The teenage years aren’t the easiest, but reading can help. As James Baldwin said in 1964, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.”
Specialists talk about reading as mirrors and windows. We can recognise ourselves in book characters and see our own experiences reflected in the lives of others. Some books enable us to see the different realities of other people and get a new perspective on our own circumstances that way. It is important for young people to connect to a story where they see their world portrayed, but sometimes what we want is inspiration for bigger dreams or a bit of escapism.
Just as many teens and young adults (YA) are in the process of developing their world-view and identity, protagonists in YA books often have to make decisions about how to be themselves while learning to navigate the world. YA novels also appeal to many adults, who enjoy seeing the characters grow as they confront difficult questions and push boundaries.
We have interviews with novelists and librarians where they explain their recommendations for teen and YA fiction, and several of our by kids for kids interviews are with teenagers who discuss their favourite reads, from sci-fi and fantasy to manga.
We also have a great selection of nonfiction recommendations for teens. Although they are aimed at readers age 13-18 these books can also make good reading for adults. We have interviews with high school teachers who recommend books in their subjects, as well as interviews on chess books and general nonfiction.
If you are interested in popular book series we keep you up to date with the latest titles in book series for 13 year olds and book series for young adults. Our list of prizewinning books also contains many excellent books for teenagers and young adults. Our carefully curated list of the latest teen and YA titles brings you the best books for teens of 2023.
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.
The Best Thrillers for Teens, recommended by Kathryn Foxfield
Thrillers for teens have to be fast paced, exciting and entertaining, argues Kathryn Foxfield, author of YA thriller Good Girls Die First. She recommends some of her favourite teen thrillers, from books published this year to classics of the genre.
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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Wild Song
by Candy Gourlay -
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Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice
Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, Dawud Anyabwile (illustrator) -
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The Undying of Obedience Wellrest
by Nicholas Bowling -
4
I Kick and I Fly
by Ruchira Gupta -
5
Warrior Girl Unearthed
by Angeline Boulley & Isabella Star LaBlanc (narrator)
The Best Books for Teens of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The Best Books for Teens of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor
From history to historical fiction, from Romania to the Philippines, here’s our list of the best books for teenagers of 2023 (so far). We’ve included award-winning books as well as books for young adults handpicked by Tuva Kahrs, our children’s editor.
The Best History Books for Teenagers, recommended by Alex (age 16)
It’s tricky finding history books for teenagers at an age when they are too old for children’s books, but not yet ready to read long, weighty tomes with lots of footnotes. Alex, a UK-based history fan who previously chose books for us age 10, returns to Five Books to recommend his selection of the best history books for teenagers.
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Winning Chess Strategy (for Kids)
Jeff Coakley, Antoine Duff (illustrator) -
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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.
The Best Finance Books for Teens and Young Adults, recommended by Darren Collins
Financial literacy is an essential life skill, but it is not routinely taught at school and not everybody has good role models to look to for financial behaviour. Reading can certainly help. Finance teacher Darren Collins recommends his top books for teens and young adults to learn the fundamentals for making sound personal finance decisions in life.
The Best Ocean Novels for 10-14 Year Olds, recommended by Helen Scales
Marine biologist Helen Scales reflects on the power of stories to bring all kinds of readers into the ocean realm. She recommends books for children and young adults, and explains why her selection focuses on novels for readers age 10-14.
Great Teen Reads from Ireland’s Great Reads Awards, recommended by Breege O'Brien
Every year teenagers in Ireland show their enthusiasm for reading quality young adult fiction by voting for their favourite new Irish and international novels. Great Reads Award panellist Breege O’Brien highlights her top teen reads from recent years’ shortlists.
The Best LGBT Novels for Young Adults, recommended by Cassie Kemp
Good books for teens and young adults are often about identity and figuring out who you are. Novels with LGBTQ+ characters are some of the best examples of (fictional) young people learning to be themselves while navigating the world. Here, librarian Cassie Kemp shares her top picks of LGBT novels for teens and young adults.