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Books for Teens and Young Adults

Most Recommended Books

Mortal Questions by Thomas Nagel

“If you think philosophy might be interesting then you need a good introduction – this is the best one.”

Chris Kutarna, Political Scientist

Read more

Browse book recommendations:

Books for Teens and Young Adults

  • Best Books for Teens of 2021

If you're looking for books for teens and young adults, we have recommendations of both fiction and nonfiction. These are all books aimed at a teen or young adult reader aged between 13 and 18, though they can make good reading for adults too.

In fiction, we have different genres, including fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction, as well as more general fiction, like recommendations of coming-of-age novels or books on teenage misadventure.

We also have a great selection of nonfiction books for teens, including books on spies, the van Gogh brothers and the Russian composer Shostakovich, among others. When it comes to subjects teens are learning in school, we have reading lists for young adults on the ancient world, physics, philosophy, art history and even novels with economics themes. Many of these books are recommended by high school teachers. If you're interested in getting involved in politics, we have some book recommendations about that.

Some wonderful authors have also made young adult book recommendations for us, including German author Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkheart series. We've also spoken with Meg Rosoff, author of How I Live Now, and Philip Reeve, author of the Mortal Engines sci-fi quartet. Both have won the Carnegie Medal.

    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults, recommended by Zoe

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    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

    1

    Daughter of Smoke and Bone
    by Laini Taylor

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    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: Bk 1) by Chanda Hahn

    2

    UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: Bk 1)
    by Chanda Hahn

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    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Detectives (Bk 1) by Michael Buckley

    3

    Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Detectives (Bk 1)
    by Michael Buckley

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    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Red Queen (Red Queen Series Bk 1) by Victoria Aveyard

    4

    Red Queen (Red Queen Series Bk 1)
    by Victoria Aveyard

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    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Mirrorworld: The Petrified Flesh (Bk 1) by Cornelia Funke

    5

    Mirrorworld: The Petrified Flesh (Bk 1)
    by Cornelia Funke

The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults, recommended by Zoe

Fantasy novels, with their limitless scope for possibility, appeal to children with vivid imaginations. Here 14-year-old Zoe, who lives in the US and is a big fan of the genre, recommends her current favourites.

    The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens, recommended by Marc Favreau

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    The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens - Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose

    1

    Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
    by Philip Hoose

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    The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens - Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

    2

    Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
    by Steve Sheinkin

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    The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens - Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M T Anderson

    3

    Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
    by M T Anderson

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    The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens - Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

    4

    Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers
    by Deborah Heiligman

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    The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens - Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge

    5

    Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
    by Elizabeth Partridge

The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens, recommended by Marc Favreau

Whether you want your kids to know more about the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War or the life of Vincent van Gogh or Dmitri Shostakovich, we’re entering a golden era of nonfiction books for teens (also known as ‘Young Adult’ or YA nonfiction). Marc Favreau, author of the brilliant Spies, recommends some of the best.

    The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books, recommended by Estelle Francis

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    The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books - Sphere by Michael Crichton

    1

    Sphere
    by Michael Crichton

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    The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books - The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

    2

    The Knife of Never Letting Go
    by Patrick Ness

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    The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books - More Than This by Patrick Ness

    3

    More Than This
    by Patrick Ness

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    The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books - Cinder by Marissa Meyer

    4

    Cinder
    by Marissa Meyer

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    The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

    5

    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
    by Douglas Adams

The Best Young Adult Science Fiction Books, recommended by Estelle Francis

Young adult science fiction extends far beyond the typical dystopian novels which immediately come to mind. Estelle Francis, a teenage author who recently published her first book, shares her favourite reads on this topic.  

    The Best Art History Books for Teenagers, recommended by John Harrison (Eton College)

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    The Best Art History Books for Teenagers - A World History of Art Hugh Honour and John Fleming

    1

    A World History of Art
    Hugh Honour and John Fleming

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    The Best Art History Books for Teenagers - Ways of Seeing by John Berger

    2

    Ways of Seeing
    by John Berger

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    The Best Art History Books for Teenagers - A History of Western Architecture by David Watkin

    3

    A History of Western Architecture
    by David Watkin

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    The Best Art History Books for Teenagers - Women, Art, And Power And Other Essays by Linda Nochlin

    4

    Women, Art, And Power And Other Essays
    by Linda Nochlin

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    The Best Art History Books for Teenagers - The Art of Describing: Dutch Art in the Seventeenth Century by Svetlana Alpers

    5

    The Art of Describing: Dutch Art in the Seventeenth Century
    by Svetlana Alpers

The Best Art History Books for Teenagers, recommended by John Harrison (Eton College)

Which are the best books to get a teenager excited about art history? We turned to veteran art history teacher John Harrison, formerly head of the art history department at Eton College, for his top five picks of the most illuminating and accessible books for getting a broad overview of the history of art.

