40 Best Books for Teens of All Time, According to a YA Bookworm
Some are popular now, others are classics in young adult fiction and non-fiction that have stood the test of time.
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Some of the best reading I’ve ever done was as a teenager. Magic or disaster seemed to lurk around every corner, and I could relate to the protagonists who were my age. Let’s face it, high school can be boring — it was much more exciting to escape into the world of a great fantasy novel. As a lifelong reader, I’ve devoured countless YA books, and from my many hours of reading, I can confidently say these are the best books for teenagers.
Some of these are best-sellers that tackle important topics, while others are just really good reads at any age. Some are timeless classics for teens — The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies or The Hobbit — and all will captivate you. Many I still think about and reread over a decade later.
I've included the best fantasy, sci-fi, romance, historical fiction, thrillers, graphic novels, and more, with picks for readers of all levels. You’re only a teenager once, so choose your books wisely! You might just discover one you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Christopher is autistic. He loves prime numbers and animals, but he has a hard time relating to people and hates being touched. One night his neighbor’s dog is found stabbed, and Christopher must find the real killer when he is falsely blamed. His remarkable narration makes this book filled with compassion and surprising insight.
When a ship sinks in the middle of the ocean, there's only one survivor: Pi, an Indian 16-year-old boy who shelters on a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena and a Bengal tiger. This incredible story of love and survival shows off the awe-inspiring forces of nature.
In a single moment, all adults vanish, leaving only young people behind. With no police and no internet, society collapses as animals mutate and teens develop powers. As the teens struggle to survive, violence begins. This gritty and addictive series escalates out of control for gripping reads.
In a world much like ours, everybody has a spirit companion called a daemon that takes the shape of an animal. The series follows half-wild young Lyra, braving talking bears, witches and science experiments on children. This gritty and inventive series faces down injustice with breathtaking world-building.
Set in a dystopian future, all books are illegal and larger-than-life technology consumes people’s attention spans. Guy is a fireman whose job it is to burn all books that are discovered hidden away.
This coming-of-age classic follows two rival gangs, the greasers and the socs (short for “socials” or rich kids). Dealing with violence, prejudice and class, it follows 14-year-old Ponyboy as tragedy strikes when his friend Johnny kills a soc.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Narrated by Death, this extraordinary novel follows a young girl in Nazi Germany as she first learns to read and then starts to steal books, which she shares with the Jewish man hiding in her basement. Beautiful and haunting, the last words of this book will stay with you.
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Naruto is one of the most classic manga (Japanese comics) of all time. An excluded young ninja dreams of becoming the village leader, if only he can overcome his trouble-making ways. Epic fights and friendships abound, while also confronting cycles of violence and the true cost of war. With dynamic art, this action-packed series will engage even the most reluctant of readers.
Monsters and magic abound in this gritty, action-packed fantasy series, a classic among the ranks of dragon books. A farm boy named Eragon hatches a dragon named Saphira, becoming the only known dragon rider besides the evil king.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This powerful book about institutional racism tears into police shootings of unarmed Black men and boys. Sixteen-year-old Starr is the only witness when a police officer kills her best friend Khalil. As protests spark, Starr must face intimidation from cops and the local drug lord to speak out and share the truth in Khalil’s memory.
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
When high schooler Junior branches out from the reservation to transfer into the all-white school for the town children, he must navigate his Native identity as a teenager while overcoming the poverty and alcoholism that haunt his family and the rez.
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At 16, teens must choose which faction they want to be a part of: Selfless Abnegation, smart Erudite, daring Dauntless, cheerful Amity or honest Candor. But even once Trish chooses, she must pass a series of tests to be initiated, all while harboring a dangerous secret…
For her final project, Pip investigates a tragic murder-suicide that has haunted her town for years. She knew the killer, Sal, when they were children and has a hard time believing he really did it. But as she gets deeper into her investigation, secrets emerge and she herself might be in danger...
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
Julia struggles with her family’s expectations. She is not “the perfect Mexican daughter” who never leaves home and sacrifices her desires for those of her family — that was her sister, Olga, who died. But was Olga really as perfect as Julia thought, and is there a way for Julia to make her own path?
In the dystopian future, society is ruled by Big Brother, who maintains control with the Thought Police and constant surveillance. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to rewrite history. But when Winston falls in love and questions the status quo, everything changes…
In this short but tense survival thriller, a meteor hits the moon closer to earth, causing an apocalypse of natural disasters. August becomes as cold as winter, and Miranda’s family hunkers down to survive with increasingly dwindling resources.
The Hobbit is an all-time classic and a gateway to the enduring magic of Middle Earth. Warning: After reading The Hobbit will you for sure have to read The Lord of the Rings, and then watch all the movies, too.
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24 children are selected to fight to the death in the annual Hunger Games. Heart pounding and fast paced, this series offers a sharper critique of capitalism, government and entertainment than the movies did.
When their parents die in a mysterious fire, the Baudelaire orphans become the targets of the scheming Count Olaf, who wants to steal their family fortune. Though the Baudelaires are plagued with bad luck in this thirteen book series, Lemony Snicket narrates with wry humor and sly literary references.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
It’s the best-selling book series in history for a reason. Better than the movies, the Harry Potter books offer so much more immersion into the wizarding world we know and love. Will we keep rereading this series even as adults? Always.
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Sarah Vincent (she/her) covers the latest and greatest in books and all things pets for Good Housekeeping. She double majored in Creative Writing and Criminal Justice at Loyola University Chicago, where she sat in the front row for every basketball game. In her spare time, she loves cooking, crafting, studying Japanese, and, of course, reading.
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