25 Good Books Our Teens Read for Fun

Katniss Everdeen is a teenage girl living in one of 12 districts in what was once North America, under the rule of a Capitol that requires one boy and one girl from each district to participate in an annual "Hunger Games," where the children must fight to the death as punishment for a long-ago rebellion. An absolutely gripping story with wonderful characters you won't soon forget.

Alexandra F. said:  This dystopian trilogy had everyone in our family absolutely hooked from the moment we each started it. They are good middle school books, but equally great reads for older teens and adults, too.

Alexandra F. said:  My 7th grader just read this classic Agatha Christie mystery book for junior high and is OBSESSED. She absolutely loved the intriguing story about 10 strangers trapped together on an island who mysteriously begin to die, one by one. Who is the murderer?? Will anyone be left alive? She could barely keep herself from reading ahead. A great mystery book for kids who are a little older, up through adults!

Shila said:  I recommend reading Jeanine Cummins' fiction novel, American Dirt. The very first page of the book will set the tone for the entire novel, so you can decide right away if you like what you're reading. Cummins writes about a mother and her young son seeking asylum from an Acapulco, Mexican cartel after their entire family was murdered. With nothing more than a backpack, pocket money, and their late husband/father's ballcap, they attempt to escape on a dangerous trek to El Norte, in hopes of reaching American soil.

This book does not come without controversy as it relates to refugees, immigration, and even cultural authorship, but I like that it opens up the door to having a really good book club conversation.

Alexandra F. said:  Arguably one of the best fantasy books ever written, J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic in literary fantasy has inspired a huge following since it was published, and is still a must-read for fans of the genre decades later. The story follows nine companions on their journey to destroy a legendary ring of power before the evil Sauron uses it to destroy the world. It is a long and beautifully written adventure story with nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout, and probably most interesting for older kids, teens and adults. It's a book I like to reread every few years, and one my kids first enjoyed in their early teens.

Great fantasy book for teens about six thieves who come together to pull off the heist of their lives, with the fate of the world (and their money) in the balance.

Alexandra F. said:  This is one of my teen's favorite books of all time, and she is both an avid and very picky reader. I finally read it after hearing her rave about it forever, and totally agree with her assessment. Great characters and a fun storyline.

Michael Farina said:  I know: sci-fi? Hear me out. The introverted protagonist does its very important job just well enough to avoid disaster, while trying to avoid annoying people and stealing time for its guilty pleasure – binging soap operas.

Two teens train to be a scythe, responsible for ending lives to control the population after humanity has conquered death.

Kelly R said:  This was a page turner for my 14-year-old son. There's a lot of 80s pop culture references in it that I'm sure largely went over his head, but the story (about a futuristic society where people spend most of their time within a virtual world) was captivating for him.

Alexandra F. said:  My daughter actively dislikes romance as a genre, but this best seller about the U.S. president's son and the Prince of Wales falling in love was so good that it actually made her cry. Funny, tender and yes, romantic, my teen highly recommends it to anyone - even those who aren't usually into romance novels! I read it after her rave reviews, and really enjoyed it as well. The movie is good, too (but not nearly as good as the book).

Kelly R said:  Trevor Noah (of The Daily Show) shares unapologetically honest, alarming, and often hilarious stories of his experience growing up in South Africa under apartheid. As the child of a white father and black mother, his very existence was illegal. I love that this memoir is formatted as a collection of stories, and found them entirely entertaining and deeply moving.

The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas is a fantasy romance full of magic, danger, and intrigue, following a mortal girl who gets swept into the world of the fae. With mature themes and some explicit scenes, it’s best for older teens and adults, around 17+.

Alexandra F. said:  My teen and I read this together and both enjoyed it! She loves it enough that she’s reading through the entire series, and regularly talks about it. It’s a fun read for fans of both romance and fantasy stories.

Acceleration by Graham McNamee is a fast-paced YA thriller about a teen who discovers a serial killer’s diary in a lost-and-found and races to stop him before it’s too late. Best for ages 14 and up, especially teens who enjoy suspense and mystery.

In this superhero fantasy trilogy, Melissa Meyers introduces us to a society struggling to stay afloat years after an uprising by villains with extraordinary powers. A group of superheroes has stepped up as protectors and leaders after defeating these villains, but not everyone is happy about how little power those without super abilities have in this new world.

Alexandra F. said:  Our family enjoyed this series by Marissa Meyer so much that the release of the third book in the trilogy was a much-anticipated event at our house. Lots of adventure (and a touch of high school romance) in an interesting story about a world where many people have super powers, but are struggling to figure out what role these super heroes should play in society. The two main characters are teenagers who each have super powers, and fall on opposite sides of the prevailing viewpoints. But, secrets and betrayals abound, making for a fun and twisty plot!

Popular mystery book for teens about unraveling a death that happened in high school detention.

Alexandra F. said:  My teen is a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi and has really been enjoying Tomi Adeyemi’s unique fantasy series, Children of Blood and Bone. Influenced by Adeyemi’s West African heritage, the story involves religious deities, magic and a dark quest for power, and follows the lives of two of the children of the ruling king, along with two children who have been hurt by his vicious rule. It is worth noting that there are some graphic descriptions of violence.