Books for Teens and Young Adults
recommended by librarians, teachers, novelists and teenagers
Last updated: April 26, 2025
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1
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
by Philip Hoose -
2
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
by Steve Sheinkin -
3
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
by M T Anderson -
4
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers
by Deborah Heiligman -
5
Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
by Elizabeth Partridge
The Best Nonfiction Books for Teens, recommended by Marc Favreau
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 books on Third Culture Kids, recommended by Elizabeth Wein
At its core, every young adult book is about figuring out who you are and what your place in the world is, argues Elizabeth Wein, author of numerous books for children and young adults. She introduces the concept of ‘third culture kids’—children who are at home both everywhere and nowhere.
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1
Winning Chess Strategy (for Kids)
Jeff Coakley, Antoine Duff (illustrator) -
2
Steps Method chess workbooks
by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden -
3
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Bobby Fischer, Stuart Margulies, Donn Mosenfelder -
4
Chess for Tigers
Simon Webb, Edward McLachlan (illustrator) -
5
The Chess Player's Bible
James Eade, Al Lawrence, Carol & John Woodcock (illustrators)
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Chess is one of the most enduringly popular games in the world, transcending language barriers and teaching valuable life skills. Chess teacher and master Andrew Green recommends books (plus a few websites) to help beginners of all ages learn the game.
Prizewinning Audiobooks for Teens and Young Adults
Many teenagers seem glued to their screens and are happy to walk around wearing headphones all day. Instead of trying to get them to sit down with a physical book, why not introduce them to some quality reading material published as audiobooks?
Best Football Books for Kids and Young Adults, recommended by Dave Cousins
As World Cup fever builds to irresistible levels, there is no better time to get kids reading by presenting them with a few books about ‘the beautiful game.’ Award-winning children’s author and self-confessed football fanatic Dave Cousins, recommends five fantastic football books for kids and young adults.
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 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 YA sci-fi reads.
The Best Teen and Young Adult Historical Fiction, 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.
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1
The Silmarillion
J R R Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
2
The Children of Húrin
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
3
Beren and Lúthien
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
4
The Fall of Gondolin
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Christopher Tolkien (editor) -
5
The Fall of Númenor
J R R Tolkien, Alan Lee (illustrator), Brian Sibley (editor)
If You Liked The Lord of the Rings: Other Books in Tolkien’s World, recommended by Valentin
If You Liked The Lord of the Rings: Other Books in Tolkien’s World, recommended by Valentin
In recent years there has been a steady flow of JRR Tolkien books published posthumously. If you liked The Lord of the Rings and are wondering what to read next, 16 year old Valentin guides you through some of his other favourite books set in the vast world that Tolkien created.
The Best Teen Fantasy Books Set in Britain, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
Britain offers rich pickings to writers: wild and windswept locations, peculiar folklore, a treasure trove of odd histories and even odder place names. Taking Britain as a starting point, many fantasy authors have produced stories that are at once wonderfully strange and hauntingly plausible. Our fantasy interviewer Sylvia Bishop picks out her top five fantasy books set in Britain for teen readers.
