Young Adult

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I feel like I am repeating myself but I can’t help it. Before you explore this list, check out the previous age categories first because those lists contain a lot of books for this age group but perhaps they could be enjoyed by younger kids already so the books are there and not here.

I am perfectly aware of the fact that kids mature at a different pace and that you might not agree with the recommended age. My kids are only 6 and 8 right now so it is hard for me to take a guess when they could read the following books. I checked other websites and went with their recommendations.

I only listed some books so far. I will work on this category soon. Take a look at the titles first and then you can find more information under the following links:

Best Books for Young Adults (12 – 18)
YALSA’s Alex Awards (The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.)
YALSA’s Best of the Best
Printz Award

Reading List Grade 9 &10
Reading List Grade 11 & 12
Reading List 1 Highschool
Reading List 2 Highschool
Reading List 3 Highschool

I found a nice list of recommendations for websites for young book lovers, click on the link below to read more:

14 Super Cool Websites for Adult and Teen Bookaholics

Books that might be the next Hunger Games

Check also the following websites for tips on what to read next:

Teenreads

Genrefluent – Teen Talk About Books

GuysRead

A local library put together a list of non-fiction titles for young adults.

31 Must-Read Book Series for Teens

100 Must-Read YA Book Series

The 100 Best Young-Adult Book of All Time

Best Book Series for Teens

 

13 and up

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants For a list of books in the Sisterhood series click here. My daughter read it in 7th grade.
sisterhood

See You at Harry’s
see you at harrys

Divergent For a list of books in this series click here.
divergent

The Hunger Games For a list of books in this series click here.
the hunger games

The Golden Compass
golden compass

His Dark Materials Omnibus (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)
his dark materials

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
the forgotten beasts of eld

Pride and Prejudice
pride and prejudice

Insignia For a list of books in this series click here.
Insignia

Ship Breaker Click here for a sequel.
ship breaker

Fat Cat
fat cat

The Selection For a list of books in this series click here.
the selection

The Reluctant Assassin For a list of books in the WARP series click here.
the reluctant assassin

Inhuman
inhuman

Maggot Moon
maggot moon

SYLO For a list of books in The SYLO Chronicles series click here.
sylo

This Dark Endeavor Click here for the sequel in The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series.
this dark endeavor

Crap Kingdom I am not sure about this one, it has mixed reviews but a lot of people find it funny.
crap kingdom

Erebos: It’s a game. It watches you
erebos

The Scorpio Races
the scorpio races

The Lord of the Rings
the lord of the rings

Partials  For a lists of books in the Partials Sequence series click here.
partials

Leviathan  For a list of books in this series click here.
leviathan

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
claudette

Shadow and Bone  For a list of books in The Grisha Trilogy click here.
shadow and bone

Six of Crows

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights (non-fiction)
the port chicago

The Eye of Minds For a list of books in The Mortality Doctrine series click here.
the eye of minds

The Young Elites For a list of books in this series click here.
the young elites

Speak
speak

Matched For a list of books in this series click here.
matched

Princesses of Myth Series The Princesses of Myth series follows the fictionalized yet historical stories of various heroines throughout history: Helen of Sparta, the Egyptian queen Nefertiti, Princess Maeve of Ireland, etc.
princesses of myth series

Midnight Thief For a list of books in this series click here.
midnight thief

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
to all the boys ive loved before

Since You’ve Been Gone
since youve been gone

The Master Puppeteer Probably not a book for everyone but if you like historical fiction (feudal Japan here) try it.
the master puppeteer

Boy Meets Boy
boy meets boy

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow (Nonfiction)
hitler youth

Under the Mesquite
under the mesquite

Marcelo In The Real World
marcelo in the real world

Lips Touch: Three Times
lips touch

Private Peaceful
private peaceful

The First Part Last
the first part last

Left for Dead: A Young Man’s Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis
left for dad

Whale Talk
whale talk

Crooked
crooked

The Summer of Letting Go
the summer of letting go

The Skin I’m In
the skin Im in

Love & Gelato
Love and Gelato

Scythe  For a list of books in the Arc of a Scythe series click here.
Scythe

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler

The Serpent King
The Serpent King

The Passion of Dolssa
The Passion of Dolssa

Dragons of Autumn Twilight (for an avid reader if they can read Lord of the Rings) For a list of books in the Dragonlance Chronicles series click here.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Steelheart For a list of books in the Reckoners series click here.
Steelheart

Brody’s Ghost For a list of books in this series click here.
Brodys Ghost

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War (Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)
Most Dangerous

Dear Evan Hansen

Fahrenheit 451

1984

Animal Farm

Tess of the Road

The Last Magician For a list of books in this series click here.

Dreamland Burning

Far from the Tree

Strange the Dreamer For a list of books in this series click here.

Warcross For a list of books in this series click here.

