Choosing a good book is almost like choosing a soulmate. It’s hard to choose the perfect one out of so many. So here, I will discuss the best books for teenagers to read before their teenage get over. Teenage, where the human body and mind undergo chemical changes and sometimes face loneliness and stress too. Reading helps to handle any complexity in a better way. These are not only books for teenagers, anyone who wants to grow a habit of reading can start with these. This list contains books from various genre must-reads for young adults. Let’s have a look at the 15 best books for teenagers to read.
Table of Contents
- Here is the list of 15 best books for teenagers to read
- 1. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
- 2. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
- 3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
- 4. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
- 5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- 6. Aristotle and Dante discover the secret of the universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
- 7. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- 8. Sita- Warrior of Mithila by Amish Tripathi
- 9. Like a girl real stories of illusion by Aparna Jain
- 10. The ultimate gift by Jim Stivalt
- 11. Malgudi Days by R.K.Narayan
- 12. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- 13. The palace of illusion by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- 14. To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- 15. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Here is the list of 15 best books for teenagers to read
- The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
- I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Aristotle and Dante discover the secret of the universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- Sita- Warrior of Mithila by Amish Tripathi
- Like a girl real stories of illusion by Aparna Jain
- The ultimate gift by Jim Stivalt
- Malgudi Days by R.K.Narayan
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- The palace of illusion by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
1. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
This is NO.1 New York Times Bestseller book. It is one of those books that I am sure will stay with you forever. It may be recommended for YA readers, but it should read by elderly teens, not for the young ones. It contains some powerful and hard-hitting messages that will stay with you for a long time. Those will change your outlook towards society. Yes, this book deals with murder, police brutality, racism, and conflict with the law, but the conflict also goes deeper within the community. It is a teenager’s story and her fight against the whole social nomes. The book will give you a holistic view of society and prejudice and teach you not to judge from the outside. This book is one of the best books for teenagers to read
2. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
An autobiography of Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai.This is one of the must-read books for teens A fifteen years old teenage girl from Swat valley in Pakistan was shot at point-blank range. In her book, she wrote about the extremist, radical brutality of the Taliban. The hardship face by innocent civilians in her country. It is a journey of Malala. How a young girl recovers from her death bed and is determined to fight. How she move out of the valley of northern Pakistan to the United States of America. These all will inspire every teen and teach them to fight. It’s your will that gives you the courage to reach your goal. Your gender can’t be your weakness. According to my, 15 best books for teenagers to read.
3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This book is an international bestseller which makes this book a must-read. It’s a book everybody should read. It deals with depression and suicidal tendencies. If you are in your teen, then you should be reading about these things. If you ever feel depressed or any suicidal thoughts come up, go and ask for help. As well as if any of your friends or known ones have the same kind of issues, you can help them also. As we all should know, depression or mental illness is not a mood or a feeling; it’s a real problem. Don’t hesitate to ask for medical help if needed
4. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri, an Indian American writer. The Namesake is her first brainchild. The story of Ashima and Ashok, two native Indians who migrated to the UAS. They have a son and name him Gogol. He finds his name very awkward in his surrounding. As time passes, the difference between Indian and American culture became the center of all clashes between the father-son duo. How a boy gets ready to leave all his inherited Bengali values behind? How he gets rid of the stigma of his name? The author presented every plot with great details. Her language will you fall in love with English literature.
5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book I will recommend to 16,17,18 year old and not those who are younger than that. It’s a non-fiction book and more like a self-help book. If you are at a phase to decide what kind of life you want to build for yourself, this book will be super helpful for you. From this book, you will also learn how to live without fears and what creative living is. Anyone can read it more than once, and every read will enhance your understanding of life. As per my opinion, it’s a must-read tor book for teens.
6. Aristotle and Dante discover the secret of the universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
This is a story of Aristotle and Dante. These two normal teenage kids fall in love. The growth of both the characters and how they discover themselves is amazing. It’s one of the most beautiful love stories out there. Teenage is a very confusing phase as it happens with everyone. Both the characters are going through the same phase. This whole journey will rejuvenate you. You can consider this book is one of the best books for teenagers to read and who knows it will help you to rediscover yourself.
7. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
This book is a fictional thriller. When you are in your teens, it is a must read book for you . The story is about fourteen passengers, and one of the passengers died. The detective on the train have to find who the killer is? With so many twists and turns, you won’t be able to guess the ending until you are there. It is the most fun part of this book.
8. Sita- Warrior of Mithila by Amish Tripathi
Amish Tripathi describes the mythological characters in a humanistic way. This is one of the good indian books to read. Epic The Ramayana presents a different perspective of Sita. But in this book, you will witness a warrior Sita for the first time. This popular book series of teens comes with two books, Ram- scion of Ikshvaku, Raavan- Enemy of Aryavarta. This book will change the mythological view, and his books are capable of doing that.
