The following is a contributed post from Karen Johnson, author of What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up? (And Other Thoughts from a 40-Something Mom).
Say what you want about teens these days, but as someone who works at our local public library, I can attest firsthand that our young people are still loving books. If your teen seems resistant to reading, it might just be a matter of finding the right genre to grab hold of their imagination and interest. Our library sees a lot of fantasy, manga (comics or graphic novels coming from Japan), and romance go in and out, with some old standby classics still in the mix as well. And graphic novels are always a hit. Or, if your teen is a horror fan or loves a good dystopian tale, there are some popular ones in those categories too.
The truth is, reading is a life-long brain exercise that causes our kids to think, teaches them how to have empathy, and educates them about those who might live differently than they do. Books can inspire them to be the best versions of themselves they can possibly be, or they can function simply as an escape from all of the stresses of life that plague today’s teens. Either way, there’s nothing better we can do for our teenagers than to encourage them to read.
Here are the hit YA books we can’t keep on the shelves right now at our local public library.
The Most Popular YA Books Right Now—In Each Category
ROMANCE
The Summer I Turned Pretty (trilogy) by Jenny Han
Are you Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? This hit series is now a popular rom-com on Netflix, so your YA reader can compare book to screen (just make sure they know the book is always better!)
FANTASY
The Throne of Glass (series) by Sarah J. Maas
In a world where magic has been banished, fierce and brave Celaena Sardothien is an assassin who kills for one reason—this is her only path to freedom.
Rangers Apprentice (series) by John Flanagan
This 12-book medieval series tells the story of Will, an orphan who trains to be a ranger under a strict mentor named Halt.
DYSTOPIAN
Although it’s been around for decades, The Giver continues to maintain popularity among YA readers. In this dystopian classic, 12-year-old Jonas lives in a society void of all memories and emotions except for “The Giver”—who holds all of them.
Divergent (series) by Veronica Roth
Set in post-apocalyptic dystopian Chicago, this series tells of a society divided into five factions, including selflessness, intelligence, bravery, peace, and honesty.
You may also like to read: Valor, Friendship, Redemption: 10 Important Books Your Teen Should Read
FAIRYTALE
A Twisted Tale (series) by various authors
These books offer familiar fairytales with a YA, sometimes dark, sometimes unexpected twist. What if Anna and Elsa were separated and never knew each other? What if the Evil Queen succeeded in poisoning Snow White?
MYSTERY
https://amzn.to/4wjKnFSThe Inheritance Games (series) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery Grambs is just trying to survive high school and get out of town on a scholarship when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her his fortune. But here’s the catch: she must learn to navigate the dangerous twists and turns of the Hawthorne house first.
SUSPENSE
Also a book-to-Netflix success, 17-year-old Pip is a true-crime enthusiast trying to solve the murder of one of the most popular girls at school, plus the suicide of the supposed perp.
The Bayview Four—Bronwyn, Nate, Cooper, and Addy—are in trouble. Someone killed Simon, everyone’s a suspect, and no one what’s true or what’s even real.
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Also a contender for the “romance” category, this coming-of-age LGBTQ love story has now been made into a hit Netflix show. Heartstopper is a story about Nick and Charlie and how they navigate friendship, falling in love, mental health struggles, and all the other pieces of growing up together.
MANGA
Is this soccer-meets-manga hit series, aspiring soccer players endure the rigorous training of Blue Lock. Who will be left standing in the end to be named Japan’s best player?
What happens when a secret agent tries to build a believable family, except his “wife” is an assassin and his “daughter” a telepath? Find out in this popular YA manga series!
NOVEL IN VERSE
A newer YA category, poetry lovers will be moved by this Novel in Verse story of grief and forgiveness as a family mourns a loved one who died in a plane crash.
CLASSICS
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Maybe it’s because it’s been rebranded so many times, but this classic remains a popular choice for YA readers. A story of young women growing into adulthood during the mid to late 1800s, these famous sisters learn about love, loss, loyalty, and the strength of the family bond.
Anne of Green Gables (series) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
A timeless tale that has also been remade and rebranded over the years, Anne is an 11-year-old orphan who finds her first “real” home in Green Gables. (Pssst! The Netflix show Anne with an E is a modern take!)
HISTORICAL FICTION
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This best-seller is heavy, which is evident from the get-go as it’s narrated by Death and takes place in Nazi Germany during WWII. The main character Liesel Meminger copes with the horrors that surround her by escaping into books, eventually writing her own story.
You may also like to read: Twenty of the Best Audio Books For Teens (That Parents Will Enjoy Too!)
FICTION
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
17-year-old Charlie Davis copes with an extreme mental health crisis as well as the loss of loved ones and lack of support that she desperately needs.
HORROR
The re-launch of R.L. Stine’s popular Fear Street series includes this thriller. In Party Games (Book 52), Rachel Martin (against her friends’ advisement) goes to a birthday party where one of the “party games” is murder.
SCI-FI
Arc of a Scythe (series) by Neal Shusterman
In a world with no disease, war, or even natural death, “Scythes” are in charge of ending life to keep population under control. It’s a job they’re mandated to do, whether they want to or not.
There is no shortage of good literature for your YA teen / tween reader, so let them try out a variety of genres. Are they intrigued by a good love story? How about a gut-wrenching tale of historical fiction? Or maybe they just want to escape to a fantasy world? It’s all there—just hit up your local library or shop via these links and watch your (big) kids get lost in a book.
Parenting teens and tweens is a tough job, but you’re not alone. These posts might help:
Drink Spiking: Advice from a Former CIA Agent and Dad
This Is Why Teen Girls Are So Mean to Their Mothers
Teens and Vaping—How to Respond, Talk Through It, and Get Them to Stop
7 Rules for Raising Excellent Kids in a Chaotic World from an Expert
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