23 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!

Yann Martel's novel follows Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel as his family, who owns a zoo, leaves India. Their ship encounters a storm and Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a tiger. The story unfolds as Pi recounts his journey to shocked officials after making it back to shore. It's a book your teen won't soon forget, and the movie is worth a watch as well.

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.

Story of an astronaut stranded on Mars is thrilling, suspenseful and surprisingly funny.

Kelly R said:  Bravo to Andy Weir for writing a book that dives so deeply into nitty gritty science, but in an engaging and digestible way. This is a (surprisingly plausible) science fiction novel that will appeal to readers of any genre, and my teen son and I both loved it and enjoyed watching the movie together as well.

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.

The Fault in Our Stars is a poignant novel about a sharp-witted teenager with terminal cancer who finds an unexpected love with a charming cancer survivor. The two navigate the complexities of illness, life, and first love. 

Michael Farina said:  This book made me cry like one of those Pokémon characters, with the tears just shooting out of my eyes to the sides. Loved it, but it packs a punch!

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.

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

Alexandra F. said:  I had the great privilege of going to school where Bryan Stevenson taught as a professor, and hearing him speak about his life's work defending children, the poor, and those on death row was one of the most moving and inspiring experiences I had as a student - and that is exactly how I felt when I read his book years later. Just Mercy recalls an early case where he represented a man sentenced to death who insisted upon his innocence. It is a powerful, transformative, and eye-opening book - one that rocks you because of the injustice he encounters, yet somehow still leaves you feeling hopeful and believing you can make a difference. I introduced it to my daughter when she was about 16, and it was as transformative for her as it was for me.

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.

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).

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!

Kelly R said:  This Pulitzer Prize winner, written by Anthony Doerr, paints a vibrant, beautiful, and tragic picture of World War II as experienced by a blind Parisian girl and a young German soldier. It's the sort of book that you can't put down (due in part to the deliciously short chapters), while dreading the inevitable arrival at the last page.