Whether your teenager is an avid bookworm who likes nothing better than getting stuck into a new novel, or you have a rather reluctant tween who has a reading allergy, in order to find the right book for each case, you’ll need a list of some of the very best.
Finding the right book can help to transform a teen who previously dreaded reading, into a regular reader.
Oftentimes, teens are subjected to reading whatever class material the teacher has set, and if this doesn’t connect with them, they’ll be put off reading entirely.
But, once you find a book that appeals to them, a whole new world is opened.
To find out more, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.
The Fault In Our Stars
This book has been a highly popular choice for teenagers in the past decade.
It deals with heavy themes such as love, illness, and death, but does so in a way that isn’t overtly dark or depressing.
It teaches us to celebrate the life that we have, and to make the most of it, because we can never predict when it might end.
In addition, it also teaches us to have courage in the face of adversity, and to be brave no matter what the circumstances.
Published in 2012, it has since become a cultural phenomenon, and has had a film of the same name released.
The Hobbit
This classic by Tolkien is an absolute must for readers.
Many of us wish that we could be transported back to our earlier years, simply to experience reading this book for the first time again.
Indeed, the first time one reads a Tolkien novel is a special moment.
Although this one isn’t technically part of a series, but rather, a standalone novel, it does prelude the Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
The Hobbit is the best choice for teenagers because it’s not overwhelmingly long like the Lord Of The Rings series.
This means that it won’t be too daunting for new readers.
The Hobbit follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, as he travels through Middle Earth, meeting all manner of creatures on the way, including dwarves, elves, and goblins.
He must eventually help the dwarf kingdom to reclaim their gold, which means battling an enormous dragon.
If your teenager enjoys reading The Hobbit, then can then move on and read the Lord of The Rings trilogy if they’re interested and willing to make an investment.
Bear in mind that the language in this book might prove to be tricky for new readers, because it was written in 1937, so some words or colloquialisms might be unfamiliar.
Anne Of Green Gables
If you have a teenager that loves nature and observing the changing seasons, they will love the Anne of Green Gables series.
It follows the journey of Anne, a young orphaned girl who is adopted by a brother and sister, and goes to live in the beautiful village of Green Gables.
As the novels progress, we get to see her transformation from young girl, to teenager, to wife, and to mother.
She endures several hardships through her life, but maintains her vibrant, positive personality.
These are great books for new readers, because although the novel was written in the early portion of the 20th century, it still reads as a modern book.
This one is also great reading material for tweens, as it sits on the cusp between childhood and adulthood.
The Twilight Saga
The Twilight saga is great for older teens, and provides a gothic tale that is intermingled with the struggles of being a young person.
We follow Bella, a teenage girl (see also “30 Empowering Women That Teenage Girls Should Know About“) who has just moved to a new town, as she befriends the beguiling and mysterious Edward, who actually turns out to be a vampire.
A romance ensues between the both of them, and we witness her struggle as she comes to grips with the reality of falling in love with a creature of the night.
We get to see their relationship change and transform over the course of the book series, with various obstacles coming their way, including a love rival named Jacob, who turns out to be a werewolf.
We wouldn’t recommend this book series for younger readers, because it deals with a lot of adult themes, including content of a sexual nature.
The Chronicles Of Narnia
We’ve all read The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe, but what about the rest of the series too?
There are 6 books in the collection, all of which follow our favorite family, as they are transported into the magical land of Narnia, which is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
Tweens will love this book, as it’s incredibly escapist in nature, and as a result, is great for lovers of high fantasy.
There are a number of films that have been produced following the series too, and your teens can enjoy watching them after they finish the books.
Incredibly fun and easy to read, this is a great series for old and new readers.
Harry Potter
We couldn’t go through our list without mentioning the famed Harry Potter series.
In fact, many fans contend that the books are far better than the movies.
If your teens are lovers of fantasy, this book series is incomparable, as it transports you to a vividly magical world.
As well as this, it’s also a coming of age story, and examines the struggles of growing up and navigating your way through these difficult times.
Harry experiences a lot of troubles in his life, including losing both of his parents.
As well as this, he also struggles with depressive episodes, which are exemplified by the dementors in the novel.
These themes might prove to be highly relatable to some teens out there, and indeed, there is something or somebody that everyone can relate to in the books.
Harry Potter shows that you can successfully overcome any difficulties in life, and embraces authenticity and being your true self.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
This book series is relatively new, and rose to popularity when Netflix released a movie with the same title.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before follows the journey of Laura Jean Covey, and her tumultuous teenage love life.
Our plot begins when Laura writes a series of love letters to each of the boys that she has ever loved or had a crush on.
She pours her heart onto the page as a form of catharsis.
Chaos ensues, however, as her younger sister mistakenly sends out these letters to their recipients.
As each of the boys that Laura has written a letter to begin to read, she has to tackle a number of embarrassing situations and obstacles, and might just find her one true love in the process.
The Princess Diaries
If your teen loves The Princess Diaries movie starring Anne Hathaway, you simply have to buy them the book series that inspired the film.
Life will never be the same for Mia, as her grandmother, the Queen, comes to visit, and subsequently trains her in all areas of manners and decorum.
She learns to dance, handle cutlery properly, curtsey, and even receives a transformative makeover.
Her popularity escalates in school, as her classmates find out about her royal status.
This proves problematic however, as she’s unsure about who her true friends are.
The Bone Witch Series
The Bone Witch Series is great for teenagers who adore magic and witchcraft.
This modern tale follows Tea, an ordinary girl who just so happens to also be a witch. In fact, her whole family are witches.
