Best Young Adult Books

A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother_x0092_s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood.

Sixteenyearold Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri_x0092_s got big shoes to fill.

The hardcover boxed set of C. S. Lewis's classic Fantasy, series The Chronicles of Narnia, with cover art by threetime Caldecott Medalwinning illustrator David Wiesner and the full blackandwhite original interior art by Pauline Baynes.Journeys into magical realms, battles…

Sixteenyearold and notsoopenly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight.

The start of a bold and immersive West Africaninspired, feminist Fantasy, series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther.

"I remember being a fourth grader [and] going so far as to have my parents take it to the school board and petition for me to be allowed to read this book." - Alice Little

Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents_x0092_ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family. But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga_x0092_s role.

Now a major motion picture starring Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton! The #1 New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist from the bestselling author of Everything, Everything will have you falling in love with Natasha and Daniel as they fall in love with each…

I wonder what it would be like to be free Not to need wings because you don_x0092_t have to fly away from your countryAnita de la Torre is a twelveyearold girl living in the Dominican Republic in 1960.

She won't be anyone's cautionary tale.Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team.

A Printz Honor Book "Gorgeous and evocative . . . magnificent."The New York Times Medieval France: Dolssa is an uppercrust city girl with a secret lover and an uncanny gift.

Wildly chatty diary entries driven by a teenager’s voice, the book feels like overhearing a dramatic best friend. Its useful part is laugh-out-loud, anecdotal scenes about crushes, social disasters, family mishaps and cosmetic panics — useful when you need light escapism or nostalgia for mortifying adolescence. Main limitation: the voice is purposely immature and repetitive; jokes repeat, and some plot threads barely develop, so readers wanting emotional depth, modern teen insight, or polished prose will find it thin.

Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything.

When Chloe Pierce_x0092_s mom forbids her to apply for a spot at the dance conservatory of her dreams, she devises a secret plan to drive two hundred miles to the nearest audition.

What if the most terrifying person you know is your tenyearold sisterSeventeenyearold Aussie Che Taylor loves his younger sister, Rosa. But he's also certain that she's a psychopathclinically, threateningly, dangerously. Recently Rosa has been making trouble, hurting things.

A heartbreaking and mindbending story of a talented teenage artist's awakening to the brokenness of her family from critically acclaimed awardwinner A.S. King.Sixteenyearold Sarah can't draw.

Told from three diverse points of view, this story of life and love after loss is one Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, believes "will stay with you long after you put it down." We've lost everything...and found ourselves.Loss pulled Autumn, Shay, and Logan apart.

Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there's nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra.Is she ever in for a surprise.First mom announces that she's dating Mia's Algebra teacher.

Gary Paulsen drops you into the crash and keeps the prose spare and immediate. Most of the book is a close, day-by-day account of a teen learning to fish, make fire, treat wounds, and think clearly under pressure. Its strength is tactile, concrete survival detail and an inward focus that turns practical skills into a rite of passage. Its limits are repetition and a narrow cast—long stretches replay the same problems from slightly different angles, and if you want multiple plotlines or social drama you'll be disappointed.

Defy the Night reads like a propulsive YA political-fantasy opener: quick-moving action, palace intrigue, and a rising-hope-versus-corruption plot. The most useful part is its momentum and clear stakes—you’ll know what’s at risk and which alliances matter, which makes it an easy binge. The main limitation is that worldbuilding and faction history arrive in sizable chunks, so characters and moral gray areas can feel sketched rather than fully inhabited. If you want quieter character study, this will frustrate.

An alternative cover edition of this ISBN can be found here.5 Book Paperback Boxed Set (new covers with poster)The Lightning ThiefThe Sea of MonstersThe Titan's CurseThe Battle of the LabyrinthThe Last Olympian An alternative cover edition of this ISBN can be found here.5 Book…

Dear Martin arrives as a spare, urgent YA novel that trades polish for emotional directness: immediate voice, short chapters, and scenes that aim to unsettle rather than soothe. What works best is its immediacy — it’s easy to finish in a few sittings and leaves questions hanging for conversation. Its main limitation is that the tone stays tight and intense; readers who want quieter development, lots of nuance, or steady resolution may find the book relentless or occasionally schematic in its moral pressure.

The New York Times #1 best selling series Includes 3 hardcover novels by Ransom Riggs and 12 collectible peculiar photographs. The movie adaptation of Miss Peregrine_x0092_s Home for Peculiar Children is in theaters December 2016.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow.

He will be the destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.

New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han_x0092_s beloved novels are now available together in this delightful paperback boxed set!What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them_x0085_all at onceLara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her…

Anne of Green Gables follows Anne Shirley, an imaginative redhead whose exuberant voice animates a string of neighborhood episodes. It reads as connected vignettes rather than a propulsive plot, so momentum depends on character, local color, and small domestic pleasures. What works best is lively, voice-driven writing and steady character development across many short scenes; the main limitation is repetition, sentimentality, and period attitudes that can feel dated. Best read in chunks or aloud, the books reward patience but frustrate readers wanting brisk plotting.

Call Down the Hawk reads like a moody, dream-soaked YA fantasy that leans on atmosphere and close character work rather than propulsive plotting. Its strongest value is the eerie, intimate portrait of dreamers, the ethical friction around those who use or protect them, and a queer-leaning emotional core that rewards slow reading. Its main limitation is pacing: readers who want clear plot momentum or tidy resolutions may find the prose indulgent and the dream logic repetitive, with scenes that prioritize mood over action.

