Over the past few years, sales in "teen fiction" have gone through the roof because, let's face it, it's not only teenagers reading it anymore. In fact, children's and young adult books are the fastest-growing publishing categories, with fantasy/science fiction reigning in as the readers' favorite genre.
Check out my list of my favorite young adult/teen novels below (ranked in no particular order):
15) Unearthly, Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly
"In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees…
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?"
- Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. Beautifully written, moving, and romantic. Cynthia Hand delves into the world of angels in such vivid detail it genuinely feels like you're there.
14) Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver
"What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's hottest boyfriend, a group of amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High from the best table in the cafeteria to the most wanted parking spot. Friday, February 12th should just be another perfect day, but it turns out to be her last. However, she gets a second chance—well, seven actually—to relive her last day. During one life-changing week, she will learn the secrets behind her death and discover what she is truly losing." -Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. Sad and beautiful, but above all, honest. Lauren Oliver has an incredible gift with words and imagery that is guaranteed to take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
13) Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy
"St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger…. Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever." - Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. I know the name may make it sound like just another book about a school of supernatural students, but it genuinely is a good read packed full of strong, engaging characters who are bound to leave an impression; danger; and even a hint of romance. You'll struggle to put this book down.
12) The Maze Runner, James Dashner
Series: The Maze Runner
"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind." - Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. The Maze Runner is sure to have you on the edge of your seat. The plot is fast paced, full of suspense, and absolutely rammed with twists and turns to keep you guessing.
11) Divergent, Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent
"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves…or it might destroy her." - Goodreads
Rating: 4.5/5. There seems to be quite a lot of hype behind this book, so I decided to give it a read to see if it really was all the rage. I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved the concept behind this story; the idea of the factions had me completely engaged. For once this was actually a book where the main character isn't completely wrapped up in some love triangle but instead is battling for what's really important. That being said, there is still your fair share of romance.
10) The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments
"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…" - Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. This book completely draws you in right from the very first page. You get sucked into Clary's mysterious world of monsters, and it genuinely makes you feel like you're in an entirely different world.
9) Looking for Alaska, John Green
"Before. Before. Miles 'Pudge' Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.
After. Nothing is ever the same." - Goodreads
Rating: 5/5. I absolutely adored this book. It was funny, thought provoking, emotional, and overall wonderfully written. John Green has a unique ability to make you care about his characters, which makes his plot twists even more devastating.
8) Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, James Patterson
Series: Maximum Ride
"Six unforgettable kids—with no families, no homes—are running for their lives. Max Ride and her best friends have the ability to fly. And that's just the beginning of their amazing powers. But they don't know where they come from, who's hunting them, why they are different from all other humans…and if they're meant to save mankind—or destroy it." - Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. I found the Maximum Ride series extremely thrilling. Max is a strong character who grows up far too quickly due to having to look after everyone. Her and her friends' story is heartbreaking, and you find yourself on the edge of your seat willing for them to succeed. Once you start reading this book, you just can't stop!
7) Blue Bloods, Melissa de la Cruz
Series: Blue Bloods
"When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner…and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead…drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?" - Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. You're probably thinking that this is just another book about some vampire love triangle, but I genuinely enjoyed the spin Melissa de la Cruz puts on vampires. She packs in many twists and turns that keep you turning the pages and wanting more. Luckily, there are four books in this series!
6) Evermore, Alyson Noel
Series: The Immortals
"After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him."
- Goodreads
Rating: 4.5/5. In this book we follow the life of Ever Bloom, a heartbreaking tale full of loss and pain. Her character and story are both so beautifully written that you soon become sucked into her world, which is full of excitement and adventure. A definite must read for lovers of this genre.
5) Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia
Series: Caster Chronicles
"There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave.
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything." - Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. So we all know that the film version of this book was a complete and utter fail. It was boring, lacked interesting characters, and was just generally dull. The book, however, is anything but; the versions of Lena and Ethan are funny and romantic, and their story is full of hope and terror. It seriously draws you in.
4) The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."
- Goodreads
Rating: 5/5. I dare you not to cry at this book, I honestly do. This book broke my heart into so many pieces I don't think I'll ever recover. There's not a single part of this book that I did not completely love, I fell in love with Hazel-Grace and Augustus Waters and their hopeful relationship, which made the ending of the book even more soul crushing. If you haven't already read this book, get to it—that's if you don't mind soaking the pages in tears.
3) Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick
Series: Hush, Hush
"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgement. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen—and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life."
- Goodreads
Rating: 4/5. Hush, Hush is dark, moving, and deeply romantic. Yes, you've probably read a million books that sound like this one before: brown-haired, brown-eyed nerdy girl meets and falls in love with a beautiful supernatural stranger. Yet this book has many twists and turns that keep you guessing, and I really loved Patch's back story and found it genuinely interesting.
2) The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games
"In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature." - Goodreads
Rating: 5/5. If you haven't heard about The Hunger Games yet, then you've probably been living in a cave. It stormed into the cinemas last year and captured everyone's attention instantly. If you loved the film, I can guarantee that you'll love the books ten times more. As you will all know, films tend to skip massive parts of plot to try and cram it into a two-hour cinema slot, and The Hunger Games is no exception. Katniss' story is even more gripping and hopeful on paper. Once I started reading this book I just wanted more and more and more!
1) Shiver, Maggie Striefvater
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls
"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human…until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever." - Goodreads
Rating: 5/5. Everything about this book was beautiful, from the way their world was described to every single character in the book. Sam and Grace's relationship draws you in, and you find yourself rooting for them to be together by any means possible. Even the secondary characters grip you. Many people have slated this book and said it bared a huge similarity to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, but I genuinely failed to see any similarities. Yes there's the obvious girl with the ordinary life meets an attractive, exciting stranger plot, but that's it. If you love this book, don't forget to look out for the standalone follow-up novel Sinner following Cole and Isabel's story.
Is one of your favorite books on this list? Is there a book that you think I should have included? Let me know below!
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