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Let your teen travel through fictional worlds with our list of the best novels for teens. These novels can help your teenager explore a world of their own without having to leave the comfort of their home. From adventure and fantasy to romance and friendship, these books will take your teen on a rollercoaster ride and help them learn valuable lessons.
According to Adrienne Chinn, a best-selling Canadian novelist and poet, “Finding books your teen will love introduces them to a world of imagination that will enrich their lives and open their minds to new thoughts and ideas. It can help your teen gain new perspectives and experience different emotions.”
Our list includes some popular books of different genres to keep your teen hooked and engaged for hours. So, explore the list to choose a book based on your teen’s interests.
Top Picks
17 Best Novels For Teens To Read At Any Time In 2024
1. Best Romance Novel: The Fault In Our Stars
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Author: John Green
“The Fault in Our Star” is a beautiful book about the protagonists Hazel and Augustus. They meet each other at a support group and embark on a rollercoaster ride to find the author of their favorite book. What happens next? Read the book to find out. This book is sure to make your teen smile, laugh, and cry as it is filled with the emotional experiences of two young teenagers. This book assessment video can help you learn more about this best-selling book.
Did you know?2. Best Science-Fiction Novel: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
“The Giver” is a time-tested science fiction novel about a boy named Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal but lackluster world. This world has a lot of rules, no one has the time to think for themselves, and there is no pain, music or color. The people in this world live under the assumption that it’s perfect, and nobody questions what is right or wrong. However, one day, Jonas is assigned an important task to travel in time and learn the truth. What is the truth and is Jonas able to find out? Your teen will have to read this book to find out.
Quick fact
3. Best Fantasy Novel: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
“The Golden Compass” is a novel about a young girl and her adventures of rescuing her best friend. Lyra is an orphan living in a parallel universe, and a demon threatens to dominate the world. When Lyra’s friend is kidnapped and she finds out that other children have also mysteriously gone missing, she attempts to rescue all of them. She travels far north with the gypsies, meets a great bear and in the end, she finds her friend. But will she succeed in freeing her? Read the book to find out.
4. Best Dual Narrative Novel: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Two adorable teenagers, Eleanor and Park, meet in the school bus and instantly become buddies. Their similarities draw them to each other, and eventually, they fall in love. As their life and love progress, their lives begin to fall apart. How they tackle everything and become star-crossed lovers is what this book is all about. Watch this book assessment video to know more about this coming-of-age book.
5. Best thriller Novel: A Wrinkle In Time
Author: Madeleine L’Engle
“A Wrinkle in Time” is the story of Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace. Meg is a regular teen who is battling her insecurities while her brother has special mental abilities. They embark on a thrilling and fantastic journey to save their father, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe joins them in this quest. They learn that their father, a gifted scientist, is being held as a prisoner on another planet. “A Wrinkle in Time” tells the story of how they succeed in rescuing their father from the planet of Camazotz.
6. Best Autobiographical Novel: Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
“Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” is a heart-wrenching story of Anne Frank and her experiences during World War II. During the war, Anne and her family spend over two years hiding from the Nazis, in a very tiny room called the Secret Annex. Her diary is a first-hand account describing the Holocaust and their everyday struggle in the Secret Annex.
However, the Nazi Police discover everyone and send them to the concentration camps. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was the only survivor and got her diary published. Anne Frank’s Diary is a powerful testament to the human spirit and a reminder to the horrors of the Nazi Regime.
Did you know?7. Best Mystery Novel: Pretty Little Liars
Author: Sara Shepard
Pretty Little Liars is about four friends who are in high school. One night, after a sleepover, one of their friends vanishes. The other three keep it a secret as long as they can. But there is someone who knows all of their secrets. What happens next? Find out by reading this best-selling contemporary novel for teens.
8. Best Motivational Novel: The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie
This is the story of an Indian boy called Junior, living in America. He has more than his fair share of burdens. But there is a ray of hope: he is smart, intelligent, good at basketball, and excellent at drawing. Unlike his relatives or friends, Junior is ambitious and hopes to have a bright future. But what happens when he decides to go to a school 22 miles away from his home? Does life get any easier? Read about the emotional journey of Junior and his struggles to overcome all his battles. Check out this book assessment video to know more about this engaging book.
9. Best Captivating Novel: The Age of Miracles
Author: Karen Thompson Walker
Julia is a school-going girl who lives in a California suburb. She wakes up on a Saturday morning to discover there is something wrong with how the earth is rotating. Suddenly, everything around her seems disturbed. “The Age of Miracles” is a moving tale of the real and surreal experiences of people and how they cope with the ever-evolving world.
