Great books for young adults
Teenagers are very busy people. They must juggle full academic loads, extracurricular activities, plus
many social ties that typify teen years. It is hard to find time to read.
Many teens do not believe that reading is important. But, research shows that children and teens who
read often have higher IQs. They are also more creative, do better in school and get higher paying jobs.
Whatever your teen chooses to read for pleasure, encourage it. Many teens love horror stories. Some
like fantasy and science fiction. While others prefer action-filled spy thrillers. For healthy development,
it is crucial that your teen keep reading just for the joy of reading. Whether your teen chooses a “Buffy,
the Vampire Slayer” novel or selects a book on psychic phenomena, the important thing is that she or he
is reading something just for fun.
Great books for young adults
1.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
2.
The Lord of the Rings boxed set by J. R. R. Tolkien
3.
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
4.
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
5.
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
6.
A Series of Unfortunate Events (books 1-3) by Lemony Snicket
7.
A Series of Unfortunate Events (books 7 -9) by Lemony Snicket
8.
Harry Potter boxed set (books 1-5) by J.K. Rowling
9.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
11. Pirates! by Celia Rees
12. Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce
13. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
14. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
15. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
16. Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot
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Continued
17. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
18. Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer
19. The Wind in the Willows by Ellen Miles
20. Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda
21. Everest by Gordon Korman
22. Raven of the Waves by Michael Cadnum
23. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
24. Experanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
25. Max the Mighty by Rodman Filbrick
26. Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
27. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
28. The Divide by Elizabeth Kay
29. Anne of Green Gables (books 4-6) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
30. Outside Shooter by Thomas Dygard
31. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
From materials from the National Education Association, www.nea.org/readacross/, from the Choose
the Right Books for Kids Web site, www.members.aol.com/ivonavon/booklis.htm, and from the
American Library Association’s Teen Reading Web site,
www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/teenstopten.htm
Adapted with permission from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Revised 12/05
UC Davis Cancer Center 12/06
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