Top 10 Young Adult Books of all Time
A Former English Teacher’s Recommendation of Books for Teenagers
These ten books are really worth reading for anyone from age 14 to 100. A few are okay for younger readers, but that should really be left to the parents’ discretion. Some of these books are commonly taught in schools. Others would undoubtedly be considered controversial. Most language arts teachers feel that controversial books can be a great way to open up discussions with teenagers.
Books to Remember
#10 Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
Technically, this is a play, not a book. Because he's one of the most influential writers in history, it's a challenge to not include Shakespeare on a list like this. Romeo & Juliet is often taught to high school freshmen. It is an intriguing story for most teens once they are shown how to get past language that may seem odd in our times. Nearly every teenager can relate to this tragic love story.
#9 A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
This powerful and humorous novel is perfect for adolescents. The issue of not being like everyone else can be difficult to discuss, but is classic. As Owen’s best friend narrates the story, readers come to love the “misfit.” Tears are inevitable as the book ends. It’s a large book, but well worth the time it takes to read.
#8 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
There are very few teens out there that are completely turned off by fantasies. Most enjoy traveling to places they've never before imagined. Lewis is a mastermind at making his readers feel as if they’ve visited the fanciful Narnia along with his characters. Some readers like the many comparisons of the Narnia series to the Bible, others are disgusted by them.
#7 The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Like Owen Meany, the main characters of this book are not mainstream kids, but they overcome their differences and learn life lessons in the process. Amazingly, Hinton was only 14 when she wrote The Outsiders.
#6 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Lee’s classic story of discrimination is a heartfelt, beautiful tale. Not often do screen versions of novels live up to the book, but Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch makes the movie worth viewing.
Top 5 YA Books
#5 The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Journals are a great young adult literature genre. When teens know they are reading someone's true feelings, they can much more easily place themselves in the author's shoes. To get a feel for the sacrifices made by Jews and their Christian friends during the Holocaust, one must simply read Anne's words. What an articulate blessing Anne Frank bestowed on the world when she recorded her thoughts and dreams.
#4 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Twain should be required reading for all adolescents. Tom Sawyer is a fun, youthful book to read aloud or listen to on CD.
#3 Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
This is a controversial journal by an average teen who wrote her thoughts and actions not knowing her words would someday be published. Her average teenage writings turn ugly and scary as she is introduced to drugs and her addictions grow. This book may work as a scare tactic for some teens.
#2 The entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Rowling has managed to get everyone from children to adults reading books that are massive tomes. Some may protest that she is promoting witchcraft, but really she has written the ultimate battle between good an evil.
#1 The Giver by Lois Lowry
Lowry has written a wide range of fiction and touched her audiences in many ways, but The Giver is arguably the best young adult fiction novel of all time. The idea of living in a “perfect” world is one that every person imagines at some point. To read about such a utopia brings up so many questions and issues. There is no end to the possibilities of topics a class (or parents and their child) can discuss during and after reading this book.
Make a Difference in a Teen's Life
Suggest or give one these books to a teen in your life. They will be changed by what they read. That is true no matter what they're reading, so why not help them read something that will change them for the better?
Nikki's Top 10 YA Books
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