Where the Hell is Tesla? discussion

I have read One Past Midnight, but it is not a great read for a 12 year old boy (he is bird with the romance aspects of it). I have started Where the Hell is Tesla, and think a 12 year old might like it more, but still it is possibly not exactly what he is asking me to find him. Poet Anderson is another that comes to mind (not exactly alternate reality ?).

What are some books you have read that might fit into "alternate reality"... Appropriate or interesting to a 12 year old boy ?