Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi are Confucianism, and they are a kind of intelligent thinking that analyzes problems from the perspective of society.
Personally, I belong to Taoism, so I mainly study Laozi, but Zhuangzi still pays little attention to it. (The same age as you) But it depends on your requirements.
Reading Tao Te Ching (Laozi) is the basis of Taoist thought. Chen Guying's Laozi is personally considered to be the best version. (Zhonghua Book Company), in addition, The Art of War can also be said to be born out of Taoism, which boys should like better, and I suggest learning it. Zhuangzi is a bit difficult, and it is a bit difficult to read without notes. However, the sentence patterns are gorgeous and enjoyable to read (well, I don't study difficult sentences in depth, hehe, after all, I'm just too ignorant and tired)
The habit of the ancients was generally to learn Confucianism when they were young and Buddhism and Taoism when they were old. I think it is still very scientific. After all, Taoist thought is more or less detached. Not as practical as Confucianism.
The most basic thing is to read The Analects and choose a good annotated edition. After all, it is the essence of Confucian wisdom. Don't pass by Chinese studies, and don't worry. Maybe a short sentence is enough for us to taste for a long time.
Look at Mencius and Xunzi again. It can be said that Mencius is quite interesting. His words are humorous and full of fables. It is easier for readers to understand. Xunzi said that the ideal is stronger, and it is not difficult to understand. Of course, this is only on the basis of understanding this point ... concrete and profound thoughts will not be achieved overnight. )
PS: Chinese books, preferred by Zhonghua Book Company. Are authoritative works. Then there are Shanghai ancient books and the Commercial Press. Try not to buy colorful versions on the market to mislead children.