Books for Teens Archives - Reading Middle Grade

15 Books to Read Next in Your Teen Book Club

Afoma Umesi — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:11:32 +0000

Somehow, I've gone from being skeptical about book clubs to LOVING them! So much so that I'm hosting a book club for tweens and young teens this summer! You can sign up kids ages 8-14 and see our summer book club picks here. Today, I'm sharing 15 books I would choose to read if I were hosting a book club for only teens ages 13 and older. I've included highly discussable books, many with discussion resources readily available, and several that are set in the summer. These books tackle everything from self-worth to friendship to romance and existential questions of life. Any of these would be a win for you!

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My Favorite YA Romances for Teens

Afoma Umesi — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 13:25:57 +0000

Many teens love romantic stories and thankfully, there are safe ways to experience the genre. YA romances, while definitely on a spectrum, are often nowhere near as raunchy as adult romances. Most feature only pining and a couple of kissing scenes at best. There are some teen romances that include references to off-the-page sex, but none of those are on my list. The options I'm recommending today are what I would call "clean" YA romances because the sexual content is limited to kissing and hand-holding scenes. Some of these books contain strong language, and I will indicate where this is the case if you prefer choices without language. I've listed them in order of "cleanness," in terms of sexual content and language.

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20 Amazing Book Series Teens Can’t Get Enough Of

Afoma Umesi — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:04:59 +0000

Many parents struggle to maintain the love their kids had for reading in middle school. I've found that, like with younger kids, finding good book series for teens is a great trick for keeping them reading. When I was a teen, I LOVED The Hunger Games and Divergent series and thought about them for years after reading -- especially with the movies coming out. I also read the To All the Boys series in young adulthood and loved it, too. I've included these favorites on this list and also added some newer favorites that I (and many teens I know) have enjoyed and separated them into genre categories for easier browsing.

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25 Exceptional Books I Always Recommend to Teens

Afoma Umesi — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:52:03 +0000

The best books for teens are those they can relate to. Many young people aren't big on being force fed knowledge. They want to read what's fun, engaging, and relatable. That's why in the list of books for teens, I've included a variety of my favorites featuring teens ages 16 and up. You'll find family-centered books, books about mental health, college admission books, body image books, and of course, love stories.

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Dragon Books for Kids

Katie Wickliff — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:09:30 +0000

Dragons have been a part of storytelling for thousands of years, with some of the earliest mentions found in ancient Mesopotamian texts from around 2700 B.C! These mythical creatures—with their ability to fly, breathe fire, and fight epic battles—continue to ignite the imaginations of people of all ages. Whether your young reader loves daring adventures, fast-paced excitement, or unlikely friendships, dragon stories offer something magical for everyone. Here are some of our favorite dragon books for kids, tweens, and teens, including Dragon Girls, The Land of Roar, and The Great Texas Dragon Race.

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The Best Young Adult Books of 2024

Afoma Umesi — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 07:51:30 +0000

I read more young adult books in 2024 than I have in past years, and I was pleased to find many options for younger readers ages 12+ (as you'll see in this post). These seven books were true standouts for me, stories I will be thinking about for years to come featuring characters I truly came to care about. I'm also proud to feature a wide range of teen-favorite genres such as mystery-thriller, dystopia, and romance!

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30 Best Black Young Adult Novels

Afoma Umesi — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:38:12 +0000

A (not by any means exhaustive) list of 30 superb young adult novels by black authors featuring black protagonists. Get stacking!

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Short Books for Teens

Afoma Umesi — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:23:09 +0000

While finding short tween books can be tough, it’s even harder to find short books for teens! This is completely understandable in worldbuilding genres like fantasies and high-concept mysteries, but it is frustrating that so few contemporary realistic stories or even romance are on the shorter end of the spectrum. I’ve scrapped up 15 titles

The Best Teen Books of 2023

Afoma Umesi — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:17:40 +0000

Last year was a terrible year in YA for me. So, I approached this year with significant trepidation. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about. Out of the 22 young adult books I read this year, these are the best teen books of 2023! All of these books are 2023 releases, but I loved several

Non-Fiction Books for Teens

Katie Wickliff — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:01:34 +0000

Today’s teenagers are a generation of compassionate, inclusive young people who care about the environment and their communities. They are enthusiastic about exploring the historical events that have impacted the present and the future and are motivated to contribute positively to society. Teenagers are pretty incredible, so here are 20 of the best new nonfiction