16 Good Books Our Teens Read for Fun

Alexandra F.:  This dystopian trilogy had everyone in our family absolutely hooked from the moment we each started it. They are good middle school books, but equally great reads for older teens and adults, too.

Alexandra F.:  My 7th grader just read this classic Agatha Christie mystery book for junior high and is OBSESSED. She absolutely loved the intriguing story about 10 strangers trapped together on an island who mysteriously begin to die, one by one. Who is the murderer?? Will anyone be left alive? She could barely keep herself from reading ahead. A great mystery book for kids who are a little older, up through adults!

Alexandra F.:  Our family enjoyed this series by Marissa Meyer so much that the release of the third book in the trilogy was a much-anticipated event at our house. Lots of adventure (and a touch of high school romance) in an interesting story about a world where many people have super powers, but are struggling to figure out what role these super heroes should play in society. The two main characters are teenagers who each have super powers, and fall on opposite sides of the prevailing viewpoints. But, secrets and betrayals abound, making for a fun and twisty plot!

Kelly R:  Bravo to Andy Weir for writing a book that dives so deeply into nitty gritty science, but in an engaging and digestible way. This is a (surprisingly plausible) science fiction novel that will appeal to readers of any genre, and my teen son and I both loved it and enjoyed watching the movie together as well.

Shila:  The Fault in Our Stars is a good book for teens who can handle the emotional toll brought on by other teenage characters faced with terminal illness. Though, there are so many inspiring, carefree, and funny moments in the book to leave readers smiling and appreciating each day's worth of the life. John Green's book was adapted to film in 2014 and is a great movie for teens to check out on screen, too.

Shila:  William Golding's Lord of the Flies is one of the best books to read in high school - and if it's not part of the curriculum, certainly aim to read it at home for fun. It is about a group of school-age boys stranded alone on an uncharted island post plane crash. With no adults to take charge, the kids are left to form order and organize community.

Shila:  The premise of this lovely coming-of-age series, by Ann Brashares, is a group of four teenage friends sharing one perfect-fit pair of jeans. During each of their summer travels apart (but while wearing the jeans), there's an interesting story to share. This book assures readers to put good faith in everlasting strong-girl friendships.

Alexandra F.:  This is one of my teen's favorite books of all time, and she is both an avid and very picky reader.

Popular mystery book for teens about unraveling a death that happened in high school detention.

Alexandra F.:  Arguably one of the best fantasy books ever written, J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic in literary fantasy has inspired a huge following since it was published, and is still a must-read for fans of the genre decades later. The story follows nine companions on their journey to destroy a legendary ring of power before the evil Sauron uses it to destroy the world. It is a long and beautifully written adventure story with nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout, and probably most interesting for older kids, teens and adults. It's a book I like to reread every few years, and one my kids first enjoyed in their early teens.

Two teens train to be a scythe, responsible for ending lives to control the population after humanity has conquered death.

Alexandra F.:  My teen is a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi and has really been enjoying Tomi Adeyemi’s unique fantasy series, Children of Blood and Bone. Influenced by Adeyemi’s West African heritage, the story involves religious deities, magic and a dark quest for power, and follows the lives of two of the children of the ruling king, along with two children who have been hurt by his vicious rule. It is worth noting that there are some graphic descriptions of violence.

A regular teen is immersed in a world of vampires and werewolves in Stephenie Meyer's popular series of romantic books for teens.

Kelly R:  I'd suggest this as a good book for high schoolers because of a lot of heavy and adult content. Consider reading this one alongside your child, because it will prompt some good discussions about race and privilege.

Kelly R:  This was a page turner for my 14-year-old son. There's a lot of 80s pop culture references in it that I'm sure largely went over his head, but the story (about a futuristic society where people spend most of their time within a virtual world) was captivating for him.