    The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults, recommended by Mary Burkey & Robin Whitten

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    The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults - Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

    1

    Hey, Kiddo
    by Jarrett Krosoczka

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    The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults - Lovely War by Julie Berry

    2

    Lovely War
    by Julie Berry

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    The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults - On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

    3

    On The Come Up
    by Angie Thomas

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    The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults - With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

    4

    With the Fire on High
    by Elizabeth Acevedo

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    The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults - Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

    5

    Like a Love Story
    by Abdi Nazemian

The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults, recommended by Mary Burkey & Robin Whitten

Audiobooks are a great way to keep teenagers entertained and informed. Mary Burkey, an expert on kids’ audiobooks, and Robin Whitten, editor and founder of AudioFile magazine, talk us through the wonderful titles that were finalists in this year’s Audie Awards in the ‘young adult’ category.

    The Best Historical Fiction for Teens, recommended by KJ Whittaker

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    The Best Historical Fiction for Teens - Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

    1

    Here Lies Arthur
    by Philip Reeve

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    The Best Historical Fiction for Teens - Secrets and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

    2

    Secrets and Sapphires
    by Leila Rasheed

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    The Best Historical Fiction for Teens - The Sterkarm Handshake by Susan Price

    3

    The Sterkarm Handshake
    by Susan Price

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    The Best Historical Fiction for Teens - Hell and Highwater by Tanya Landman

    4

    Hell and Highwater
    by Tanya Landman

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    The Best Historical Fiction for Teens - The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo by Catherine Johnson

    5

    The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo
    by Catherine Johnson

The Best Historical Fiction for Teens, recommended by KJ Whittaker

Historical novelist K J Whittaker takes us on a time-travelling adventure as she selects five brilliant historical novels for teens.

    The Best Classics Books for Teenagers, recommended by Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey)

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    The Best Classics Books for Teenagers - The Silence of the Girls: A Novel by Pat Barker

    1

    The Silence of the Girls: A Novel
    by Pat Barker

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    The Best Classics Books for Teenagers - SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard

    2

    SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
    by Mary Beard

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    The Best Classics Books for Teenagers - Dynasty by Tom Holland

    3

    Dynasty
    by Tom Holland

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    The Best Classics Books for Teenagers - Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris

    4

    Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome
    by Robert Harris

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    The Best Classics Books for Teenagers - The Hemlock Cup by Bettany Hughes

    5

    The Hemlock Cup
    by Bettany Hughes

The Best Classics Books for Teenagers, recommended by Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey)

Caesar, Cicero, Achilles, Socrates, Plato: millennia later, we still talk about them. Olly Murphy, classics teacher at Wycombe Abbey, one of England’s top girls’ schools, recommends books and explains why classics remains one of the most exciting subjects for teenagers to study.

    The best books on Political Engagement For Teens, recommended by Adrienne Kisner

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    The best books on Political Engagement For Teens - March by John Lewis

    1

    March
    by John Lewis

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    The best books on Political Engagement For Teens - Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

    2

    Moxie
    by Jennifer Mathieu

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    The best books on Political Engagement For Teens - I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

    3

    I Am Malala
    by Malala Yousafzai

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    The best books on Political Engagement For Teens - Girls Resist!: A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution by Kaelyn Rich

    4

    Girls Resist!: A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution
    by Kaelyn Rich

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    The best books on Political Engagement For Teens - This Is Our Constitution by Khizr Khan

    5

    This Is Our Constitution
    by Khizr Khan

The best books on Political Engagement For Teens, recommended by Adrienne Kisner

Are you a teenager who is furious about the way the world seems to be going? Do you feel powerless and overwhelmed? Author Adrienne Kisner recommends five really good books that will inspire and inform teens and young adults, giving them the tools to get involved in activism, to understand politics—and to change the world.

