With a lot more home time lately, teens might have a chance to do a little reading for fun and pleasure, so I thought we would put together a list of “can’t put down” books for teens. These are the types of books that will keep them reading into the night, the kind you will have to ask them to put down, which is always a win! I know everyone has different standards for what is “okay” for your kids to read and what works for a 12 year old is different than what works for a 17 year old, so do a little of your own research before you hand each book over. Common Sense media is helpful for the more popular books, and you can check it out HERE.

I love getting books from the library, but if your library is closed, you can purchase them online (maybe share with family and friends to defray the cost, though many are really inexpensive:) or purchase an e-reader and continue to check books out from the library. GET ON THE LISTS NOW!!

My favorite e-reader, BY FAR is the Kindle Paperwhite. I love how it is easy on the eyes, no glare outside, and I don’t get distracted by online offerings. You can order one HERE. If you want a less expensive option, the Kindle Fire works…you just might have to regulate screen time with it, which I don’t love, but you can order it HERE. Another option that comes with lots of book options already loaded and better parental controls, is the Fire Kid Edition. You can order it HERE. You can use all of them with your library app! Also, Audible is offering free books for teens, just head to their site to start listening!

Here is the list that will get even your most reluctant readers reading! Each book is linked so you can learn more about it and see if it will be a fit for reading level and interest. Most of these books are good enough to cross genres and genders, so give them a try. Many would also make great read alouds! Let me know if you have any questions!

Mustaches for Maddie

Found (series)

Hello Universe

Restart

Anything But Typical

Life Just Got Real

An Uncommon Blue

Girl From Nowhere

Where the Forest Meets the Stars

The Last Thing I Remember

Out of My Mind

Wonder

Hunger Games (series)

Red Queen

The Orphan Keeper

The Boys in the Boat (young reader edition)

Unbroken (young reader edition)

Saint Anything

Michael Vey (series)

Tunnels (series)

Refugee

Gregor the Overlander

Alex Rider (series)

The Secret Journal of Brett Colton

Flora and Ulysses

Love & Gelato (series)

Before We Were Yours

Cinder (and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles)

The Maze Runner (series)

The Selection (series)

The Land of Stories (series)

Fablehaven (series)

Seeking Persephone

The False Prince (series)

Return to Red Castle

The Sunflower

Ranger’s Apprentice (series)

Shadow and Bone (series)

And Then There Were None

The Blue Castle

Brotherband Chronicles (series)

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (series)

Artemis Fowl (series)

Edenbrooke (series)

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Counting By 7s

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Chains

Goose Girl

Open Road Summer

I got a lot of suggestions from readers! Here are what they recommend! Keep them coming! (as my boys or I read them, I will add them to the list above). All titles are linked! If you like your book lists split by genre, check out this POST or if you need ideas for younger readers, this POST has you covered! Looking for books you will love? This POST has them all!

Waterfall

How to Speak Boy (Tiana Smith)

Steelheart

His Majesty’s Dragon

The Trials of Apollo

Every Soul a Star

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

The Perilous Guard

Quest for a Maid

Thief 

Tatooist of Auschwitz

Football

The Wheel of Time

Love Sidelined

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Wings of Fire

Harry Potter

The War that Saved My Life

The Amulet of Smarkand

UnSouled

Dragon Watch

Partials

Moment of Truth

Keeper of the Light

Keeper of Lost cities

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