The Hate U Give

Blanca & Roja

Sadie

 

13 or 14?

Anna and the French Kiss For a list of books in this series click here.
anna and the french kiss

Leah on the Offbeat

Turtles All the Way Down

Dune

Shiver

Pride and Prejudice

Murder on the Orient Express For a list of books in this series click here.

Discussions and recommendations on books by Agatha Christie for 13-year-olds can be found here (Perfect first Christie for a teenager)

Conviction

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (probably closer to 14) For a list of books in this series click here.

The Upside of Unrequited

Endangered
endangered

Son of the Mob Click here for a sequel.
son of the mob

Flags of Our Fathers: A Young People’s Edition
flags of our fathers

Rebecca
rebecca

A Step From Heaven
a step from heaven

Through the Woods
through the woods

Splintered
splintered

The Clockwork Scarab: A Stoker & Holmes Novel  For a list of Stoker & Holmes Novels click here.
the clockwork scarab

Let the Sky Fall  For a list of books in this series click here.
let the sky fall

Maisie Dobbs For a list of books in this series click here.
maisie dobbs

Hush, Hush As with every book—read a few reviews first if it is for you—there are thousands of great reviews but some people really hated it. For a list of books in The Hush, Hush Saga click here.
hush hush

If You Come Softly
if you come softly

Revolver
revolver

Everybody Sees the Ants
everybody sees the ants

The Raven Boys For a list of books in the Raven Cycle series click here.
the raven boys

Saving Francesca
saving francesca

The Sun Is Also a Star
The Sun Is Also a Star

Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive
Unbroken

The Wrath & the Dawn For a list of books in this series click here.
the wrath and the dawn

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Salt to the Sea
Salt to the Sea

Ink and Bone For a list of books in The Great Library series click here.
Ink and Bone

Stung
Stung

Wolf by Wolf
Wolf by Wolf

The Book of Dust (trilogy)

 

14 and up (Grade 9 and up)

The Fault in Our Stars
the fault in our stars

Paper Towns
paper towns

If I Stay and its sequel Where She Went
If I stay

The Book Thief
the book thief

Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog 
racing in the rain

Where Things Come Back 
where things come back

American Born Chinese
american born chinese

Thirteen Reasons Why
thirteen reasons why

Witch Child Click here for a sequel.
witch child

Fat Kid Rules the World
fat kid rules

Sabriel For a list of books in the Abhorsen series click here.
sabriel

Shadowland For a list of books in The Mediator series click here.
shadowland

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
nick and norahs infinite

Monster
monster

Someone Like You
someone like you

The Tragedy Paper
the tragedy paper

Keeping the Moon (and other books by Sarah Dessen have also good reviews—teenagers seem to enjoy them)
keeping the moon

Feed
feed

Hole in My Life
hole in my life

A Northern Light
a northern light

Breathing Underwater
beathing underwater

Catalyst
catalyst

Lord of the Flies
lord of the flies

The Once and Future King For a list of books in this series click here.
the once and future king

Throne of Glass For a list of books in this series click here.
throne of glass

Belzhar
Belzhar

Daughter of Smoke & Bone For a list of books in this series click here.
daughter of smoke and bone

Wintergirls
wintergirls

Twisted
twisted

The Truth About Alice
the truth about alice

The Winner’s Curse For a list of books in The Winner’s Trilogy click here.
the winners curse

In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer (nonfiction)
in my hands

The Realm of Possibility
the realm of possibility

Girl with a Pearl Earring
girl with a pearl earring

The Girl of Fire and Thorns For a list of books in this series click here.
the girl of fire and thorns
Midwinterblood (mixed reviews but many people loved it and it was selected as one of the top 0 books for young adults in 2014)
midwinterblood

Winger
winger

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
aristotle

All the Truth That’s In Me
all the truth thats in me

What If It’s Us

Two Can Keep a Secret

One of Us Is Lying

The Belles For a list of books in this series click here.

Lost at Sea (possibly even for older teens)

Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir

American Street

The Cruel Prince For a list of books in this series click here.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

The Night Circus

Binti For a list of books in this series click here.

Words in Deep Blue

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue For a list of books in this series click here.

They Both Die at the End

Gunslinger Girl

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Graceling For a list of books in this series click here.