    The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers, recommended by Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

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    The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers - Swindle by Gordon Korman

    1

    Swindle
    by Gordon Korman

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    The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers - The Not-So-Great Depression by Amy Goldman Koss

    2

    The Not-So-Great Depression
    by Amy Goldman Koss

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    The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers - Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins

    3

    Bamboo People
    by Mitali Perkins

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    The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers - The Agency by YS Lee

    4

    The Agency
    by YS Lee

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    The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers - The Year Money Grew on Trees by Aaron Hawkins

    5

    The Year Money Grew on Trees
    by Aaron Hawkins

The Best Economics Novels for Young Teenagers, recommended by Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

Economics need not be dry or didactic. Here’s a suggested reading list of novels with economic themes to appeal to young teenagers

    The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults, recommended by Chris Kutarna

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    The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults - Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

    1

    Man's Search for Meaning
    by Viktor Frankl

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    The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults - Mortal Questions by Thomas Nagel

    2

    Mortal Questions
    by Thomas Nagel

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    The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults - To Live by Yu Hua

    3

    To Live
    by Yu Hua

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    The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults - Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

    4

    Alias Grace
    by Margaret Atwood

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    The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

    5

    The Count of Monte Cristo
    by Alexandre Dumas

The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults, recommended by Chris Kutarna

We are living in times of unprecedented uncertainty and upheaval – and of unprecedented progress and opportunity too. Chris Kutarna, political scientist and co-author of Age of Discovery, here selects five books that will help young adults navigate this uncertain future and achieve their full potential.

    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers, recommended by Kate Lee (St Paul's Girls' School)

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    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe

    1

    Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
    by Randall Munroe

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    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - Human Universe by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen

    2

    Human Universe
    by Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen

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    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

    3

    The Right Stuff
    by Tom Wolfe

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    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman

    4

    Six Easy Pieces
    by Richard Feynman

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    The Best Physics Books for Teenagers - The Large Hadron Collider Pop-up Book: Voyage to the Heart of Matter by Anton Radevsky and Emma Sanders

    5

    The Large Hadron Collider Pop-up Book: Voyage to the Heart of Matter
    by Anton Radevsky and Emma Sanders

The Best Physics Books for Teenagers, recommended by Kate Lee (St Paul's Girls' School)

What are the best books for getting a teenager into physics? Kate Lee, Head of Physics at St Paul’s Girls School, recommends books about NASA, space travel, and the Big Bang—and puzzles the question of why it is so hard for young women to stay in physics as a profession.

    The Best Rick Riordan Books, recommended by Alex (age 13)

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    The Best Rick Riordan Books - The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

    1

    The Battle of the Labyrinth
    by Rick Riordan

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    The Best Rick Riordan Books - The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

    2

    The Last Olympian
    by Rick Riordan

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    The Best Rick Riordan Books - The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

    3

    The Son of Neptune
    by Rick Riordan

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    The Best Rick Riordan Books - The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

    4

    The Mark of Athena
    by Rick Riordan

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    The Best Rick Riordan Books - The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

    5

    The Sword of Summer
    by Rick Riordan

The Best Rick Riordan Books, recommended by Alex (age 13)

This is a big week for Rick Riordan fans as The Tower of Nero, the final book in his Trials of Apollo series, is published. Here, Alex, a 13-year-old boy living in Oxford, explains what Rick Riordan’s books are about, why he finds them so mesmerizing, and which book you might want to start with if you’re interested in reading them.

    Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids, recommended by Cornelia Funke

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    Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids - Reckless: The Petrified Flesh by Cornelia Funke & Oliver Latsch (translator)

    1

    Reckless: The Petrified Flesh
    by Cornelia Funke & Oliver Latsch (translator)

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    Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids - Inkheart Trilogy Collection by Cornelia Funke

    2

    Inkheart Trilogy Collection
    by Cornelia Funke

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    Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids - The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

    3

    The Thief Lord
    by Cornelia Funke

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    Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids - Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

    4

    Dragon Rider
    by Cornelia Funke

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    Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids - Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

    5

    Igraine the Brave
    by Cornelia Funke

Fairy Tales as Contemporary Fiction for Kids, recommended by Cornelia Funke

If you haven't read any books by German children's author Cornelia Funke yet, you have a treat in store. The multi-award winning writer of imaginative fiction talks us through her books and explains why fairy tales continue to fascinate her and her readers.

    The Best Psychology Books for Teens, recommended by Jessica Flitter, Laura Brandt & Nancy Fenton

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    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

    1

    Moonwalking with Einstein
    by Joshua Foer

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    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry by Jeffrey A. Lieberman & Ogi Ogas

    2

    Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry
    by Jeffrey A. Lieberman & Ogi Ogas

  • Read
    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

    3

    Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness
    by Susannah Cahalan

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    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - The Upside of Your Dark Side by Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan

    4

    The Upside of Your Dark Side
    by Robert Biswas-Diener & Todd Kashdan

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    The Best Psychology Books for Teens - You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney

    5

    You Are Not So Smart
    by David McRaney

The Best Psychology Books for Teens, recommended by Jessica Flitter, Laura Brandt & Nancy Fenton

Three award-winning US high school psychology teachers—authors of the website Books for Psychology Class—share their recommendations of the best psychology books for teenagers, students and their teachers—and reflect on why storytelling is a key aspect of the art of teaching.

