The Percy Jackson series

Ranger's Apprentice series starting with "Ruins of Gorlan" (if their library uses overdrive system, the ebooks are free to checkout); Inheritance Cycle beginning with Eragon; Inkheart; Septimus Heap; The Belgariad beginning with the Pawn of Prophecy (several omnibuses so if looking for a deal ...); and Artemis Fowl. Plus the author of The Percy Jackson series has others. He might love The Ender's Game movie but I absolutely do not recommend Orson Scott Card books to middle grade readers.

Lists that might jog his interest (not familiar with all the books of course) - http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/books/list?level[]=FM and http://www.cybils.com/2012-finalists-fantasy-science-fiction-middle-grade.html

OMG, how did I forget an all time favorite hit -- Jig the Dragonslayer omnibus of Jim C. Hines goblin books (Goblin Quest, Goblin Hero and Goblin War); if he doesn't like that ... (Just that trilogy of Mr. Hines' -- his other books are not suited to younger audiences unless parents read first; not sexually explicit but deal with some themes/issues like gay characters, characters who were abused, and hardly light and fluffy fantasy where no one dies and no one mourns, etc.)

Thanks for all the recommendations! I've been sending them over to her as you type them. I'm not going to lie, I also totally found things I want to read... *winks*

Michael J. Sullivan's Rhyria (did I spell that right?) collection could be read by a 12 year old.

A lot of published before 1980 fantasy series avoid content (other than an occasional non-sexually-explicit romance) unsuitable for middle grade readers. Most (not all) of the reads in publisher Baen's free ebook library fit that category (check the original publication date). Some are more hard or military science fiction than fantasy or so laughably old in a 1950s giant mutant whatever invades way that he might not be interested but if free sounds good checkout http://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx?SectionFilterID=0

Once again, thank you for all your suggestions! My friend has purchased the Percy Jackson books (I can't believe I forgot those) and is in the process of requesting some of the others through the library so she can read through them first. I can't wait to see what her son thinks!