Ready Player One

Little Brother

Out of Darkness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here

A Thousand Nights

The Game of Love and Death

Fallout

Starry Eyes

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

More Happy Than Not

Grasshopper Jungle
grasshopper jungle

Golden Boy
golden boy

Rose Under Fire
rose under fire

Ship Breaker
ship breaker

Shine
shine

Revolution
revolution

Finnikin of the Rock For a list of books in the The Lumatere Chronicles click here.
finnikin

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour
amy and rogers epic detour

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer For a list of books in the Necromancer Series click here.
hold me closer

Every Day
every day

The Things a Brother Knows
the things a brother knows

Stitches
stiches

Blankets
blankets

Twilight  For a list of books in the The Twilight Saga click here.
twilight

Runaways For a list of books in this comic book series click here.
runaways

I Am the Messenger
I am the messenger

The Lightkeeper’s Daughter For a list of books in the Mercy Falls Series click here.
the lightkeepers daughter

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal (funny)
lamb

The Raging Quiet
the raging quiet
Daughter of the Forest For a list of books in The Sevenwaters Trilogy click here.
daughter of the forest

Ask the Passengers
ask the passengers

Please Ignore Vera Dietz
please ignore vera dietz

Emmy & Oliver
emmy oliver

Carry On
Carry On

The Beginning of Everything
The Beginning of Everything

A Court of Thorns and Roses For a list of books in this series click here.
A Court of Thorns and Roses

This Savage Song For a list of books in the Monsters of Verity series click here.
This Savage Song

If I Was Your Girl
If I was your girl

More Happy Than Not
More Happy Than Not

Challenger Deep
Challenger Deep

X: A Novel
X A Novel

The Great American Whatever
The Great American Whatever

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

The Last Dragonlord (for lovers of fantasy and romance) For a list of books in this series click here.
The Last Dragonlord

The Eye of the World (or possibly even older than 14) For a list of books in The Wheel of Time series click here.
The Eye of the World

Ms. Marvel (graphic novel, not sure what the earliest age suitable for this book is) For a list of books in this series click here.
Ms Marvel

Dumplin’
Dumplin

Openly Straight
Openly Straight

 

14 or 15?

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia
the family Romanov

Noggin (funny)
noggin

100 Sideways Miles
100 sideways smiles

A Great and Terrible Beauty For a list of books in The Gemma Doyle Trilogy click here.
a great and terrible beauty

Mrs. Mike 
mrs mike

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
the girl who was supposed to die

The 5th Wave For a list of books in this series click here.
the 5th wave

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
the absolute tru diary

Looking for Alaska
looking for Alaska

Flowers for Algernon I have seen this in theater and loved it.
flowers for algernon

To Kill a Mockingbird
to kill a mockingbird

The Sky Is Everywhere
the sky is everywhere
Imani All Mine
imani

Last Night I Sang to the Monster
last night I sang to the monster

The Diviners For a list of books in this series click here.
the diviners
Tamar: A Novel of Espionage, Passion, and Betrayal
tamar

American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China (funny)
american shaolyn

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
the curious incident

Red Queen
red queen

City of Bones  For a list of books in The Mortal Instruments series click here.
city of bones

A COMPANION SERIES TO THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS (City of Bones)
Lady Midnight For a list of books in The Dark Artifices series click here.
Lady Midnight

ASSASSINS APPRENTICE For a list of books in this series click here.

The Brilliant Death

A Reaper at the Gates

After the Fire

 

15 and up

Watership Down 
watership down

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two
code talker

Out of The Easy
out of the easy

Code Name Verity
code name verity

Between Shades of Gray
between shades of gray

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
the perks of being a wallflower

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn A classic I love!
a tree grows in brooklyn

Riddle-Master (age not clear but no need to rush)
riddle master

The Tyrant’s Daughter
the tyrants daughter

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
the strange and beautiful sorrows of Ava Lavender

A Certain Slant of Light (another book in the Light series)
a certain slant of light

The Impossible Knife of Memory
the impossible knife of memory

Grave Mercy For a list of books in His Fair Assassin Trilogy click here.
grave mercy

An Abundance of Katherines
an abundance of katherines

I’ll Give You the Sun
ill give you the sun

Skink–No Surrender
skink

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone
the unfinished life of addison stone

We Were Liars (mixed reviews, some people loved it, some hated it—one of the most talked about books of 2014)
we were liars

A Girl Called Fearless (not many reviews yet but a lot of people liked this book so it is probably worth a try) For a list of books in this
series click here.
a girl called fearless

It’s Kind of a Funny Story
its kind of a funny story

Will Grayson, Will Grayson
will grayson

Delirium For a list of books in this series click here.
delirium

Eleanor & Park
eleanor and park

Never Fall Down
never fall down

Sold
sold

Tell Me Three Things

tell me three things

Girl in Pieces
Girl in pieces

Bone Gap
Bone Gap

My Father Bleeds History   Check out its sequel here.
My Father Bleeds History

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
Persepolis The Story of a Childhood

Emergency Contact

Dread Nation

The Hazel Wood

The Way of Kings For a list of books in this series click here.

 

15 or 16 and up

A Clockwork Orange

Skim
skim

Fangirl
fangirl

 

16 and up

Mosquitoland
mosquitoland

All the Bright Places
all the bright places

Born Survivors: Three Young Mothers and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage, Defiance, and Hope

 

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