35 Must-Read Books For Teens Everywhere (2024)

Teens may act like they have the world figured out, but they are often less than confident and crave insights and guidance as they create their identities. These formative years are a great time to sample books for teens of all genres by authors of different backgrounds to help expose them to new ideas. Good or best books for teens include romance, mystery and classic novels as well as book series that can take them to new worlds. The top books to read for teens may be written for this age level, or they may be meant for adults or sometimes even children. This list includes young adult books, middle grade novels, memoirs and more to give teens a broad look into other people’s lives as they come of age.

Good Books For Teens

Popular teen books include authors from every background. They include fantasy books like J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, coming of age tales like S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, and books about being different like Judy Blume’s Deenie. Popular authors of teen-focused books include Jason Reynolds, Jay Asher, Nic Stone and Walter Dean Myers.

This list of teen book rankings is based on honors the books have received, reader ratings on sites like Goodreads and Amazon, popularity of the works in popular culture, and how many copies the books have sold.

35. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

A classic that has never lost its appeal, Little Women follows four sisters navigating post-Civil War society in Massachusetts. The novel follows their pursuit of love and career, trying to balance their passions with the realism of constraints on women’s actions in the 19^th century.

This book is best for teens interested in the classics. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

34. Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro (2018)

Selected as one of the best YA books of 2018 by Buzzfeed, Vulture and Book Riot, Anger Is a Gift tells the story of sweet nerd Moss Jeffries, whose father was murdered by police when Moss was just a child. Moss, who is queer, leads a stand against police brutality at his own school.

This book is best for teens who want to explore a serious social issue through fiction. Mark Oshiro’s Anger is a Gift is available from publisher Macmillan.

33. All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung (2018)

One of several memoirs on the list, All You Can Ever Know documents Nicole Chung’s adoption. After her Korean parents put her up for adoption, a white couple raised her in Oregon. Chung explores how, despite her parents’ best intentions, they couldn’t always see or acknowledge her difficulties as an Asian American woman.

This book is best for teens curious about the positives and negatives of transatlantic adoption. Nicole Chung’s All You Can Ever Know is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

32. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (1978)

Ellen Raskin won the 1979 Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award for children’s literature, for this work about a millionaire who manipulates all his heirs into moving into an apartment building and searching for his murderer. The clever, engaging plot moves quickly and ends with a fantastic twist.

This book is best for teens who want a light read with outstanding character development. Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game is available from publisher Scholastic.

31. The Midnight Years by Jane De Suza and Sangita Unni (2021)

A party has unintended consequences for a foursome of Indian teens, who face problems from keeping secrets to living up to family expectations in this insightful novel. Co-author Sangita Unni is a psychologist, and her insights into teen behavior coupled with De Suza’s smooth writing style make for a compelling read.

This book is best for teens struggling with difficult decisions who want some guidance. Jane De Suza and Sangita Unni’s The Midnight Years is available from publisher Hachette India.

30. Dear Martin by Nic Stone (2018)

When police unfairly detain honor student Justyce, it sparks his own personal reckoning with the nonviolent teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Justyce begins keeping a journal where he writes to King, as the media fallout from his detention threatens his present and future.

This book is best for teens interested in learning how to fight racism. Nic Stone’s Dear Martin is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

29. When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez (2021)

First-generation Puerto Rican teen Sarai and her family, including beloved older sister Estrella, live in Bushwick, which, like the rest of Brooklyn, is gentrifying fast. Sarai fights for her family and her cultural identity while resisting the toxic masculinity that surrounds her. Elisabet Velasquez depicts Sarai with intelligence and light.

This book is best for teens who love Elizabeth Acevedo’s work. Elisabet Velasquez’s When We Make It is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

28. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2007)

The bestselling book that spawned a hit Netflix series follows the story of Hannah Baker, a high school freshman who commits suicide and leaves a recording explaining the 13 reasons why she did it. The unique format and propulsive plot make this a book you can read in a day or two.

This book is best for teens looking for entertainment that also makes them think. Trigger warning for sexual assault and bullying. Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

27. Me (Moth) by Amber McBride (2021)

Me (Moth), a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, is gorgeously told in verse. Teenager Moth lost her family in an accident, and when she connects with Sani, who struggles with depression, they set off on a road trip to find their family roots.

This book is best for teens who yearn to know more about their ancestors. Amber McBride’s Me (Moth) is available from publisher Macmillan.

26. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (2020)

This New York Times bestseller, the first in a fantasy series, follows trans teen Yadriel, whose traditional Latinx family has not accepted his transition. When Yadriel and his BFF summon the ghost of their murdered cousin, chaos ensues—because this ghost has his own decidedly real agenda.