Everything is going splendidly until Tea discovers that she has the power of necromancy, as she brings her brother back from the dead.
This means that she is what is called, a bone witch, something that is deeply frowned upon by all members of her family.
Because of her special powers, she is ostracized, as everyone that she comes in contact with is fearful of her.
In order to prove herself to be the good witch that she is, she has to learn to shape and control her powers, a very difficult task indeed.
The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Hunger Games comes in a set of three books, all of which are incredibly tense, gripping, and unputdownable.
The story essentially follows 12 children, who are sent away to participate in a fierce battle against all manner of different obstacles.
This battle however, is actually televised, and is produced as a manner of entertainment for those watching.
Katniss Everdeen was not chosen to participate in this battle, but her sister was. Deeming her sister unable to survive these turbulent trials, she volunteers to participate in her place.
Thus we have the story of the Hunger Games Trilogy, which follows our unlikely hero Katniss as she battles all manner of different evil forces.
Bear in mind that this novel does have some violent scenes, so we wouldn’t recommend it for anybody under the age of 11, as it could prove upsetting.
The Lunar Chronicles
This series is great for tweens when they’re transitioning from children’s books, to those which are more adult in nature.
This series is perfect for such cases, as it takes several different classic fairy tales, and gives them a dark twist, much like the beloved Brothers Grimm.
For example, the first book, which is titled Cinder, follows a half cyborg half human, who is not only forced to deal with an evil stepmother, but also an impending war.
In addition to this, her liaison with the Prince causes an intergalactic dispute. Far worse than a misplaced slipper, in our estimation.
The world of these books is incredibly rich, and each novel ties in with the other beautifully.
If you want a series that your teens can really immerse themselves in, we’d recommend this one.
The Ranger’s Apprentice
Another high fantasy series, we’d recommend this to any teenage boys who are looking for something exciting to read after arriving home from school.
Once you step into the world of the Ranger’s Apprentice, you’ll come across all manner of different fantasy creatures, including knights, diplomats, beasts, and vikings.
Our story follows Will, a young orphan boy who has no family to speak of.
He does, however, have one thing in his favor. Will is being trained by Halt, who is the greatest ranger in existence.
Halt teaches Will everything he knows, and in the process, their great love and friendship with one another grows.
We’d highly recommend this book series for those who want to be completely immersed in a different world, as there are a total of twelve books to read.
It’s a coming of age story in the sense that it teaches us a lot about personal growth, love, and bravery.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
This book series is great for younger readers, anywhere from aged 9 plus.
It consists of 13 books, all of which follow the journey of Sunny, Klaus, and Violet.
These young children have lost their parents tragically young, and as a result, are placed in the care of an evil, murderous relative called Olaf.
Olaf attempts to steal their inheritance, which the children are forced to protect.
This throws them into a series of unfortunate events, where Olaf places countless obstacles in their way that they must overcome.
We witness the children grow up as they move through the series, and experience hardships which help them to mature.
The novel is great at portraying a nuanced relationship between good and evil, as the lines between these two opposites become blurred overtime.
This novel teaches us that each of us has good and bad within ourselves.
The Skinjacker
This novel deals with a chilling premise that is sure to grip teenagers from the offset.
Essentially, each time that a child dies, their fate is up for question.
They might not manage to make it to the afterlife, and instead have a chance of being trapped in Everlost.
Everlost is essentially a dark land that encapsulates ‘limbo’, a place between heaven and hell.
It’s a very dangerous space, and many children can be found wandering around the land, trying not to stay still for too long, as doing so might see them sucked into the earth and into the depths.
This is the world in which siblings Nick and Allie find themselves in, and they must struggle to learn whom they can trust in this new land.
As well as this, they must face several different monstrous creatures along the way, including the Queen of Lost Souls.
The Mortal Instruments
The Mortal Instruments is a highly renowned book series, and has actually made over 24 million sales following its release.
It’s absolutely unputdownable, and has become popular with both adult and teen readers.
It essentially follows the adventures of Clara Fray, as she goes on the hazardous search for her lost mother, which ultimately leads her to an alternate world.
This alternate world is actually New York, but filled with fantasy creatures.
In these novels, you’ll come across a whole host of different characters, including fairies, werewolves, vampires, and warlocks.
As you might have already guessed, not all of these creatures prove to be friendly.
The Selection
We’d highly recommend this series for teenage girls, who will find themselves transported into a world of fairytale romance.
They will come across gorgeous gowns, handsome Princes, and fantasy creatures.
Our story follows four girls who come from impoverished backgrounds, who are suddenly given the opportunity to become ludicrously wealthy, and marry the handsome Prince.
They are forced to compete against one another, and encounter many perilous situations across the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve taken a look at the very best book series for teens and tweens on the market today, let’s consider some of the frequently asked questions some of you had regarding teenage reading.
Keep reading to find out more below.
What Is The Best Book Series For 13 Year Olds?
For readers that are thirteen years of age, we’d recommend The Hunger Games series.
This series is incredibly tense, exciting, and poignant, and is suitable for readers from this age group.
As well as this, the Harry Potter series is also an excellent option for young readers who are just entering the realms of teenagerhood.
What Is The Most Popular Book For Teenagers?
In terms of the most popular stand alone book for teenagers, we’d recommend The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
This novel by Stephen Chbosky takes a closer look at the life of a teenager, including all of the monotonous and tragic moments.
It is the current generation’s version of The Catcher In The Rye, and takes a look at some hard hitting subjects that include teenage pregnancy, and drug abuse.