In a novelinverse that brims with grief and love, National Book Awardwinning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.Camino Rios lives for the…

An instant New York Times bestseller! _x0093_Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversation, providing a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls.

An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds_x0092_s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds_x0097_the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he_x0092_s going to murder the guy who killed his brother.A cannon.

A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST"Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heartbreaking and soulhealing." Laurie Halse Anderson, author of SHOUT "A singular voice in the world of literature." Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down A powerful comingofage story about grief, guilt, and…

Awardwinning Speak author Laurie Halse Anderson's New York Times bestselling poetic memoir and call to action, which garnered eight starred reviews!Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual…

By day, seventeenyearold Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy.

Kyrie McCauley, author of If These Wings Could Fly, delivers a powerful contemporary YA novel about a trio of girls fighting for each other in the aftermath of a school shooting and the lasting bonds of friendship.

Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill ? the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh.

A tight first-person YA set shortly after 9/11 follows a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who copes with stereotyping, mean looks, and a cautious romantic thread. The prose favors short, punchy scenes and wry, guarded narration that makes ordinary prejudice feel immediate and personal. Most of the book is a character portrait rather than a political survey, so it’s strongest when you want mood and voice. Repetition of similar incidents and inward commentary can make the middle section feel stretched for readers craving plot momentum.

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heartwrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!

Three years ago, Tanner Scott_x0092_s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet.

Boyhood meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this unconventional love story by awardwinning author Meredith Russo!Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time.

Starts as a propulsive first-person YA thriller: brisk chapters, training montages, and standalone action set pieces keep momentum. Its most useful quality is forward motion—the plot forces quick moral choices and readable stakes about identity and belonging. Limits show in thin worldbuilding, schematic secondary characters, and a recurring inward monologue that cycles through the same doubts. Romance elements follow familiar beats rather than surprising. Best read when you want a fast emotional hook and a launch into a bingeable series rather than slow political texture.

Her story is a phenomenon. Her life is a disaster.In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, she_x0092_s LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea.

In this moving story two teens fall in love with just one minor complication_x0097_they can_x0092_t get within five feet of each other without risking their lives.Can you love someone you can never touchStella Grant likes to be in control_x0097_even though her totally out of…

Here is what happens when your mother dies.It_x0092_s the brightest day of summer and it_x0092_s dark outside. It_x0092_s dark in your house, dark in your room, and dark in your heart. You feel like the darkness is going to split you apart.That_x0092_s how it feels for Tiger.

Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, Mason Deaver's stunning debut will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process."Heartfelt, romantic, and quietly groundbreaking.

In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday_x0092_s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn, 1998.

Based on the reallife adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie is the third book in the awardwinning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers.

The Hate U Give meets Get Out in this honest and powerful exploration of prejudice in the stunning novel from sisterwriter duo Maika and Maritza Moulite, authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine.ISN'T BEING HUMAN ENOUGHWhen teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed…

Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life_x0097_at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father_x0092_s extreme faith and very public fall from…

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling authors of the Illuminae Files comes a new sciencefiction epic. . . .The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions.

A debut novel based on the true story of the iconic painter, Artemisia Gentileschi.Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.She chose paint.By the…

Sixteenyearold Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts),…

Follows fifteen-year-old Liliana Cruz as she navigates a nearly all-white school, rising racism, and family secrets that force her to choose whether to fit in or speak up. The novel delivers scene-focused immediacy and a close teen viewpoint that keeps stakes personal. It’s an accessible contemporary YA about identity and moral choice, though some readers may find several plot beats telegraphed and emotional moments leaning toward melodrama rather than subtlety.

Game of Thrones meets Red Rising in a debut young Adult, Fantasy, that's full of rivalry, romance... and dragons.Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone_x0097_even the lowborn_x0097_a chance to test into the governing class…

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Dear Martincomes a pitchperfect romance that examines class, privilege, and how a stroke of good luck can change an entire life.Meet Rico: high school senior and afternoonshift cashier at the Gas 'n' Go, who after school and work…

A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial like podcast following the clues she's left behind. And an ending you won't be able to stop talking about.Sadie hasn't had an easy life.

A startling, fiercely feminist reimagining of Cinderella from the bestselling, awardwinning author Jennifer Donnelly.An instant New York Times bestseller!Don't just fracture the fairy tale. Shatter it.Isabelle should be blissfully happyshe's about to win the handsome prince.

Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time.

Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.They aren_x0092_t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she_x0092_s written. One for every boy she_x0092_s ever loved_x0097_five in all.

A voice-driven coming-of-age novel that drops you into a young Haitian immigrant's first months in Detroit after her mother is detained by U.S. immigration. The strength lies in tight first-person perspective, vivid neighborhood scenes, and family dynamics that make the cultural friction feel immediate; it's most useful for readers who want character and atmosphere over plot-heavy pacing. Limitations: repeating motifs and a sometimes-shortened subplot resolution can feel elliptical, so readers looking for tidy plot arcs may be frustrated.

Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexicoshe'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants.

In a community that isn't always understanding, an HIVpositive teen must navigate fear, disclosure, and radical selfacceptance when she falls in loveand lustfor the first time. Powerful and uplifting, Full Disclosure will speak to fans of Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon.

The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that was "made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir" ( Bustle ), Lady Smoke is an epic Fantasy, about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.

Seventeenyearold Marisol Morales and her little sister Gabi are detainees of the United States government. They were caught crossing the U.S. border, to escape the gang violence in their country after their brother was murdered.

Sixteenyearold Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met.