This book is best for teens who love fantasy and want to know more about Latinx culture. Aiden Thomas’s Cemetery Boys is available from publisher Macmillan.

25. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (1982)

Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel, which has spawned two films and a hit Broadway musical, follows Celie, a poor Black girl abused by the men in her life. She forges a bond, and later a romance, with her husband’s mistress.

Note that this book contains descriptions of domestic violence. It is best for older teens who enjoy epistolary novels. Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is available from publisher Macmillan.

24. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (1962)

Another children’s classic, A Wrinkle in Time kicks off Madeleine L'Engle’s Time Quintet series and was made into a 2018 movie. It follows teen Meg, her brother Charles and a schoolmate on a celestial journey to find Meg’s and Charles’s lost father, who’s been working on a project that bends time and space.

This book is best for teens who love fantasy and science fiction. Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is available from publisher Macmillan.

23. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Korrham (2018)

Adib Korrham’s book offers an unflinching look at depression and its impact on families. Darius and his family travel to Iran after his grandfather becomes deathly ill. As they say goodbye, Darius learns to trust his feelings and accept himself.

This book is best for teens looking for gentle explorations of queerness and mental health. Adib Korrham’s Darius the Great Is Not Okay is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

22. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (2003)

Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri’s first novel, The Namesake, shows the journey of the Gangulis from Calcutta to America, where they settle into an arranged marriage and spar over just how much to assimilate into their new culture.

This book is best for older teens interested in immigration. Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake is available from publisher HarperCollins.

21. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (2019)

Alice Oseman’s bestselling Heartstopper graphic novel series has become a sensation, earning a popular Netflix adaptation as well. It follows shy drummer Charlie and cool rugby player Nick as they fall in love and navigate the hurdles of Charlie’s insecurities and Nick coming out.

This book is best for teens who love romance or graphic novels. Trigger warnings for depictions of an eating disorder. Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper is available from publisher Scholastic.

20. The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim (2019)

Another true-to-life depiction of the impact of mental illness, this time of a parent’s on a child, The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling follows teen Anna Chui as she tries to cover for her mother’s depression—because her traditional Chinese Australian family would rather look away than deal with it.

This book is best for teens looking for realistic depictions of mental illness and some mouth-watering food descriptions. Wai Chim’s The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling is available from publisher Scholastic.

19. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)

Nazi book burnings inspired Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel about a future where books are illegal, and the government employs “firemen” to burn the ones that still exist. Fireman Guy Montag is happy with this status quo until he meets a young woman who shows him what it was like before the bans.

This book, which has received two movie adaptations, is best for teens interested in exploring big ideas through dystopian themes. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

18. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson (2017)

Coretta Scott King Author Award winner and Newbery Honor honoree Piecing Me Together follows Jade, a Black high school student who buses to a private school but feels misunderstood by the mentor who did the same before her. Jade wants to find a way to make a real difference instead of just talking.

This book is best for teens who want to step out of their comfort zones. Renee Watson’s Piecing Me Together is available from publisher Bloomsbury.

17. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (1937)

A staple of high school English classes nearly a century after its publication, Of Mice and Men follows displaced farm laborers George and Lennie, who is developmentally disabled, as they search for new work. Like all John Steinbeck works, it explores the American dream as well as alienation.

This book is best for younger teens beginning to explore adult themes in books. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

16. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2005)

A Best YA Books of All Time selection by Time, this New York Times bestseller follows Liesl, a foster child in 1939 Nazi Germany who steals books while helping her family hide a Jewish man in their basem*nt. Her thirst for knowledge contrasts with the Nazi ideals.

This book is best for older teens who want to learn more about World War II. Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

15. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez (2017)

This National Book Award finalist follows Julia, a teen whose older sister, Olga, dies in an accident, fracturing her Mexican American family. Julie tries to uncover truths Olga kept hidden while maintaining her family loyalties—but it becomes clear something has to give.

This book is best for fans of Jane the Virgin-style drama. Erika Sánchez's I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

14. The Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Yo (2021)

A historical fiction novel about two young women falling in love in 1954, this New York Times bestseller and National Book Award winner depicts both the challenges of queer love in the Red Scare era and the harsh realities for Chinese immigrants at the time.

This book is best for teens seeking queer fiction set in another time. Malinda Yo’s The Last Night at the Telegraph Club is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

13. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver (2019)

One of the first widely read novels with a nonbinary protagonist, I Wish You All the Best follows Ben after they are kicked out of their home for coming out. They move in with their older sister hoping simply to graduate high school. But an unexpected new friendship leads to a potential new love interest.

This book is best for teens questioning their gender identities or who want to learn more about those who identify as nonbinary. Mason Deaver’s I Wish You All the Best is available from publisher Scholastic.

