Looking for something new to read? Here's some top picks for teens, by teens.
Description: "As seventeen-year-old Aarya tries to settle into a school with sky-high academic expectations and research cloaked in mystery, it becomes clear that someone does not want her there."
“I liked this book because it was a mashup of horror, science fiction, and romance!”
-M., Teen Advisory Board
Description: "When kittypet Tiny crosses paths with some wild forest cats defending their territory, they leave him with scars—and a bitter, deep-seated grudge. As his reputation grows among the strays and loners that live in the dirty brick alleyways of Twolegplace, he changes his name to Scourge and puts everything about his old life behind him...except his deadly desire for revenge."
“I am so so abnormal about this book. It's so entertaining and I've reread it multiple times, it has a great plot and is just all around amazing.”
-Sebastian, Teen Volunteer
This standalone graphic novel shares the origin story of a villain from the main Warrior Cats series—which includes over 60 books!
Description: "Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. By day, she works for an antiquities dealer, selling barely legal magical artifacts, and by night, she parties with her friends, savoring every pleasure Crescent City has to offer. But it all comes crumbling down when a ruthless murder shakes the very foundations of the city--and Bryce's world. Two years later, her job has become a dead end, and she now seeks only blissful oblivion in the city's most notorious nightclubs. But when the murderer attacks again, Bryce finds herself dragged into the investigation and paired with an infamous Fallen angel whose own brutal past haunts his every step."
“I love this book because it mixes my three favorite genres: sci-fi, fantasy and romance. The ACOTAR and Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas are her more popular ones, but Crescent City is such a unique series because it mixes modern day cities and technology with magic. There is so much world building, many characters, and such strong female characters. This series also has a lot of humor and wit in it. I feel like I'm part of the friend group when reading the books, and there are many dots to connect to solve the main mystery!”
-Zoe, Teen Volunteer
The Crescent City trilogy includes three books: start with House of Earth and Blood, then House of Sky and Breath, and House of Flame and Shadow.
Description: "In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters."
“Gritty fantasy, Lord of the Rings-lite. One of my favorite series as I grew up! Disney+ has a show in the works, apparently. Don't watch the movie.”
-Noah, Summer Youth Assistant
The Inheritance Cycle includes four main books (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance) plus a short story collection (The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm) and spinoff novel (Murtagh) set in the same world.
Description: "Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea. His mother sends him to a summer camp for demigods where he and his new friends set out on a quest to prevent a war between the gods."
“Really any book by Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo, The Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. Everyone's first introduction to mythology, Rick Riordan weaves myths into modern masterpieces. Don't watch the movies, but the show is pretty good.”
-Noah, Summer Youth Assistant
Start with The Lightning Thief to dive into this full universe with 25+ interconnected novels!
"In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ('gleaned') by professional reapers ('scythes'). Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe--a position neither of them wants. The one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't."
“This series is set in a sort of utopian dystopia. It looks at a world where death has been conquered…or so they say.”
-Noah, Summer Youth Assistant
The Arc of a Scythe series includes a main trilogy (Scythe, Thunderhead, and The Toll) plus a short story collection (Gleanings) and planned prequel trilogy.
Description: "After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children must depend on each other and their wits when it turns out that the distant relative who is appointed their guardian is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune."
“I love the mystery! Yes it is part of a series, I just think these books are the best.”
-Alex, Summer Youth Assistant
With A Series of Unfortunate Events, start with The Bad Beginning. There are 13 books in the main series, plus a four-book prequel series (All the Wrong Questions).
Description: "Clay has lived his whole life under the mountain. The MudWing dragonet knows war is raging between the dragon tribes in the world outside--a war that he and four other dragonets are destined to end, according to the mysterious prophecy they have been taught. The five 'chosen' dragonets were stolen from their homes while they were still in their eggs, and hidden away for years, all to fulfill the prophecy. But not every dragonet wants a destiny. And when danger threatens one of their own, Clay and his friends may choose freedom over fate..."
Recommended by Alex, Summer Youth Assistant
The ongoing Wings of Fire series currently includes 16 chapter books that also have graphic novel versions. Start with The Dragonet Prophecy.
Description: "The sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission to save both humanity and the earth, Ryland Grace is hurtled into the depths of space when he must conquer an extinction-level threat to our species."
“I ADORED it because not only is it scientifically accurate, it's also just very entertaining watching the MC!!”
-Sebastian, Teen Volunteer