    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters, recommended by Laura Wood

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    1

    Little Women
    by Louisa May Alcott

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

    2

    I Capture The Castle
    by Dodie Smith

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

    3

    To All The Boys I've Loved Before
    by Jenny Han

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - One Italian Summer by Keris Stanton

    4

    One Italian Summer
    by Keris Stanton

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

    5

    Fangirl
    by Rainbow Rowell

The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters, recommended by Laura Wood

Coming-of-age stories unfold at the point at which a young person goes out into the world – full of potential and change. Siblings, at this important crossroad, also have to establish themselves outside of their relationship to each other. Author Laura Wood recommends five of her favourite novels that explore the intense, sometimes destructive, relationships that exist between sisters.

    Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places

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    Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places - A Devil to Ride by Patricia Leach

    1

    A Devil to Ride
    by Patricia Leach

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    Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places - Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier

    2

    Jamaica Inn
    by Daphne Du Maurier

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    Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

    3

    Wuthering Heights
    by Emily Brontë

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    Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places - The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

    4

    The Island at the End of Everything
    by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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    Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places - Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable

    5

    Wolf Princess
    by Cathryn Constable

Rachel Hickman recommends the best Novels Set in Wild Places

Rachel Hickman, co-founder of Chicken House Publishing and author of One Silver Summer selects books with wild settings that have appeal to older children. She discusses how a strong use of nature adds drama and meaning to a narrative, and the way that setting can become another character in a story entirely.

    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

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    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien

    1

    The Lord of the Rings
    by J R R Tolkien

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    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Watership Down by Richard Adams

    2

    Watership Down
    by Richard Adams

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    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury

    3

    The Stories of Ray Bradbury
    by Ray Bradbury

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    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Space Machine by Christopher Priest

    4

    The Space Machine
    by Christopher Priest

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    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Fires' Astonishment by Geraldine McCaughrean

    5

    Fires' Astonishment
    by Geraldine McCaughrean

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

Award-winning author Philip Reeve talks us through the science fiction and fantasy books that shaped him and his work in profound ways; among indubitable classics are vibrant lesser-known works awaiting our discovery.

    The best books on Philosophy for Teens, recommended by Andrew Brower Latz (Manchester Grammar School)

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    The best books on Philosophy for Teens - Metaphysical Horror Leszek Kolakowski (trans. by Agnieszka Kolakowska)

    1

    Metaphysical Horror
    Leszek Kolakowski (trans. by Agnieszka Kolakowska)

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    The best books on Philosophy for Teens - Mortal Questions by Thomas Nagel

    2

    Mortal Questions
    by Thomas Nagel

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    The best books on Philosophy for Teens - A Short History of Ethics by Alasdair MacIntyre

    3

    A Short History of Ethics
    by Alasdair MacIntyre

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    The best books on Philosophy for Teens - Modernism as a Philosophical Problem: On the Dissatisfactions of European High Culture by Robert B. Pippin

    4

    Modernism as a Philosophical Problem: On the Dissatisfactions of European High Culture
    by Robert B. Pippin

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    The best books on Philosophy for Teens - The Spiritual Dimension: Religion, Philosophy and Human Value by John Cottingham

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    The Spiritual Dimension: Religion, Philosophy and Human Value
    by John Cottingham

The best books on Philosophy for Teens, recommended by Andrew Brower Latz (Manchester Grammar School)

Dr Andrew Brower Latz, the head of philosophy at Manchester Grammar School, one of Britain’s leading secondary schools, talks about why it’s important to study philosophy and recommends five books to get an interested teen started.

    Children’s and Young Adult Fiction, recommended by Melvin Burgess

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    Children’s and Young Adult Fiction - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

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    The Wind in the Willows
    by Kenneth Grahame

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    Children’s and Young Adult Fiction - The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

    2

    The Hobbit
    by J R R Tolkien

  • Read
    Children’s and Young Adult Fiction - Heroes by Robert Cormier

    3

    Heroes
    by Robert Cormier

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    Children’s and Young Adult Fiction - Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks

    4

    Martyn Pig
    by Kevin Brooks

  • Read
    Children’s and Young Adult Fiction - Postcards from No Man’s land by Aidan Chambers

    5

    Postcards from No Man’s land
    by Aidan Chambers

Children’s and Young Adult Fiction, recommended by Melvin Burgess

Melvin Burgess, author of Junk and Doing It tells us about the books that first inspired him and he picks the best thriller writing for young adults – along the way explaining why young people make the most demanding readers

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