Children's Books discussion

I'm looking for books similar to noughts and crosses for a nearly 14 year old football mad boy who is extremely articulate and believes it to be the best book ever written. Can't be any more difficult as his reading is below age expectation and he uses audio books to overcome this but something thought provoking and current which will spark debate would be perfect to get him reading print!

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman?

I'd never heard of it, but it does look intriguing. I'm guessing he's interested in both the subject matter/ theme, and in the thriller/ adventure? I wonder if a YA group here on GR wouldn't have more/ better recommendations; we tend to focus younger here.

Also, since he's 14, he could have his own GR membership and make 'friends' with other teens to get very special recommendations.

There are relevant Listopia lists here on GR, too. For example, Blackman's book shows up on https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1....

I just saw an ad for Chrissie's Run, don't know anything about it, but it seems to be kinda the same sort of thing.

Oh, and there's Out by Laura Preble, which I did read, and, iirc, liked well enough.

I do not know much about books like Noughts & Crosses.

However, since the boy in question is supposedly an avid soccer fan (I am assuming football as being soccer and not American football), here are a few YA titles that have soccer as a theme and look interesting (have not read any of them though).

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town

Now Is the Time for Running

Keeper

Out of Nowhere

Tangerine

Ah, yes, I actually read and can confidently recommend Tangerine by Edward Bloor.

Again, I don't know the reading level of Noughts and Crosses, but I believe The Schwa Was Here and its sequels by Neal Shusterman, and Jungle Dogs and others by Graham Salisbury appeal to what we label here as 'reluctant teen readers.' Shusterman's stories are funny, a bit gross, and exciting, Salisbury's are less complex, but more intense, iirc. I do know that I enjoyed them even though I'm about the opposite demographic as a teen boy!