The Clean Green House Blog: Books Every Teen Should Read

As a parent, you are preparing your kids to engage with the world in a meaningful way. Books can help your kids gain insights, empathy and information. We’ve compiled a list of books every teen should read before graduating from high school.

You’ll notice a focus on books written in this century. Sure, the classics are great. I love me some Pride and Prejudice and 1984, and I highly encourage teens to read them. But, how about adding in novels written in the last decade (or two)? The *new* classics. Did you know that media outlets, like YouTube, music videos, movies and social media impact how kids ingest entertainment and learning? Yep, media outlets changed how teens prefer to consume books. Books written a hundred years ago don’t necessarily match with how teens are reading and learning today. It’s good for teens to stretch themselves by reading the classic. However, consider books with updated language, tone and delivery. Why not make it easy for teens to feel inspired, grow their empathy, expand their knowledge of history, and exercise their imagination? Below you’ll find my list of best books for teens.

HISTORICAL NONFICTION

I love, love history so it was painful to narrow down my selection to just two books. There are so many great ones {like all these books about women who rocked history}; I hope this is just a springboard for pulling your teen into devouring more historical nonfiction.

Before wiki leaks, there were the Pentagon Papers during Vietnam. Most Dangerous is focused on the political behind-the-scenes surrounding the Pentagon Papers. Author Steve Sheinkin wrote this story specifically for youth. Because this novel is written for teens, the author nails the voice and tone, capturing the reader’s attention and helping them understand this complex topic. This is a must-read for all teens.

Bonus book! If your teen liked Most Dangerous, have them try out Bomb, by the same author. Bomb is the story of the atomic bomb.

World War II is all the rage right now. Youth today have tons of options for reading stories about WWII. However, my favorite is Unbroken. This true story of courage will open your teens eyes to what it was like for some soldiers of WWII. This page-turning book will immerse your teen reader in an important time in American history.

Bonus book! If your teen likes Unbroken try another true story from the same time period, like Boys on a Boat.

BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Selecting just two biographies pained me. However, to keep this list of books manageable for teen’s busy schedules, I was ruthless in my selection.

Malala is a powerful autobiography. If your teen hasn’t read Malala, run, don’t walk, to the book store. Born in 1997, the story follows Malala as a student. Because she’s a vocal advocate for women and the right to education, Malala’s family is persecuted, even to the point of Malala suffering an attempt on her life. This story is poignant and perfect for our time; teens learn about the Taliban, the Swat Valley, and the state of education in the middle east.

Bonus autobiography: Born a few years later and 5,000 miles away from Malala, Michaela DePrince is born in Sierra Leone. Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina is steeped in Africa, war, prejudices and later it delves deep into the world of ballet. Warning: Dark crimes she witnessed in her childhood are included in the story.

The Orphan Keeper tells the true story of a child in India who is kidnapped and sold to an orphanage. The reader spends a lot of time with the little boy in India, seeing the poverty, but also the love and the culture. A must read for not just the insights into a tiny bit of India, but also for a story about families, survival and hope. This story makes assumptions on some events and motivations which cannot be researched, putting this novel into a grey area where it could be considered historical fiction.

Bonus Book! If you liked The Orphan Keeper, try The Rent Collector, by the same author. The Rent Collector is fiction, but inspired by real people, places, and culture in Cambodia.

CONTEMPORARY

The contemporary YA genre is packed full of novels teens enjoy. For this article, I decided to rule out any novels had excessive swearing (as authentic as it might be) and graphic, intimate situations/relationships. While everyone has a different measuring stick, this ruled out 9 out of 10 books I originally considered for this list. Here are the best contemporary young adult books that rose to the top:

Monster is an award-winning novel about a 14-year old boy who is accused of a crime. The reader follows the young man during his time in juvenile detention and through his trial. The main character is African American and the reader gets a front row seat to the justice system and overcoming prejudice. I also like the subtle lesson on choosing friends wisely – this character struggled with guilt by “association”.

