Five Best Teenage Books Of All Time

Reading is perhaps one of the best power a person can have. When you start to read, you open up doors to numerous fields despite the specialisation. Similarly, encouraging your teenagers to start reading is probably the best gift parents can give them for a lifetime. The time of teenage is great; they are on a new road of world discovery and start to see things differently on their own, and giving them the opportunity to explore through reading is incomparable. And that’s why it is essential for them to know the best teenage books of all time to begin their journey of world exploration. 

It does not matter whether your teenage years were gruelling or blissful. Nonetheless, they taught you priceless lessons that you might still apply in your lives. Reading books from teenage days (or earlier) not only enhances their knowledge about numerous topics but also strengthens their grasp of the language. These books deliver hope for a better future and the teachings to be the best version of yourself throughout life. In this article, we are sharing with you some of the best books for teenage readers in different categories.

Related Article: Best Children’s Literature Books To Instill Reading Habit

Five Best Teenage Books Of All Time

1) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – 1868 & 1869

Louisa May Alcott, an American writer, published “Little Women” in two parts in 1868-69. The novel illustrates the story of four sisters, namely Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy and is based on family stories. 

All four sisters are raised in cultured poverty by Marmee, their loving mother, who lives in a peaceful town in Massachusetts. Their father serves as an army chaplain during the American Civil War Movement. The sisters befriend Theodore Lawrence (Laurie), a lonely grandson of a rich man who lives near their house.

The strong force of the story is Jo, who is the centre of the book. In short, Meg (the eldest) marries Laurie’s tutor John Brooke and later starts her own family. Beth gets ill and dies from scarlet fever. Amy marries Laurie after Jo turns down his offer. And Jo marries professor Bhaer. She meets him when she is living in a boardinghouse, and together they start a school later in life. The book has two sequels: Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys (1871) and Jo’s Boys and How They Turned Out (1886). It is one of the best classic books that every teenager should read.

2) The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank – 1947

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is a real-life story or real diary of a teenage girl of the same name. Her diary writing starts on Anne’s 13th birthday (12 June 1942), the day when she receives it. It narrates the story of her family, who lived in Frankfurt, Germany and all of a sudden, they had to go into hiding due to Hitler and the Nazi Party’s treatment of Jews in Europe during the Second World War. They escaped to Amsterdam, where they went into hiding with other Jews. Though the diary ends abruptly on 1 August 1944.

Anne Frank’s diary teaches us the utmost message that all people have the equal right to live in freedom. It is among the best teenage books for those who have an active interest in reading war, history or mystery genres.

3) The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – 1951

The novel depicts the two-day struggle in the life of 16 years, Holden Caulfield, after he has been expelled from the prep school. Now confused and disappointed, he starts searching for truth and rails against the “phoniness” or insincerity of the adult world. In the end, he is exhausted and emotionally unstable. The book finishes with Holden explaining that he has fallen “sick”, but expects to go to a new school in the upcoming fall.

Salinger wrote this book for adult readers, but surprisingly, teenagers liked it more. The book’s central themes of social isolation, adolescence and phoniness made it popular among teenagers around the world and made the best books of all time. 

4) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – 1960

To Kill a Mockingbird is perhaps one of the best teenage books of all time. The book has been translated into around 40 different languages, sold more than 40 million copies throughout the world, and is one of the most assigned novels in American schools. Not only that, but this extremely popular book won Pulitzer Prize in 1961. The book is complimented for its sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to prejudice and racism in Southern America.

The story of this book takes place during the Great Depression time, in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The main lead Jean Louise (Scout), is an intelligent yet peculiar girl. She is raised with her brother, Jeremy Atticus (Jem) by their widowed father, Atticus Finch, a prominent lawyer. As they grow up, they face different hardship and learns how to encounter them. Not only that, the story tackles the issue of racism prominent in America at that time. 

5) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – 2001

The Book Thief describes the story of Liesel, a little girl who is taken to a new home because her mother is unable to afford to take care of her. The story is narrated by Death, who eventually becomes a character that people come to respect and feel sorry about it by the end of the book. The narration Death makes is beautiful yet philosophical. 

Set during the time of the Second World War, the story highlights the true power of words and the chaos around the time of war. Written by Australian author Markus Zusak, the book is an international bestseller, which has been translated into more than 60 languages and sold over 16 million copies.

Final Thoughts

Instilling a reading habit in teenagers is paramount for them. Whether we believe it or not, reading will enhance their academic accomplishment and improve their knowledge of varied topics. These books are some of the best teenage books of all time. Suitable for beginners or avid readers, these books will teach them a worthy lesson of a lifetime. 

Moreover, if you find your teenager to have a slow grasp of language and you are looking for a guide to improve their skills, worry not. We have got you covered. Visit PiggyRide and explore our Online English Classes, Online English Grammar Classes, and Online English Communication Classes to support them in flourishing in academics and life.