9. Like a girl real stories of illusion by Aparna Jain
Young teenagers often miss their childhood. This book contains some lovely art and wonderful stories about women. Recommending this book not only for girls but also for boys, even every Indian teenager should read. It tells the tales of some amazing women like Sultan Razia, Chand Bibi, Rani Lakshmibai, and many more. Patriarchal society always talks about its men, refuses to talk about its women. This book took the first step to break the taboo. This book will be a good read for teenagers.
10. The ultimate gift by Jim Stivalt
This is another fictional novel, but it will be an inspiring book for teenagers. This book deals with the life of a boy named Jason, whose great grandfather is super-rich, who died. But in his will, he leaves some of his property for some other family members except for Jason. To get the Ultimate gift, Jason has to go through a test for twelve months. But this journey of twelve-month change everything. The author also mentions the twelve gifts people are blessed with, and every teenager should read this book.
11. Malgudi Days by R.K.Narayan
It’s a collection of short stories of R.K.narayan, also one of the famous books of Indian authors. R.K.Narayan writes the sweet tales and funny tales of all time. This book contains thirty-two short stories based on a fictional town named Malgudi somewhere in South India. Life in India reflected at its best in it; it’s best for Indian teenagers.
12. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Books are beyond borders, and this book is one of that kind. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist gathered readers from around the world. Everyone witnesses the enchanting journey. It contains a shepherd boy, Santiago, and travels from his hometown to the Egyptian desert searching for treasure. This book presents a fable but in the best possible manner. It is the best book to read for any age group, and if you are a young adult, you must go for it.
13. The palace of illusion by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Another mythological fiction based on the life of Panchali. Well known as Draupadi from The Mahabharata. It’s like a mixture of history, mythology, and magic. We all well known with Panchali, the wife of the Pandava brothers, who have a timeless presence in The Mahabharat. But This tale deals with the pre-married life of Panchali. From a fiery birth, how she spends his lonely childhood, and a complicated friendship. This book will be giving a spiritual view to all teenagers.
14. To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
It’s classic fiction by an American author Harper Lee. This book is written from a little girl’s point of view, but you will be amazed by all the characters’ little details and progress. The key while reading this book is patience. The lessons are relevant today; also, even the book was written in the late 19th century. This classic book every teenager should read.
15. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
If you are looking for a novel for young adults, Radio Silence should be on your list. A story that is not a cliche, relatable characters, the fresh and organic storyline makes it a great read. The story revolves around two characters Frances, a 17-year-old girl and Aled, an 18-year-old boy. Their friendship, differences, growth, and journey towards their goal make this book extraordinary.
Frequently Asked Question
Q. What books should every teenager read?
As we gradually get older, we start forming views about our society and its norms. It’s like a phase when a caterpillar comes out of its cocoon and starts discovering its world. A teenager can be navigated toward any possibilities in their life. What you read during your teenage, helps you to form your views and shapes your upcoming life. While selecting these books every teen should read, we have to be wise. A read always should be refreshing as well as knowledgeable.
Q. Which are books every teen should read?
The books in this list can read by every teenager. But for a better understanding, I’m doing a further classification according to their age.
- 13-15 years: Malguri days by K.Narayan,
The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovell,
Like a Girl- real stories of tough kids by Aparna Jain.
- 16-17 years: Thirteen reasons why by Jay Ashen,
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
The Hate you Give by Angie Thomas,
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai,
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert,
Sita- Warrior of Mithila by Amish Tripathi.
- 18-19 years: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho,
The palace of Illusion by Chitra Banarjee Divakaruni,
Murder on the Oriental Express by Agatha Christie.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Q. Can a beginner read these books or not?
Yes, beginners can read books for the 13-15 years age group. Like Malguri days by R.K.Narayan, The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovell, and Like a Girl- real stories of tough kids by Aparna Jain. These books have easy language and will increase your interest in reading. After a while, you can go for the other books on the list.
Q. How does anyone get these books?
Today getting any book is extremely easy because of all the e-commerce services. The world is at our fingertips. Buying anything becomes way too easy than before. These books are available online. You can choose a hard copy or an ebook as per your own preference. All the books mentioned above are available in both forms.
Q. What is the best book for a teenager?
To be honest, people have their own perspectives, but if you ask me, a book with both a great plot and something to learn from is the best book for teenagers. For instance, a book like The Alchemist will never fail to amaze you with its writing style and will make you want to read more and learn more.
Q. Why should you read classic books?
It is found that classic books are a bit boring, but they are essential not only for adults but also for teenagers. Classic books help us to view the world from a different perspective. They make us understand that beyond our mindset, there is an entire world for you to explore and also give us a historical opinion. Books like The Diary of a Young Girl present the people of different periods and talk about courage and inspire us.