Trapped in My Mind Palace is the only indie published book on my list. This story begged to be included because of the “heart” in the story. It’s unusual cast of characters, the themes of music and friendship, the touch of magical realism, and the excellent writing more than earned its place among these other best selling novels.

Stargirl is a modern story about being different while struggling to fit in. The protagonist is an eccentric new student in a sea of “sameness.” This book feels the feels when it comes to being under the warm glow of popularity, and then the anguish of being an outcast. Many kids, like in this story, find out the hard way what a real friend is and how to be true to yourself.

SUSPENSE

Because suspense and mystery are considered “entertaining,” not education, many teens don’t take the time to try this genre. Between studying for exams, finding on fleek attire for the upcoming dance, and extra curricular sports or other activities, teens might not know what they’re missing out on! Be sure to have your teen try out these books to see if they fall in love with this type of storytelling.

We Were Liars is a phenomenal, twisting-turning suspense story. This is the type of story that will keep your teen turning pages late into the night. This author has the young adult voice nailed and has enthralled millions of readers already. Be warned there are a few curse words in this novel – all f-bombs.

Alan Bradley mystery books are becoming the mystery books to read. Written for adults, but appropriate for teens, the Flavia de Luce Mystery series is a must-read before graduation. Start the series with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

SCIENCE FICTION and FANTASY

SFF (sci-fi and fantasy) are basking in the sun of super fan readers. Between blockbusters like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Star Wars, and the television sensation of Game of Thrones, SFF is more popular than ever. I went round-and round with my SFF friends on what books to include for this category. Drum roll…

Hunger Games changed the landscape of science fiction today. It spawned a whole generation of “tournament” stories, and stories about breaking through castes (in fantasy and sci-fi). The author wanted to shake up youth into realizing how voyeurism and violence are taking over society. She shocked readers with the high level of violence and heartbreak in a young adult story. And while many elementary school students read this book, I recommend it for high schoolers who have the maturity to understand the dark aspects of this novel.

Bonus Books: If your teen likes sci-fi, here’s more of my sci-fi recommended reads!

After much debate, Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings series topped the must-read fantasy list. This series begins with the door stopping novel, The Way of Kings. This is projected to be a 10 book series and book #3 just released. You’ll notice that the first book published in 2011. That’s a long period of time between books. Yes, yes it is. However, readers wait for the next installment with baited breath. Sanderson is the king of fantasy worlds. Read the novel to find out why!

More Fantasy Books: If your teen likes fantasy worlds, here’s a list of my recommended fantasy reads for teens!

LEADERSHIP & PERSONAL GROWTH

Many teens focus on English, history and math and forget to read about personal growth. These books will give your child a boost when it comes to goal setting, leadership, and figuring out what they want out of life.

The One Thing is all about focus and goal setting “to the now.” This book helps youth understand how to break down big goals into smaller, doable steps. Many adults have learned how to do this through trial and error. Give teens a head start in learning to focus and have a healthy, personal mindset ready to accomplish their dreams.

Bonus book: If your kids don’t know their passions, try Start with Why. Start with Why is great to help kids find their passions. First find the passion. Then set the goals.

HISTORICAL FICTION

There are so many periods of history with great stories! Be sure to check out Amazon’s history section to get richly told stories from all different time periods and areas of the globe.

Between Shades Of Gray is an award-winning novel about a fifteen-year old Lithuanian girl during Stalin’s reign. She’s ripped from her home by Soviet officers and relocated to a Siberian work camp. This story is about her art, family, courage, ingenuity and what people will do to survive.

Bonus Book: The Book Thief is based on the author’s grandmother’s true story from WWII. Told from the eyes of a German child, we meet her extended family, experience her life, and fear for the Jewish man she helps to hide. This fascinating story blurs the lines of fiction and nonfiction.

Go back to the not-so-distant past of the 1960’s in The Help. This is a novel about friendship, racism, and the culture of the American south in the 60’s. This book is written for adults, but it’s also appropriate for teens.