Best Teen Books

There are hundreds of excellent teen books on the market, and more are published every year. This is by no means a definitive list. Howver, we hope it serves as a starting point for finding your own favorite books for adolescent readers.

1.

 by J.D. Salinger

 While The Catcher in the Rye is the type of classic work often assigned in English class, it has captured the imagination of several generations of teens. While the novel's language may be rough and the protagonist anti-social, it speaks to the universal teen topic of finding your place in the world.

2.

 by Chris Crutcher

 Chris Crutcher's books are among the best teen books because they include realistic teen characters, situations, and language. Sex, drugs, abuse, racism – Crutcher doesn't pull any punches when it come to tackling tough topics, often making his books the focus of censorship battles. Sports action is also an important part of any Crutcher novel, making him a top pick for reluctant readers. Chris Crutcher was the 2000 winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association, created to honor authors of teen books.

3.

 by Walter Dean Myers

 Walter Dean Myers brings to life the story of a teen charged with murder, taking a look at his descent into a life of violence and crime. The book's innovative format mixes movie script and journal entries for a narrative that leaves the reader guessing about the guilt or innocence of the main character. Monster was the first winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature from the American Library Association in 2000.

4.

 by Laurie Halse Anderson

 The important topics of bullying and peer pressure serve as the focus for Speak. However, the ostracism the main character endures from her high school classmates is nothing compared to the deeper trauma she faces after an ill-fated party. As she finds her voice again, readers witness the healing power of artistic expression. Speak was named a Michael L. Printz Honor book in 2000.

5.

 by S.E. Hinton

 While the book's setting and characters are a bit dated, this classic young adult novel remains one of the best teen books. In 1988, Hinton was the first recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, in large part due to the timelessness of her work.

6.

 by Paul Zindel

 The idea of trying to find meaning and friendship in life is as relevant today as when the book was first published. Paul Zindel was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2002 for his entire body of work, but The Pigman is easily his most famous and popular novel.

7.

 by J.K. Rowling

 Harry Potter's adventures have entranced readers of all ages, and today's teen readers have grown up with the young wizard. There are few series with Potter's power to inspire devoted and voracious reading. Reading the Harry Potter series can also lead teens to other quality works of fantasy like The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

8.

 Graphic novels and manga, Japanese comics, are great for reluctant readers. In many cases, they offer excellent light reading, but some of the best graphic novels are literary works in their own right. Art Spielgelman's Maus tells the story of the Holocaust like few other works, and Ghost World expertly speaks to teenage disaffection. Even if teens pick up the manga version of their favorite anime series, they're still enjoying the act of reading.

9.

 While not everyone thinks of poetry as enjoyable reading, it can be a great choice for teens used to analyzing the lyrics of their favorite musical artists. For an innovative take on poetry, try the poetry-based novels of Sonya Sones or Virginia Euwer Wolff. The poems of Tupac Shakur have proven popular with many of his teen fans. Collections like Slam bring together poetry on themes and topics more relevant to adolescent readers.

10.

 Books like Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens can help teens make sense of everyday life. The short nature of many of the individual stories and chapters in these books make them good for a quick and easy read.

Related LoveToKnow Sites

• LoveToKnow Teens