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.
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.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy can’t stand each other: Elizabeth finds him arrogant, while Mr. Darcy judges her for her modest background. But Elizabeth must marry to secure her future, and in their mutual dislike, sparks start to fly in this original enemies-to-lovers story.
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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.
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.
This lyrical retelling of the Trojan War is a tender but tragic queer romance, centering on the relationship between the great Greek hero Achilles and his beloved Patroclus. Cast about by the turmoil of their time, ruled by gods and war and destiny, they must fight to be together.
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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.
This classic is filled with charming adventures and witty wordplay. Milo is bored with his life when a tollbooth transports him to the Lands Beyond. He meets a “watchdog” named Tok who has a clock in his body, jumps to the Isle of Conclusions and more, all while learning to appreciate life.
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 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.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
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.
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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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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This graphic novel offers bisexual representation with a heartfelt depiction of queer romance at a British all-boys school. Charlie is a shy social outcast who has been bullied for being openly gay. Nick is an outgoing rugby player who is slowly realizing he is not so straight. First they become friends, and then something more.
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.
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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This haunting book raises questions of bodily autonomy. Abortion is banned but “unwinding” is legal from age 13 to 18, a process where all of a child’s organs are harvested and transplanted so that life technically continues. Connor, Risa and Lev are all unwanted children who must find a way to escape this fate.
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…
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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