12. This is My America by Kim Johnson (2020)

Tracy, a Black teen, desperately wants an innocence project to take up the case of her father, who is on death row for a crime she knows he didn’t commit. When her older brother is accused of murder, Tracy begins her own investigation to clear the men she loves.

This book is best for teens interested in social justice issues. Kim Johnson’s This is My America is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

11. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019)

Emoni is a teen mom who dreams of working in a kitchen one day. She wants to take a culinary arts class at school and journey to Spain with with her classmates—but she’s conflicted by responsibilities to her child and her grandmother vs. following her passion.

This book is best for teens interested in reading one of the most gifted writers of her generation. Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High is available from publisher HarperCollins.

10. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947)

Everyone knows of Anne Frank, but reading the Dutch teenage girl’s diary, kept before and during her two years of hiding from the Nazis, should be required for anyone coming of age. Anne writes matter-of-factly about daily life in the annex and her hopes and dreams for after the war.

This book is best for teens who like coming-of-age novels and want something slightly different. Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

9. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (2017)

Winner of the Kirkus Prize, this dystopian novel puts Indigenous people in danger in a world ravished by global warming. They are being hunted for their bone marrow, which can help people rediscover the lost ability to dream. Protagonist Frenchie and friends struggle to stay hidden from the thieves.

This book is best for teens looking for tales of Indigenous culture or science fiction. Cherie Dimaline's The Marrow Thieves is available from publisher Scholastic.

8. Ghost by Jason Reynolds (2016)

Generational talent Jason Reynolds delivers the story of Castle Crenshaw, aka Ghost, a middle schooler chosen for an elite Junior Olympics training opportunity. But Ghost’s traumatic past, including a father who tried to murder him, is slowing the boy down. A new coach hopes he can keep him on track.

This National Book Award finalist is best for teens who love sports. Jason Reynolds’ Ghost is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

7. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (1971)

For decades, this book about teen addiction was one of the most controversial and frequently banned books for its frank portrayals of drug use and life on the streets. It was presented as the real journal of an anonymous teen, though since its authorship and authenticity have been questioned.

Still, Go Ask Alice remains a cultural touchpoint and great conversation-starter. This book is best for older teens ready to discuss addiction and similar dangers. Trigger warning for depictions of violence and substance abuse. Go Ask Alice is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

6. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1967)

Every teen has felt like an outsider at one point or another. Hinton’s classic recognizes that universal feeling of alienation in the tale of a rivalry between two gangs with different socioeconomic statuses. Protagonist Ponyboy navigates loss and pride as he runs away from home with his best friend.

This book is best for teens who feel alone or want to be understood and seen. S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

5. Soldiers Unknown by Chag Lowry (2019)

An affecting graphic novel, Soldiers Unknown shows what happens when three Native Americans from California are called to service in World War I, forced to protect a nation that has not only never cared for them but also outright lied to and cheated their family.

This book is best for teens grappling with questions of identity and what we owe our fellow people. Chag Lowry’s Soldiers Unknown is available by contacting publisher Great Oak Press.

4. Deenie by Judy Blume (1973)

Deenie’s mom wants her stunning teenage daughter to become a model. But when Deenie is diagnosed with scoliosis and must wear a back brace, it upends her mother’s dreams of perfection and challenges the way people have perceived the teen her entire life.

This book is best for teens looking for disability representation. Judy Blume’s Deenie is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (2020)

George M. Johnson’s brutally honest and beautifully told memoir is one of the most challenged books in America. The New York Times bestseller is told in a series of essays that explore his coming out as gay as well as discussing toxic masculinity and gender identity.

This book is best for teens searching for real talk about sexuality and gender issues. George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue is available from publisher McMillan.

2. Monster by Walter Dean Myers (1999)

Walter Dean Myers’ modern classic follows Steve Harmon, a 16-year-old Black boy on trial for murder. The National Book Award finalist shows how easy it is to be brutalized by the system. The imaginative storytelling depicts the story of Steve, an aspiring filmmaker, as a movie script.

This book is best for teens who want to learn more about social justice. Walter Dean Myers’ Monster is available from publisher HarperCollins.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997)

The most impactful series for generations of readers, the Harry Potter series continues to provide value, belonging and support to young people who feel different—even as the author herself seems to have forgotten those purposes. In book one, young Harry learns he’s a wizard and heads to magic school to hone his powers.

This book is best for teens looking for an escape. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is available from publisher Scholastic.

Bottom Line

Teenagers can use books to peek into lives different from their own. They can learn about other cultures, ideas and expectations from the safety of their own bedrooms. This list of best books for teens provides a way to learn and grow, opening a dialogue to questions kids can ask parents and other trusted adults.