10. Best Powerful Novel: The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Little Prince is for pre-teens or young teens but is also appreciated by older audiences. The story revolves around a little boy who travels to the universe, leaving behind the comfort of his own planet. He lands on Earth and has a series of extraordinary experiences. This time-tested classic novel for teens is a must-read for those who enjoy reading simple yet powerful stories.
11. Best Friendship Fiction:Bridge To Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
In this young adult novel, teenagers Jesse and Leslie are neighbors. Initially, they are reluctant to be with each other but eventually become friends. To escape their bossy parents and bullies at school, Jesse and Leslie try to get lost in their very own private kingdom, Terabithia. Their beautiful world is shattered by one tragic incident, and everything changes. This is one of the best novels for teenagers as it stands out among many books on friendship, loss, and how beautifully a child tries to stay strong in spite of a tragedy.
12. Best Family Saga:Prep
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Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
Teens in high school may enjoy reading “Prep” as it chronicles the experiences of a girl who moves to an American boarding school. The story is based on Lee Fiora’s life in a boarding school and how she tackles the challenges that this life throws at her. Living away from her family, this 14-year old learns to live independently for the first time. But one incident shatters her identity. Your teen can experience it first hand by reading the book.
13. Best For Realistic Gaming:Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad
Author: Reki Kawahara
The story is set in 2024, when gamers are rejoicing at the launch of the Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game or VRMMORPG, which enables them to immerse themselves into the game for a fully realistic experience. The players are so engrossed in the game as they continue to play that they do not realize that the game lacks the most basic function: the log out button. This means they are trapped! How they escape the game is something your teen will find out by reading this book.
14. Best Siblings Fiction:Where Things Come Back
Author: John Corey Whaley
If your teen is a bookworm and loves reading books by John Green, they will enjoy “Where Things Come Back.” Fast-paced and satisfying, the story is about a dark town called Arkansas. If there are any second chances in life, this book reveals them. And, it gives its readers a whole new perspective about life, making it a must-read book for YA.
15. Best Emotional Fiction:We Are Okay
Author: Nina LaCour
“We Are Okay” is about Marin, a freshman in college. She spends the winter holidays alone in her dorm and looks forward to the only pleasant thing that happens during the holidays: a visit from her best friend, Mabel. After her mom’s death, Marin is taken in and raised by her grandfather. Just weeks before her college begins, her grandfather passes away, and she discovers an astonishing secret about her family. What is it? Read the teen fiction book to find out.
16. Best Action Packed:Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle)
Author: Amie Kaufman
“Aurora Rising” is a science fiction novel set in 2380 at the Aurora Academy. The graduating cadets from the academy are going to be assigned their first ever mission. A star-cadet named Tyler Jones is excited about recruiting his first squad. But he is also responsible for the safety of Auri, who he had rescued earlier. With his troublesome squad and the obligation of looking after Auri, how does Tyler Jones save the entire galaxy?
17. Best Brotherly Love:Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers
Author: Deborah Heiligman
This novel is about two best friends Vincent and Theo. The story revolves around how they grow up together and how their friendship turns into a bond of brotherhood. Theo sets out to become an art dealer, and Vincent struggles with his livelihood as an artist but enjoys painting. It is a vivid and dramatic story that will prove to be a great reading experience for teens.
How To Choose The Right Novels For Teens?
Here are some things to consider when choosing a suitable novel for your teen reader.
- Age-appropriate:Select a book appropriate for your teen’s age to ensure they are suitable for someone who is just starting to explore novels.
- Interests: Finding a book that matches your teen’s interests will help them enjoy the reading experience more. Explore various genres and themes to narrow down your choices.
- Complexity:If your teen is looking for an easy read, find a novel that isn’t too complicated. But, if they’re looking for something to sink their teeth into, look for a book with more depth and complexity. Ensure the book challenges their skills to help enhance their creativity and vocabulary.
- Reviews: Check the reviews of fellow readers and parents and choose a diverse book for your teen.
The Bottom Line
Whether your teen is an avid reader or not, introduce them to an intriguing world of fiction with these novels. This list of the best novels for teens comprises interesting books that can bind your child’s interest, improve their literary proficiency, and take them on a journey that will make them smile, cry, and even introspect. For instance, Anne Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl” showcases human perseverance, while John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars portrays the life of teenage lovers. In contrast, The Giver by Lois Lowry revolves around a dystopian universe. All you need to do is find the right novel genre your teenager prefers. So be their reading companion and enjoy reading the novels for teens we have shortlisted for teenagers.
Infographic: How To Choose The Right Novels For Teens?
Teen books are referred to as young-adult literature since they cater primarily to teenagers and young adults aged 13 to 18. They have unique characteristics with varied and inclusive voices and experiences that set them apart from the other age categories of fiction. So, give this infographic a look to discover the ideal books for teens that help them develop a liking for reading. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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