilly Press, £5.99) is a must. Six teenagers in their individual styles spill their deepest secrets about themselves and reveal their views of each other. And we discover that we're not alone, that others have the same shames and fears and minor joys as we do.
super.activ Football by Clive Gifford (Hodder, £3.99) is worth a season's training - a book packed with diagrams, drawings and insider writing on how to improve your game. Essential reading for every Premiership player.
• Bernard Ashley's recent novel Little Soldier was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal. His latest book for teenagers is Playing Against the Odds, published by Barrington Stoke. The book charity Reading Is Fundamental is seeking role models who can get boys into the reading habit - not just well-known names, but fathers, grandfathers, brothers, teachers, librarians or anyone else who champions reading. If you want to nominate a Reading Champion, contact the campaign on 020 7828 2435, email: gen.clarke@mcmail.com or look at the website at: literacytrust.org.uk
